Albert Kookesh


Albert Matthew Kookesh, Jr. is a former member of the Alaska Senate. He represented District C as a Democrat from 2005 through January 2013. Previously he was a member of the Alaska House of Representatives from 1997 through 2005.
Kookesh received his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Washington in 1976 and is a commercial fisherman, also owning and operating a lodge and market. He is on the board of directors of the Sealaska Corporation and is a co-chair of the Alaska Federation of Natives. His earlier professional positions included Business Manager, Executive VP, and Acting President/CEO for Kootznoowoo Inc.
He is of the Tlingit Nation, Eagle Tribe, Teikweidí Clan, child of L'eeneidí Clan.

Electoral career

In 2010 a legislative review found Kookesh to be in violation of state ethics policies following allegations that he used political influence to keep a city council from opposing a lands bill pushed by the Native corporation by which he is employed. He lost the 2012 election to fellow incumbent Bert Stedman after the Alaska Redistricting Board placed him in a district that was vastly different from his former bush district.