Terry Gardiner

Terry Lewis Gardiner in 1977

Terry Gardiner is an American former politician from Alaska.

Early life and education

[edit]

Gardiner was born on August 12, 1950, in Ketchikan, Alaska.[1] His parents, Herb and Helen Gardiner, moved to Ketchikan in 1947.[2] Herb worked at Fidalgo Island Packing, later a part of Trident Seafoods, and later at a pulp mill.[2] Helen was a homemaker.[2]

Gardiner graduated from Ketchikan High School in 1968 and studied political science and history at Western Washington State College in Bellingham.[2][1]

Career

[edit]

Gardiner's early employment was as a deckhand, starting in 1966 on the troller Pam.[2] In 1967–68, he worked as a gillnet deckhand for Dick Bishop.[2] He took over the gillnetter Veto in 1969 and purchased his vessel, Connie Anne, in 1971, which he operated until 1981.[2]

His political career began with a legislative internship in Olympia in 1971 for Representative Gladys Kirk.[2]

In 1972, Gardiner worked in the Alaska Legislature for Representative Mike Miller and the House Local Government Committee.[2] He was recognized as a liberal candidate in the 1972 elections, where he finished second in the primary and was elected to the House, alongside Oral Freeman.[2] In 1978, he became the youngest Speaker of the House at age 28.[2][3]

Gardiner also served as the Chairman of the Alaska Criminal Code Commission.[1]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c "100 Years of Alaska's Legislature".
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "SitNews: Ketchikan State Rep is still youngest in state's history By DAVE KIFFER".
  3. ^ Seattle, Ed Ronco, KPLU- (November 29, 2012). "Thomas Files Recount Request".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)