Les Gara
Member of the Alaska House of Representatives
from the 23rd district
In office
January 20, 2003 – January 15, 2019
Preceded byEldon Mulder
Succeeded byZack Fields
Personal details
Born (1963-02-06) February 6, 1963
New York City, New York, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseKelly Gara
EducationBoston University (BA)
Harvard University (JD)

Leslie S. Gara (born February 6, 1963) is a Democratic former member of the Alaska House of Representatives, having represented the 23rd District from 2003 to 2019. Gara is also a former assistant attorney general and part owner of a local restaurant in Anchorage, Snow City Cafe.[1]

Gara graduated from Boston University in 1985 with a Bachelor of Arts in history. He then earned his Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School in 1988.[2] He is of Iraqi-Jewish descent.[3]

In June 2018, Gara announced he would not be running for re-election.[4]

On September 21, 2021, Gara announced that he would run for governor in 2022. He has criticized incumbent governor Mike Dunleavy for cutting funding for public education at the University of Alaska system. He supports "responsible development" of oil and has vowed to improve energy efficiency standards and address climate change,[1] while opposing construction of Pebble Mine to protect fisheries.[5] He also has pledged to protect access to Abortion in Alaska.[5]

He supports ranking former governor Bill Walker second in the governor's election under Ranked-choice voting.[5]

References

  1. 1 2 Juneau, Andrew Kitchenman, Alaska Public Media & KTOO- (August 20, 2021). "Former state Rep. Les Gara becomes fourth candidate for Alaska's governor". Alaska Public Media. Retrieved November 8, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. ↑ "Les Gara's Biography". Vote Smart. Retrieved September 27, 2022.
  3. ↑ "Alaska's Jewish community predates US settlement". Anchorage Daily News. February 12, 2012.
  4. ↑ Mauer, Richard (June 5, 2018). "Les Gara says he's quitting the Alaska Legislature". KTUU. Retrieved December 31, 2019.
  5. 1 2 3 admin. "Issues". Les Gara. Retrieved November 8, 2022.

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