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Senator Löki Gale Tobin Elected Next CSG West Vice Chair
ANCHORAGE, AK - On July 12, during The Council of State Governments West (CSG West) 77th Annual Meeting in Portland, Oregon, Senator Löki Gale Tobin was unanimously elected to serve as the CSG West vice chair in 2025.
“I am proud to expand my role in CSG West because state elected leaders from Western states and Canadian provinces are demonstrating how to tackle tough issues through dialogue and bipartisanship. CSG West is doing the work to educate and support lawmakers and government officials, empowering them with the knowledge that leads to good public policy that improves the lives of every one of our constituents,” said Senator Tobin, who represents neighborhoods in downtown Anchorage in the Alaska State Senate.
Sen. Tobin is currently serving her first term in the Alaska State Senate. Prior to her election in 2022, Löki Gale Tobin worked as the policy director for Alaska State Senator Tom Begich. Together, they helped pass a monumental piece of education legislation known as the Alaska Reads Act, which included provisions to help expand pre-K across the state of Alaska. Löki Gale Tobin was born and raised in Nome, Alaska. She was among the first female wrestlers to compete against young men in Alaska and served in the Peace Corps from 2008-2011. Löki is a University of Alaska Anchorage graduate and holds a master’s degree in rural development from the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Currently, she’s a PhD student at the University of Alaska Fairbanks doing research on culturally responsive education. Sen. Tobin’s policy passion is education, so it is not surprising that she was tasked with chairing the Education Committee in the Alaska State Senate.
“I have worked alongside Löki Gale Tobin, and she is exactly the kind of person we need in state government. She is smart and hard-working, but more importantly, she cares deeply about people and how government can impact their lives in both good and bad ways. I recommended Sen. Tobin for a leadership position in CSG West for many reasons, but if I had to choose one, it’s because of her enthusiasm. It is contagious. I enjoy working with Löki Gale Tobin, and I am sure everyone involved with CSG West will enjoy working with her as well,” said Alaska Senate President Gary Stevens, who is a former chair of CSG National.
By being chosen to serve as the CSG West vice chair in 2025, Sen. Tobin is in line to become the chair of CSG West in 2027. As such, Sen. Tobin will have the opportunity to host the 2027 CSG West Annual Meeting in Alaska. The CSG West annual meeting is the largest gathering of Western policymakers and stakeholders.
“I like to plan things, so I am already planning how best to show off the great state of Alaska to my colleagues from the other western states. We might ride the train to Talkeetna or visit one of Alaska’s famous farmer’s markets,” said Sen. Tobin. “If I could get the weather to comply, I would get everyone stuck in some off the road system community for a few days. That would be a great way to bring people together and show them the best of Alaska.”
Sen. Tobin will commence her role as the CSG West vice chair on January 1, 2025.
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