Talis J. Colberg
Encyclopedia
Talis James Colberg was appointed by Governor Sarah Palin
as the seventeenth attorney general
of Alaska
on December 13, 2006. Colberg resigned in February 2009 over controversy over the Alaska Public Safety Commissioner dismissal
.
Colberg received his high school diploma from Palmer High School in 1976. He graduated from Pacific Lutheran University
in 1979 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Oriental History. In 1983, Colberg received his J.D.
degree from Pepperdine University School of Law
, where he was a classmate of Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich. He was admitted to the Alaska Bar in 1984. He finished his Ph.D.
in Northern Political History & Culture at the University of Alaska Northern Studies program in 2008.
, teaching Eastern and Western Civilization.
Colberg graduated from Palmer High School
in 1976, after which he attended Pacific Lutheran University
(B.A. 1979) and Pepperdine University
School of Law (J.D. 1983). He has completed his Ph.D. at University of Alaska. His dissertation title is "M.D. Snodgrass: The Founder of the Alaska State Fair".
In addition to his legal practice and teaching responsibilities, Colberg was active in the community. He was elected to two three-year terms on the Matanuska-Susitna Borough Assembly. From 1992 until his appointment, he was a member of the Greater Palmer Chamber of Commerce. From 1998 to 2001 Colberg served as a member of the Matanuska-Susitna Valleys State Park Citizen Advisory Board. From 1995 to 2001 he served as a Director of the Board as well as Secretary and President for the Alaska State Fair, Inc. From 2002 through 2006, Colberg served on the Board of Directors for the Alaska Humanities Forum and was elected Chairman of that Board from 2004 to 2005. He is also a Past President of the Palmer Rotary Club, where he has been a member since 1992.
As Alaska’s Attorney General, Colberg was a member of the Governor’s cabinet and headed up the 500 professionals that work for the Department of Law. The Attorney General serves as the legal advisor for the governor and other state officers, prosecutes all violations of state criminal law, represents the state in all civil lawsuits and administrative proceedings to which the state is a party, enforces the consumer protection and unfair trade practices laws, and protects rate payers in proceedings before the Regulatory Commission of Alaska (RCA), the state agency that regulates utilities.
In 2009 Colberg was elected the Mayor of the Matanuska-Susitna Burough, and he currently holds this post.
Colberg has been married for twenty-seven years. He and his wife have two daughters.
Talis is married to Krystyna, and his daughters are Domonique Woodham and Eva Colberg (15)
Sarah Palin
Sarah Louise Palin is an American politician, commentator and author. As the Republican Party nominee for Vice President in the 2008 presidential election, she was the first Alaskan on the national ticket of a major party and first Republican woman nominated for the vice-presidency.She was...
as the seventeenth attorney general
State Attorney General
The state attorney general in each of the 50 U.S. states and territories is the chief legal advisor to the state government and the state's chief law enforcement officer. In some states, the attorney general serves as the head of a state department of justice, with responsibilities similar to those...
of Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
on December 13, 2006. Colberg resigned in February 2009 over controversy over the Alaska Public Safety Commissioner dismissal
Alaska Public Safety Commissioner dismissal
The Alaska Public Safety Commissioner dismissal, also known as Troopergate, involves the July 2008 dismissal of the Public Safety Commissioner for the State of Alaska by Governor Sarah Palin....
.
Colberg received his high school diploma from Palmer High School in 1976. He graduated from Pacific Lutheran University
Pacific Lutheran University
Pacific Lutheran University is located in Parkland, a suburb of Tacoma, Washington. In September 2009, PLU had a student population of 3,582 and approximately 280 full-time faculty...
in 1979 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Oriental History. In 1983, Colberg received his J.D.
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
degree from Pepperdine University School of Law
Pepperdine University School of Law
The Pepperdine University School of Law is a law school located on the campus of Pepperdine University in Malibu, California.The school placed 54th among the nation's "Top 100" law schools according to the 2011 U.S. News and World Report rankings and is the third highest ranked law school in...
, where he was a classmate of Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich. He was admitted to the Alaska Bar in 1984. He finished his Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in Northern Political History & Culture at the University of Alaska Northern Studies program in 2008.
Background
Before his appointment, Talis Colberg worked from 1984 to 1985 as an associate attorney in the law firm Kopperud and Hefferan in Wasilla, Alaska. From 1985 to 1992, he served as staff counsel to The Travelers Insurance Companies. Until his appointment as Attorney General for the State of Alaska, he was in sole practice from 1992 and was also an Adjunct History Instructor at Matanuska-Susitna CollegeMatanuska-Susitna College
Matanuska–Susitna College in Palmer, Alaska, north of Anchorage, is part of the University of Alaska Anchorage system. The college began in 1958 as Palmer Community College, changing its name in 1963 to correspond to the Matanuska-Susitna Borough where it is located. It is commonly called Mat-Su...
, teaching Eastern and Western Civilization.
Colberg graduated from Palmer High School
Palmer High School, Alaska
Palmer High School is a high school located in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough in the city of Palmer, Alaska. Its mission is to prepare lifelong learners, community assets, and citizens of integrity. It offers in-depth courses in fine arts, mathematics, world languages, physical education and...
in 1976, after which he attended Pacific Lutheran University
Pacific Lutheran University
Pacific Lutheran University is located in Parkland, a suburb of Tacoma, Washington. In September 2009, PLU had a student population of 3,582 and approximately 280 full-time faculty...
(B.A. 1979) and Pepperdine University
Pepperdine University
Pepperdine University is an independent, private, medium-sized university affiliated with the Churches of Christ. The university's campus overlooking the Pacific Ocean in unincorporated Los Angeles County, California, United States, near Malibu, is the location for Seaver College, the School of...
School of Law (J.D. 1983). He has completed his Ph.D. at University of Alaska. His dissertation title is "M.D. Snodgrass: The Founder of the Alaska State Fair".
In addition to his legal practice and teaching responsibilities, Colberg was active in the community. He was elected to two three-year terms on the Matanuska-Susitna Borough Assembly. From 1992 until his appointment, he was a member of the Greater Palmer Chamber of Commerce. From 1998 to 2001 Colberg served as a member of the Matanuska-Susitna Valleys State Park Citizen Advisory Board. From 1995 to 2001 he served as a Director of the Board as well as Secretary and President for the Alaska State Fair, Inc. From 2002 through 2006, Colberg served on the Board of Directors for the Alaska Humanities Forum and was elected Chairman of that Board from 2004 to 2005. He is also a Past President of the Palmer Rotary Club, where he has been a member since 1992.
As Alaska’s Attorney General, Colberg was a member of the Governor’s cabinet and headed up the 500 professionals that work for the Department of Law. The Attorney General serves as the legal advisor for the governor and other state officers, prosecutes all violations of state criminal law, represents the state in all civil lawsuits and administrative proceedings to which the state is a party, enforces the consumer protection and unfair trade practices laws, and protects rate payers in proceedings before the Regulatory Commission of Alaska (RCA), the state agency that regulates utilities.
In 2009 Colberg was elected the Mayor of the Matanuska-Susitna Burough, and he currently holds this post.
Colberg has been married for twenty-seven years. He and his wife have two daughters.
Talis is married to Krystyna, and his daughters are Domonique Woodham and Eva Colberg (15)