Chris Birch (politician)

Christopher Jim Birch (August 28, 1950 – August 7, 2019) was an American politician who served as a member of the Alaska Senate for District M in 2019 and the Alaska House of Representatives for the 26th District from 2017 to 2019. Birch was a member of the Republican Party.

Chris Birch
Chris Birch in a hallway of the Alaska State Capitol in May 2019
Member of the Alaska Senate
from the M district
In office
January 15, 2019 – August 7, 2019
Preceded byKevin Meyer
Succeeded byJosh Revak
Member of the Alaska House of Representatives
from the 26th district
In office
2017 – January 14, 2019
Preceded byBob Lynn
Succeeded byLaddie Shaw
Personal details
BornAugust 28, 1950
Sterling, Illinois, U.S.
Died (aged 68)
Anchorage, Alaska, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouse
Pam
​
(m. 1978)​
Children2
EducationUniversity of Alaska Fairbanks

Early life

Birch was born to geologist Bettijeanne Birch and mining engineer Frank Birch in Sterling, Illinois in 1950. His family had a long history in Alaska and he grew up in mining camps near Fairbanks and the Brooks Range. Birch earned a bachelor's degree in Mining Engineering from the University of Alaska Fairbanks in 1972 and a Master of Science degree in Engineering Management in 1979.[1]

Career

Birch served as the chairman of the Chugach Electric Association from 1997 to 2005, worked as the senior engineer of environment and planning at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport from 1998 to 2004, and served as the South Anchorage Representative for the Anchorage Municipal Assembly from 2005 to 2014. In 2016, he was elected to the Alaska House of Representatives for District 26. In 2018, he ran for the Alaska State Senate for District M and won with 58 percent of the vote.[2] In the Senate, he served as chairman of the Resources Committee. Upon his death, Governor Mike Dunleavy nominated Representative Laddie Shaw to succeed him, but Senate Republicans rejected the nomination.[3]

Personal life

Birch married Pamala Gay Bushey in 1978. They had two children, son Logan Thomas and daughter Talitha "Tali" Ann, and four grandchildren. Tali is a lawyer married to fellow lawyer Josh Kindred.

Death

Birch died from an aortic dissection on August 7, 2019.[4][5]

References
  1. "Representative Chris Birch". Alaska State Legislature.
  2. "Chris Birch (Alaska)". Ballotpedia.
  3. Senate fails to confirm Rep. Laddie Shaw for vacant seat, KTUU, Beth Verge, September 19, 2019. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
  4. "Chris Birch, Senator, Engineer & Grandfather, Passes Away at 68". Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman.
  5. Christopher Birch-obituary

Media related to Chris Birch at Wikimedia Commons

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