Frank Hughes Murkowski (born March 28, 1933) is the current Governor of Alaska and member of the Republican Party. Previously, he was the US Senator from Alaska from 1980 until 2002. During his time in the senate he was most notable as chairman of the committee on energy and natural resources from 1995 until the republicans lost control of the senate in 2001. He argued and moved politically against attempts by environmentalists to stop oil drilling in certain areas in Alaska. He was elected governor in November 2002, defeating his democratic opponent, Fran Ulmer 56%-41%. He succeeded a democrat, Tony Knowles who was retiring. Upon becoming governor the following month, he resigned his Senate seat and appointed his daughter Lisa Murkowski in his place. He was accused by his opponents of an act of nepotism.
Raised in Ketchikan, Alaska, Frank Murkowski initially attended Santa Clara University and graduated from Seattle University, both Catholic Jesuit universities. Prior to his election to the Senate, he worked in the banking industry in both Anchorage and Wrangell. He has a wife, Nancy, and six children. He currently resides in the state's capital, Juneau.
