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  Begich, Mark
CANDIDATE DETAILS
AffiliationDemocratic  
<-  2009-01-01  
 
NameMark Begich
Address
Anchorage, Alaska , United States
EmailNone
Websitehttp://www.begich.com/
Born March 31, 1962 (61 years)
ContributorUser 490
Last ModifedRBH
Jan 01, 2023 09:31pm
Tags Caucasian - Croatian - Married - NRA - Catholic - Straight -
InfoMark Begich was sworn in as Anchorage's mayor on July 1, 2003, following the broadest public transition process in municipal history.

The first municipal mayor born and raised in Anchorage, Mark was elected on April 1, 2003, after campaigning on the issues of jobs and a strong economy, better schools, safe neighborhoods, and the promise that Anchorage is a great place to live and raise a family.

Mark, 41, is a 20-year Anchorage businessman. He owns and operates several Anchorage businesses, upgrading commercial buildings and renting affordable housing to nearly 100 Anchorage families. His wife, Deborah Bonito, owns and operates three retail stores, which feature the products of more than 130 Alaska craftspeople.

Mark was first elected to the Anchorage Assembly in 1988 at age 26. During his 10 years in elected municipal office, he focused on strengthening Anchorage's economy, creating new opportunities for young Alaskans and sound fiscal management. He was widely praised for his ability to bring diverse Anchorage groups and residents together, and was three times elected by his fellow assembly members as Assembly Chair, Anchorage's second highest office.

Mark's parents, Pegge and the late Nick Begich, ventured to the territory of Alaska in 1957 as teachers. Following a career as a teacher and Superintendent of Military Schools on Fort Richardson, Nick was elected Alaska's third U.S. Congressman. While running for reelection two years later, Begich's airplane disappeared in the Gulf of Alaska when Mark was 10 years old.

From his parents, Mark learned the values of hard work, strength of family, and commitment to community. These are the values he has applied to a successful business career and long record of public service. He founded the Making a Difference Program, which seeks to set straight first-time juvenile offenders; 90 percent of the youth who go through the program do not re-offend. He has served on numerous boards, including the Boys and Girls Club, Spirit of Youth Foundation and Family Resource Center. As chair of the statewide Alaska Student Loan Corporation, he applied sound business practices saving the corporation from bankruptcy and ensuring affordable student loans for Alaska's college and vocational-technical students for years to come. He is a corporate member of the Association of the United States Army, a life member of the National Rifle Association and served on the board of the Resource Development Council.

Mayor Begich was named Alaska's top elected municipal official by his colleagues statewide in 1997 and honored as a Friend of Education by the Anchorage Education Association. For his work for drug-free and crime-free neighborhoods, he was recognized by the Mt. View Community Council.

Mark was born in the Old Providence Hospital in downtown Anchorage in 1962. He and his wife Deborah live in East Anchorage, have been married 13 years and have a young son, Jacob.



JOB APPROVAL POLLS
DateFirmApproveDisapproveDon't Know
09/18/2014-09/21/2014 Public Policy Polling 42.00% ( 1.0) 51.00% ( 7.0) 7.00% ( 6.0)
07/31/2014-08/03/2014 Public Policy Polling 43.00% ( 1.0) 44.00% ( 1.0) 13.00% ( 2.0)
05/08/2014-05/11/2014 Public Policy Polling 44.00% ( 1.0) 45.00% ( 1.0) 11.00% ( 2.0)
01/30/2014-02/01/2014 Public Policy Polling 43.00% ( 2.0) 44.00% ( 7.0) 13.00% ( 9.0)
09/24/2013-09/25/2013 Harper Polling 39.00% ( 0.0) 42.00% ( 0.0) 19.00% ( 0.0)
04/25/2013-04/26/2013 Public Policy Polling 41.00% ( 8.0) 37.00% ( 2.0) 22.00% ( 10.0)
02/04/2013-02/05/2013 Public Policy Polling 49.00% ( 10.0) 39.00% ( 8.0) 12.00% ( 3.0)
10/30/2010-10/31/2010 Public Policy Polling 39.00% ( 0.0) 47.00% ( 1.0) 15.00% ( 2.0)
10/09/2010-10/10/2010 Public Policy Polling 39.00% ( 3.0) 48.00% ( 2.0) 13.00% ( 5.0)
08/27/2010-08/28/2010 Public Policy Polling 42.00% ( 7.0) 50.00% ( 1.0) 8.00% ( 5.0)
01/27/2010-01/28/2010 Public Policy Polling 35.00% ( 0.0) 51.00% ( 0.0) 13.00% ( 0.0)
FAVORABILITY POLLS
DateFirmFavorableUnfavorableDon't Know
06/15/2018-06/21/2018 Alaska Survey Research 49.00% ( 0.0) 35.00% ( 0.0) 15.00% ( 0.0)
10/01/2014-10/06/2014 Opinion Research Corporation (CNN) 45.00% ( 0.0) 52.00% ( 0.0) 3.00% ( 0.0)
09/24/2013-09/25/2013 Harper Polling 44.00% ( 0.0) 42.00% ( 0.0) 14.00% ( 0.0)

BOOKS
Title Purchase Contributor

EVENTS
Start Date End Date Type Title Contributor

NEWS
Date Category Headline Article Contributor
Jun 17, 2013 12:25pm News Sen. Begich says he's more a Rockefeller Republican than Pelosi Democrat  Article Scott³ 
Mar 26, 2013 12:30am News Mark Begich, Democratic Senator From Alaska, Issues Statement In Support Of Same Sex Marriage  Article Homegrown Democrat 
Aug 20, 2009 10:50am Statement Begich debunks ‘evil’ in health care reform   Article Jason 
Apr 02, 2009 02:00pm News Alaska Republicans: 'Begich should resign'  Article RBH 

DISCUSSION
Importance? 0.00000 Average

FAMILY
Father Nicholas J. Begich 1932-1972
Grandfather John Begich 0000-
Uncle Joseph R. Begich 1930-2019
Brother Nicholas J. Begich, Jr. 1958-
Nephew Nick Begich III 0000-
Brother Tom Begich 1960-
Mother Pegge Begich 1938-

INFORMATION LINKS
RACES
  11/06/2018 AK Governor Lost 44.41% (-7.03%)
  08/21/2018 AK Governor - ADL Primary Won 85.25% (+70.49%)
  11/04/2014 AK US Senate Lost 45.83% (-2.13%)
  08/19/2014 AK US Senate - ADL Primary Won 83.31% (+78.76%)
  01/03/2011 US Senate Armed Services Committee - Majority Members Won 5.49% (-7.69%)
  11/04/2008 AK US Senate Won 47.77% (+1.24%)
  08/26/2008 AK US Senate - ADL Primary Won 84.12% (+76.89%)
  04/04/2006 Anchorage Mayor Won 55.95% (+15.18%)
  04/01/2003 Anchorage Mayor Won 45.03% (+7.85%)
  05/02/2000 Anchorage Mayor - Runoff Lost 48.18% (-3.65%)
  04/04/2000 Anchorage Mayor - Initial Election Won 40.26% (+19.77%)
  04/18/1995 Anchorage Assembly - Seat H Won 52.55% (+10.40%)
  05/17/1994 Anchorage Mayor - Runoff Lost 41.60% (-16.80%)
  04/19/1994 Anchorage Mayor - Initial Election Won 19.58% (+0.00%)
SPECULATIVE, DID NOT RUN
  08/18/2020 AK US Senate - ADL Primary Lost 0.00% (-79.87%)
  04/07/2015 Anchorage Mayor Lost 0.00% (-37.04%)
ENDORSEMENTS
AK At-Large - Special Primary - Jun 11, 2022 D Christopher Constant
AK Measure 2 (Top Four & Campaign Finance) - Nov 03, 2020 NO No
AK US Senate - Nov 08, 2016 NPA Margaret Stock
C.I.A. Director - Mar 07, 2013 N John O. Brennan
Supreme Court - Associate Justice - Aug 05, 2010 D Elena Kagan
Chairman of the Federal Reserve Board - Jan 28, 2010 NPA Reject
Supreme Court - Associate Justice - Aug 06, 2009 I Sonia Sotomayor
Anchorage Mayor - May 05, 2009 D Eric Croft