Bill Walker

Bill Walker’s leadership and public service in Alaska spans many decades. As a Valdez council member and mayor, and later as governor, he skillfully navigated both the heady days of first oil and the prosaic realities of a state budget heavily dependent on volatile oil prices. Walker served as Alaska’s 11th governor from 2014 to 2018. His tenure as governor was notable from its inception. Running as an independent candidate, he broke away from the party system, focusing on bipartisanship and working together to resolve the challenges of that time. Confronted by the state’s dwindling savings and limited options, Walker proposed a range of measures to address the budget deficit, from spending cuts to exploring new revenue sources. When these options were exhausted, he advocated using Permanent Fund revenues to bridge Alaska’s budget deficit. This approach significantly reshaped state fiscal policy. Despite the challenges, he pursued initiatives to expand Medicaid, improve the state’s relationship with Alaska Native tribes, and sought sustainable fiscal reforms.