Ralph Samuels

Educational background

Positions as a gubernatorial candidate

• Economy- One of the main planks for Samuels' candidacies, he claims, is to encourage economic development. In a recent article he was quoted saying, "As governor I'll work to encourage economic development. We'll look at the current tax structures to determine whether or not there's an opportunity to stem the recent rapid decline in oil production and oil exploration in Alaska,"
• Energy- In March 2007, when the Governor of Alaska, Sarah Palin presented the Alaska Gasline Inducement Act to build a natural gas pipeline from the state's North Slope, Samuels was the only legislator who voted against the measure.
• Taxes- He also was in a coalition that opposed the, then Governor Palin introduced, tax raise known as "ACES" which made Alaska as the highest marginal tax rate in the world."
• Family- In January, Samuels wrote a position statement in support of the initiative circulating the state attempting to re-instate parental/legal guardian notification of a minor to receive an abortion. In his article he claimed "...in our society that a parent must consent before a child gets her ears pierced or even receives an aspirin at school. The notion that a non-emergency medical procedure can be performed on a teenager, without a parent even knowing about it, strikes most people as absurd. Yet this is exactly what happens in Alaska."

Leadership positions in politics

• Served as majority leader of the Alaska House of Representatives

  Business and professional positions

• Airline executive for Penair
• Vice president for government and community affairs for tourism giant, Holland America Line
• Member of the Alaska Air Carriers Association
• Former chair of the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce
• Former board member of the State Chamber of Commerce