About Ethan
I'm running for Governor because the Alaska I know and love can be and should be much more. Alaska, more than any other place on the planet, has the resources – both physical and human – to face the future on our own terms: self-reliant, independent, and with justifiable optimism about our opportunities.
It means something special to be an Alaskan, something unique to each of us, and something shared by all of us. That's why Mara and I are raising our family here, and why we're proud to call Alaska home. It's why public service has been one of the privileges of my life – I've been honored to help shape the debate about our future, and to fight for what I believe Alaska can be and should be.
After serving in the State House of Representatives for ten years, from 1996 to 2006, where he was the minority leader for eight years, Ethan ran for Lt. Governor with Tony Knowles in 2006, and then for U.S. Congress in 2008. As a state legislator, he won national recognition for his distinguished service to Alaska, and championed many issues, including fiscal responsibility and energy policy.
Diane Benson is as multi-faceted as the state she lives in; driving tractor-trailers on the pipeline one decade and co-producing films and videos on Alaska's issues and history the next - and then making her own history when she ran for Congress in 2006 winning over 41% of the vote.
Diane was one of the first women truck drivers on the Trans Alaska Pipeline. While reality TV show "Ice Road Truckers" may seem like a novelty in the lower 48, Diane helped blaze the trail for women Teamsters working on the line, and continued on in the 1980's as a concrete mixer driver in Anchorage. Known for her courage, she quickly made a name for herself and is remembered for her tenacious spirit in the Alaskan trucking industry. |
