CSG West’s recent visit to Juneau was a special one, highlighting Alaska legislators’ high level of engagement across our programs—from leadership development and policy committees to legislative staff collaboration.
We’re proud to have Alaska Senator Löki Tobin serving as CSG West Vice Chair and Representative Alyse Galvin leading as the 2024 Western Legislative Academy (WLA) Class President. It was a pleasure connecting with them and other members during our visit .
Our team also enjoyed meaningful conversations with Senate President Gary Stevens, a former CSG national chair and longtime participant in CSG West events, and we remain thankful for the ongoing support of his dedicated chief of staff, Katrina Matheny.
Representative Maxine Dibert, who now co-chairs our newly launched Energy & the Grid Committee, also took time to connect with our staff. We were equally excited to speak with the five Alaska legislators who joined the most recent WLA class—a reflection of the state’s growing leadership within our region.
Jessica Geary, Executive Director of Alaska’s Legislative Affairs Agency (LAA), continues to serve in a key leadership role as chair of our Legislative Service Agency & Research Directors (LSA/RD) Committee. Spending time with Jessica and LAA Deputy Executive Director Santé Lesh was a highlight of our visit to Juneau.
Alaska’s bipartisan coalitions in both chambers have also fueled meaningful participation in CSG West’s WESTRAIN leadership program. Former legislator and WLA faculty member, Scott Raecker, has worked closely with Alaska lawmakers through multiple visits, supporting efforts to build trust and foster civility.
With its unique geography, rich resources, and complex challenges, Alaska brings a distinctive perspective to our regional dialogue. We were inspired by the many thoughtful conversations we had in the Capitol and are especially grateful to Representative Cathy Tilton —one of CSG West’s state liaisons from Alaska—for the warm welcome on the House floor.
