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Mark Begich (D-Alaska)

U.S. Senator (since January 2009)

(U.S. Senate)

Why He Matters

The son of a former U.S. representative, Begich is no stranger to firsts. He's not only the first Democrat to serve Alaska in Congress since 1981, but he's also the first Croatian-American senator and the first mayor of Anchorage to join the U.S. Senate.

Begich started both his political and business careers while in his teens, joining Anchorage's health department at age 19 and starting a nightclub for teens called Motherlode at only age 16.

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Background

At a Glance

Career History: Mayor of Anchorage (2003 to 2008); Anchorage Assembly (1988 to 1998); Private business owner and real-estate agent (since 1983)
Birthday: March 30, 1962
Hometown: Anchorage, Alaska
Alma Mater: University of Alaska, attended 1981-88
Spouse: Deborah Bonito
Religion: Roman Catholic
Committees: Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee ; Armed Services Committee ; Budget Committee ; Veterans Affairs Committee ; Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee
DC Office: 144 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510, phone. (202) 224-3004, toll free. (877) 501 - 6275*, fax. (202) 224-2354

State Office: Peterson Tower, Suite 750, 510 L St, Anchorage, AK, 99501, phone. (907) 271 - 5915, toll free. (877) 501 - 6275*, fax. (907) 258 - 9305
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Path to Power

Begich was born in Anchorage, Alaska, to Nick and Pegge Begich, who moved to Alaska in 1957 to teach. In 1962, Nick Begich was elected to the state Senate and later the U.S. House of Representatives. In 1972, when Mark was 10 years old, his father was campaigning for re-election to the House when his plane disappeared in the Gulf of Alaska. After 39 days, authorities gave up the search for the plane carrying Begich and then-House Majority leader Hale Boggs (D-La.).

"Some of us want to know the answer, but on the other hand you want to move on. Resolution is something you want," Begich said in 1992 of the mysterious circumstances surrounding his father's death.

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Upon graduating from high school, Begich decided not to attend college and instead went to work managing his family's 32-unit apartment-building business. "He rode around with a trunk full of tools and did a whole lot of maintenance. He got right in there and went to work, and he was very good at it," his mother said.

Despite his lack of a college education, Begich got a very young start in politics. At age 17, Anchorage Mayor George Sullivan (R-AK) appointed him to the city's Youth Commission; at age 19, he began working for the city's health department; a couple of years later, he became Mayor Tony Knowles' (D-Alaska) driver and at age 26, Begich won his first elected office, a seat on the Anchorage State Assembly representing East Anchorage.

Begich began to develop his business career while serving as an Assemblyman, dealing in real estate and starting a vending machine business. He served on the Assembly from 1988 until 1998, running for mayor and losing in both 1994 and 2000. But in 2003, Begich ran again, and this time won, becoming the first Anchorage mayor born and raised in the city. As mayor, Begich reduced Anchorage's $33 million budget deficit and focused on economic and public safety issues.

In 2008, while still mayor, Begich announced that he would challenge Sen. Stevens to represent Alaska in the U.S. Senate. The decision came after a long exploratory period. "Coming off all the visits I took, it told me the state is ready for a change, ready for new ideas," Begich said. Begich was courted heavily by Senate Democratic leaders who saw Stevens as a vulnerable target given the controversy swirling around Stevens' connections to the oil services giant VECO, whose top officials had already been convicted of trying to bribe state lawmakers. In a sign of the fierce race to come, the National Republican Senatorial Committee launched the Web site www.BegichBaggage.com before the now-Senator even announced his run.

Begich had to wait until Nov.18, 2008, to learn that he had become Alaska's first Democrat in Congress since Rep. Mike Gravel. On election night, Stevens, who had been convicted of lying about receiving $250,000 in gifts just a month prior, led Begich. But once absentee and questioned ballots were counted, Begich prevailed.

The Issues

Alaska may be known for electing Republicans, but the state is full of independent voters. Begich's ability to appeal to those voters shows that he's not a typical liberal Democrat. He supports gun rights, has fought for small government and supports drilling for oil in the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge. But Begich is also closely aligned with progressive causes: he's pro-abortion rights, opposes the U.S. Patriot Act and other restrictions on civil liberties and supports an increase in American foreign aid.

Begich calls himself a "libertarian, independent mix".

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The Economy

When it comes to financial policy, Begich has described himself as "very fiscally conservative -- in some respects".

The Democrat did not support the Bush administration's $700 billion bailout of the financial industry, criticizing the legislation for both focusing on the near-term and benefitting Wall Street more than regular Americans. Begich did support a Senate amendment to the bailout expanding FDIC insurance for private deposits up to $250,000. He also supported efforts to protect 401(k) and other retirement savings accounts and called for banks to refinance mortgages, allowing people to stay in their homes.

The Environment

As an Alaskan, Begich is living at ground zero of the energy debate. He has broken with Democratic orthodoxy to support oil exploration in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), but he also strongly supports efforts to fight climate change. As mayor of Anchorage, he implemented strategies aimed at fighting greenhouse gases and saving energy. He also supports a nationwide cap-and-trade system to reduce carbon emissions.

Begich thinks that the energy issue has been unnecessarily politicized, saying, "That's not a Democrat issue. That's not a Republican issue. That's just a basic economic and national security issue." He hopes for a seat on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.

Health Care

The senator has joined many Democrats in calling for Americans to have access to the Federal Employee Health Benefit Plan, which serves members of Congress. He says that America needs to "build on the strengths of our existing system, reward local innovation, and ensure shared responsibility."

Begich favors a prevention approach to health care, something he helped institute in Anchorage with a disease management program that helped save $323,000 in medical costs in one year. He has also pledged to help Alaskans with the unique problems they encounter with health care, including high cost, doctor shortages and the long distance required to travel to receive care.

The Network

Begich has enjoyed a mostly cordial relationship with Alaska's other political star, Sarah Palin-though the two had a minor clash in May 2008 over a series of vetoes Palin issued for Anchorage public-safety projects .

Still, each has been nothing if not gracious toward the other. Upon Palin's 2008 nomination for vice president, Begich said, "This is a proud day for the people of Alaska. Congratulations to Governor Palin for making history for women, our state and our country."

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