Joe Paskvan
Encyclopedia
Joseph L. "Joe" Paskvan (born May 19, 1952) is an attorney and a Democratic
member of the Alaska Senate
. He has represented the E District, which includes the entire city limits of Fairbanks and several neighborhoods just outside, since 2009.
Joe Paskvan was born in Fairbanks, Alaska, where he has lived his entire life save for a several year period during law school. He graduated from Monroe High School
in 1970. His father, Tom Paskvan, after obtaining benefits through the GI Bill, opened a bar called the Elbow Room on Second Avenue in Fairbanks in 1947. The Elbow Room remained in business through subsequent owners until 2003. Joe was manager of the bar from 1973 to 1978. He earned a B.A. in political science from the University of Alaska Fairbanks
in 1975, and a law degree
from the University of Puget Sound School of Law in 1981.
Paskvan had an internship in 1981 under Judge Alexander O. Bryner of the Alaska Court of Appeals
, the year after the court was established. He worked for the law firm of Rice, Hoppner, Brown, & Brunner until 1986, when he started his own partnership, Paskvan & Ringstad PC.
He was elected in November 2008 to an open seat, as incumbent Gary Wilken retired after 3 terms. In the general election, he defeated Cynthia Henry, a gift shop owner who has served on both the Fairbanks North Star Borough Assembly and the University of Alaska Board of Regents.
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
member of the Alaska Senate
Alaska Senate
The Alaska Senate is the upper house in the Alaska Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Alaska. The Senate consists of twenty members, each of whom represents an equal amount of districts with populations of about 31,347 people . Senators serve four-year terms, without term...
. He has represented the E District, which includes the entire city limits of Fairbanks and several neighborhoods just outside, since 2009.
Joe Paskvan was born in Fairbanks, Alaska, where he has lived his entire life save for a several year period during law school. He graduated from Monroe High School
Monroe Catholic High School
Monroe Catholic High School is a private, Roman Catholic high school in Fairbanks, Alaska. It is the only Catholic high school in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Fairbanks. It is the northernmost Roman Catholic high school in the Americas.-Background:...
in 1970. His father, Tom Paskvan, after obtaining benefits through the GI Bill, opened a bar called the Elbow Room on Second Avenue in Fairbanks in 1947. The Elbow Room remained in business through subsequent owners until 2003. Joe was manager of the bar from 1973 to 1978. He earned a B.A. in political science from the University of Alaska Fairbanks
University of Alaska Fairbanks
The University of Alaska Fairbanks, located in Fairbanks, Alaska, USA, is the flagship campus of the University of Alaska System, and is abbreviated as Alaska or UAF....
in 1975, and a law degree
Law degree
A Law degree is an academic degree conferred for studies in law. Such degrees are generally preparation for legal careers; but while their curricula may be reviewed by legal authority, they do not themselves confer a license...
from the University of Puget Sound School of Law in 1981.
Paskvan had an internship in 1981 under Judge Alexander O. Bryner of the Alaska Court of Appeals
Alaska Court of Appeals
The Alaska Court of Appeals is an intermediary court of appeals in the State of Alaska's judicial department , created in 1980 by the Alaska Legislature as an additional appellate court to lessen the burden on the Alaska Supreme Court...
, the year after the court was established. He worked for the law firm of Rice, Hoppner, Brown, & Brunner until 1986, when he started his own partnership, Paskvan & Ringstad PC.
He was elected in November 2008 to an open seat, as incumbent Gary Wilken retired after 3 terms. In the general election, he defeated Cynthia Henry, a gift shop owner who has served on both the Fairbanks North Star Borough Assembly and the University of Alaska Board of Regents.
External links
- Alaska State Legislature - Senator Joe Paskvan official government website
- Project Vote Smart - Senator Joe Paskvan (AK) profile
- Follow the Money - Joe Paskvan
- 2008 campaign contributions