Both 32-year-old House Majority Leader Lance Pruitt, R-Anchorage, and 25-year-old Rep. Jonathon Kreiss-Tomkins, D-Sitka, made the Washington Post list of 40 people across the country who are under 40 years old and have made a name for themselves in politics outside of the Beltway. Following is the write-up on both. (Visit the Post website site for neat graphics and a photo of each.) The Washington Post said that it consulted more than 100 sources to come up with the names.
Lance Pruitt:
First elected to the Alaska legislature in 2010 at age 29, Pruitt became House majority leader just two years later. As others on this list show, that kind of quick rise isn’t unheard of in states with term limits, but Alaska doesn’t have any — making the accomplishment more impressive. He passed on a run for lieutenant governor this year, but Alaska Republicans expect him to be on the statewide ballot soon enough.
Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins:
Kreiss-Tomkins was elected to the Alaska legislature in 2012, defeating powerful House Finance Chairman Bill Thomas (R) by a mere 32 votes. He did so in a district that requires a candidate to do plenty of island-hopping to introduce himself, and Kreiss-Tomkins would often sleep on someone’s couch while awaiting a trip to the next round of glad-handing. And now that he’s in the Alaska House, Kreiss-Tomkins is already making a name for himself, recently spearheading a successful effort to recognize 20 Alaska Native languages as official state languages.
To think Jonathan made the list eliminates my ability to take the list seriously. His inclusion undermines the credibility of the list. Jonathan is bright and well educated; however, his ability to successfully interact with his colleaggues leaves a lot to be desired. He enjoys little respect from majority members in either House.
Nonetheless, my congratulations for being able to fool some of the people some of the time.
Pfft! It’s too sunny. I don’t know why I’m inside on a computer blog, granted a great one – posting comments. You have a winner here, Amanda. Keep up the great first-coverage content.
Andy: I kind of miss you being disagreeable. Ha!
I agree!
I suspect you have never met JKT. He doesn’t “appear” to be a hard worker, he is.
JKT you make Sitka proud. Hell, you make SE proud. Congratulations.
I would have picked Lance Pruitt and Taylor Bickford. No disrespect to Rep Kreiss-tompkins, but I believe that Taylor Bickford has further distinguished himself. From reading the Washington Post story there appeared to be a bias towards elected officials. If me, only one non-elected political type made the list and he was a political operative type involved as the campaign manager for the mayor of Detroit. More of these types should. Then again, that would have required real work. Much easier to select elected officials.
Funny how these two made the Washington Post’s national list but neither made the Alaska Top 40 under 40 list. Weird. Which list is wrong I wonder? I’m putting my money on the Washington Post. Congrats Lance and Jonathan !
Congrratulationms are in order for making the list of Top 40 under 40. Lance Pruitt has definitely established himself as a respected leader in the Alaska House of Representatives. There has been much speculation about him being a statewide candidate. In facvt, many Republicans were hjoping that he would jump on the race to be Sean Parnell’s running mate. He is bright, wholesome and articulate. This kid has a future as recognized by the Washington Post.
Kreiss-Tompkins has a nicve pedigree, appearrs to be a hard worker and may prove himself in the years ahead. Right now, he needs to mature and better learn to interact and gain the support of his colleagues. He’s young. Surprised that he made the list; consequently, we need to congratuwatch as he grows into his job. Auld be equally proud of them both.