Dan Sullivan (Alaska)
Encyclopedia
Daniel A. "Dan" Sullivan (born June 16, 1951) is the incumbent Mayor of Anchorage, Alaska
, the state's largest city. He is a member of the Republican Party
and the son of Anchorage's longest-serving mayor, George M. Sullivan
. Prior to being elected mayor, he served the maximum
of three consecutive terms on the Anchorage Assembly, from 1999 to 2008.
and Fairbanks
, respectively. He graduated from the University of Oregon
with a bachelor's degree
in political science
. In the mid-1990s, he served as executive director of the Arctic Winter Games
, which were held in 1996 in the northern Anchorage communities of Chugiak and Eagle River.
In 1999, Sullivan was elected to the first of three consecutive terms on the Anchorage Assembly. During his time on the assembly he sponsored an ordinance requiring lobbyists
to disclose their affiliations when petitioning city government, which was largely in response to the lobbying efforts conducted within the municipal government by Tom Anderson
, who concurrently served in the Alaska House of Representatives
. In 2005, he voted against an Anchorage Water and Wastewater Utility rate increase, and in 2006 he challenged a city ordinance limiting the size and style of signs.
In 2006, Sullivan along with partners opened a bar and restaurant in downtown Anchorage called McGinley's Pub, which is located next to Anchorage City Hall.
. Sullivan campaigned on a platform of reducing city spending and crime, and confronting what he termed "an energy crisis" as the result of dwindling natural gas
reserves in Cook Inlet
.
Sullivan gained the plurality of votes in the April 7, 2009 general election, in which a record 15 candidates appeared on the ballot, but failed to reach 45 percent, triggering a May 5 runoff against Eric Croft
, who had come in second with 19.61% of the vote.
Sales tax
es became the major issue in the runoff campaign between Sullivan and Croft, with Croft charging that Sullivan wanted to replace property tax
es with a sales tax. Sullivan won the May 5 runoff election with 57.3% of the vote to Croft's 42.7%.
Sullivan was sworn in as Mayor on July 1, 2009, succeeding acting mayor Matt Claman
. He announced that his administration will introduce a celebration called "All Americans Week."
Since taking office, he has gained nationwide attention for vetoing Assembly legislation which would have included municipal protections against discrimination based on sexual orientation, and for proposing legislation to prohibit sitting or camping on public sidewaks as part of an effort to curb Anchorage's homelessness problem.
Sullivan is a third-generation Alaskan mayor. His paternal grandmother, Viola (née Murray) Sullivan, was mayor of Valdez
in the 1930s.
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Anchorage, Alaska
Anchorage is a unified home rule municipality in the southcentral part of the U.S. state of Alaska. It is the northernmost major city in the United States...
, the state's largest city. He is a member of the Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
and the son of Anchorage's longest-serving mayor, George M. Sullivan
George M. Sullivan
George Murray Sullivan was an American politician from the state of Alaska who served as the Mayor of Anchorage from 1967 until 1981.-Early life:...
. Prior to being elected mayor, he served the maximum
Term limit
A term limit is a legal restriction that limits the number of terms a person may serve in a particular elected office. When term limits are found in presidential and semi-presidential systems they act as a method to curb the potential for monopoly, where a leader effectively becomes "president for...
of three consecutive terms on the Anchorage Assembly, from 1999 to 2008.
Biography
Daniel A. Sullivan was one of nine children born to George Murray and Margaret Mary (née Eagan) Sullivan. His parents were natives of the Alaskan communities of ValdezValdez, Alaska
Valdez is a city in Valdez-Cordova Census Area in the U.S. state of Alaska. According to 2005 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 4,020. The city is one of the most important ports in Alaska. The port of Valdez was named in 1790 after the Spanish naval officer Antonio Valdés y...
and Fairbanks
Fairbanks
Fairbanks may refer to:Places in the United States*Fairbanks, Alaska, city*Fairbanks, California, unincorporated community in El Dorado County*Fairbanks, Mendocino County, California, former settlement*Fairbanks, Indiana, unincorporated community...
, respectively. He graduated from the University of Oregon
University of Oregon
-Colleges and schools:The University of Oregon is organized into eight schools and colleges—six professional schools and colleges, an Arts and Sciences College and an Honors College.- School of Architecture and Allied Arts :...
with a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
. In the mid-1990s, he served as executive director of the Arctic Winter Games
Arctic Winter Games
The Arctic Winter Games is an international biennial celebration of circumpolar sports and culture.-Background:The Arctic Winter Games were founded in 1969 under the leadership of Governor Walter J. Hickel of Alaska, Stuart M. Hodgson, Commissioner of the Northwest Territories, and Yukon...
, which were held in 1996 in the northern Anchorage communities of Chugiak and Eagle River.
In 1999, Sullivan was elected to the first of three consecutive terms on the Anchorage Assembly. During his time on the assembly he sponsored an ordinance requiring lobbyists
Lobbying
Lobbying is the act of attempting to influence decisions made by officials in the government, most often legislators or members of regulatory agencies. Lobbying is done by various people or groups, from private-sector individuals or corporations, fellow legislators or government officials, or...
to disclose their affiliations when petitioning city government, which was largely in response to the lobbying efforts conducted within the municipal government by Tom Anderson
Tom Anderson (politician)
Thomas T. "Tom" Anderson is a consultant and former Alaska state representative for District 19 representing northeast Anchorage, Alaska...
, who concurrently served in the Alaska House of Representatives
Alaska House of Representatives
The Alaska House of Representatives is the lower house in the Alaska Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Alaska. The House is composed of 40 members, each of whom represents a district of about 15,673 people . Members serve two-year terms without term limits...
. In 2005, he voted against an Anchorage Water and Wastewater Utility rate increase, and in 2006 he challenged a city ordinance limiting the size and style of signs.
In 2006, Sullivan along with partners opened a bar and restaurant in downtown Anchorage called McGinley's Pub, which is located next to Anchorage City Hall.
Mayor of Anchorage
In 2007, Sullivan announced his candidacy for Mayor of Anchorage. He received the endorsement of former U.S. Senator Ted StevensTed Stevens
Theodore Fulton "Ted" Stevens, Sr. was a United States Senator from Alaska, serving from December 24, 1968, until January 3, 2009, and thus the longest-serving Republican senator in history...
. Sullivan campaigned on a platform of reducing city spending and crime, and confronting what he termed "an energy crisis" as the result of dwindling natural gas
Natural gas
Natural gas is a naturally occurring gas mixture consisting primarily of methane, typically with 0–20% higher hydrocarbons . It is found associated with other hydrocarbon fuel, in coal beds, as methane clathrates, and is an important fuel source and a major feedstock for fertilizers.Most natural...
reserves in Cook Inlet
Cook Inlet
Cook Inlet stretches from the Gulf of Alaska to Anchorage in south-central Alaska. Cook Inlet branches into the Knik Arm and Turnagain Arm at its northern end, almost surrounding Anchorage....
.
Sullivan gained the plurality of votes in the April 7, 2009 general election, in which a record 15 candidates appeared on the ballot, but failed to reach 45 percent, triggering a May 5 runoff against Eric Croft
Eric Croft
Eric Croft was a Democratic State Representative from Anchorage, Alaska and was a candidate in the August 2006 Democratic gubernatorial primary election in Alaska...
, who had come in second with 19.61% of the vote.
Sales tax
Sales tax
A sales tax is a tax, usually paid by the consumer at the point of purchase, itemized separately from the base price, for certain goods and services. The tax amount is usually calculated by applying a percentage rate to the taxable price of a sale....
es became the major issue in the runoff campaign between Sullivan and Croft, with Croft charging that Sullivan wanted to replace property tax
Property tax
A property tax is an ad valorem levy on the value of property that the owner is required to pay. The tax is levied by the governing authority of the jurisdiction in which the property is located; it may be paid to a national government, a federated state or a municipality...
es with a sales tax. Sullivan won the May 5 runoff election with 57.3% of the vote to Croft's 42.7%.
Sullivan was sworn in as Mayor on July 1, 2009, succeeding acting mayor Matt Claman
Matt Claman
Matthew W. Claman is a former member of the Anchorage Assembly. In this position, he served as acting mayor of Anchorage, Alaska for the first half of 2009. He succeeded Mark Begich, who was elected to represent Alaska in the U.S. Senate in the 2008 general election...
. He announced that his administration will introduce a celebration called "All Americans Week."
Since taking office, he has gained nationwide attention for vetoing Assembly legislation which would have included municipal protections against discrimination based on sexual orientation, and for proposing legislation to prohibit sitting or camping on public sidewaks as part of an effort to curb Anchorage's homelessness problem.
Sullivan is a third-generation Alaskan mayor. His paternal grandmother, Viola (née Murray) Sullivan, was mayor of Valdez
Valdez, Alaska
Valdez is a city in Valdez-Cordova Census Area in the U.S. state of Alaska. According to 2005 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 4,020. The city is one of the most important ports in Alaska. The port of Valdez was named in 1790 after the Spanish naval officer Antonio Valdés y...
in the 1930s.
See also
- Anchorage mayoral election, 2009Anchorage mayoral election, 2009The 2009 Anchorage Mayoral Election was held on April 7, 2009, with a runoff election between the top two candidates occurring on May 5, as no candidate reached a 45% plurality needed to win outright. Fifteen candidates competed for the post, with former State Rep...
- George M. SullivanGeorge M. SullivanGeorge Murray Sullivan was an American politician from the state of Alaska who served as the Mayor of Anchorage from 1967 until 1981.-Early life:...
- List of mayors of Anchorage, Alaska
External links
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