Jim Sykes

James L. Sykes (born April 8, 1950)[1][2][3] is a producer and elected official in the state of Alaska notable for being one of the founders of the Green Party of Alaska.

Jim Sykes
Member of the Matanuska-Susitna Borough Assembly from District 1
Incumbent
Assumed office October 2013
Preceded by	Warren Keogh
Personal details
Born	April 8, 1950 Rapid City, South Dakota, U.S.
Nationality	American
Political party	Green
Residence	Palmer, Alaska

Early life and career

Jim Sykes was born in Rapid City, South Dakota and moved to Alaska ca. 1976. Sykes spent many years living and working in both Anchorage and Talkeetna. Sykes's professional experience includes work for the Alaska Native Review Commission, public radio stations KSKA and KTNA, and as executive director of the Alaska Public Interest Research Group. He homesteaded in the community of Chase, near Talkeetna, and help to found the Chase Community Council. He and his wife currently live near Palmer in a solar-powered straw-bale house.[3]

Green Party Activism

In 1990, Sykes became one of the founders of the Green Party of Alaska. As a result, Sykes initiated a lawsuit, Sykes v. Alaska, relying heavily upon case law established in the earlier ballot access lawsuits of Joe Vogler during the 1970s and 1980s. The lawsuit allowed the Green Party onto the ballot in similar fashion to the original ballot access status of the Alaskan Independence Party prior to its becoming a recognized political party. This lawsuit also led to the lessening of the threshold needed to become recognized as a political party in Alaska. In the 1990 gubernatorial election, Sykes ran as the Green Party nominee and garnered 3.3% of the vote. This established Alaska as the first state to obtain ballot access for the Green Party in the United States.

Sykes continued to be active in Green Party politics, running for the U.S. Senate in twice in 2002 and 2004. He received 7.24% of the vote in 2002 [4] and 2.22% in 2004.[5]

Mat-Su Borough Assembly

In 2013, Sykes ran against Doug Glenn for an open seat in District 1 on the non-partisan borough assembly of Matanuska-Susitna Borough. District 1 covers the eastern portion of the borough and includes Butte, Lazy Mountain, South Knik River, Farm Loop, South Fishhook, Buffalo Soapstone, Sutton, Chickaloon, Glacier View and Lake Louise.[6]

On October 1, 2013 Sykes won by 69 votes.[7] He succeeded Warren Keogh.

Electoral history

Mat-Su Borough Assembly Election 2013, District 1 Party Candidate Votes % Independent Jim Sykes 1,112 51.6 Independent Doug Glenn 1,043 48.4 Total votes 2,155 100 United States Senate election in Alaska, 2004[5] Party Candidate Votes % ±% Republican Lisa Murkowski (inc.) 149,773 48.58% -25.91% Democratic Tony Knowles 140,424 45.55% +25.82% Independent Marc J. Millican 8,885 2.88% Alaskan Independence Jerry Sanders 3,785 1.23% Green Jim Sykes 3,053 0.99% 2.22% Libertarian Scott A. Kohlhaas 1,240 0.40% -1.87% Independent Ted Gianoutsas 732 0.24% Write-ins 423 0.14% Majority 9,349 3.03% -51.74% Turnout 308,315 Republican hold Swing United States Senate election in Alaska, 2002[4] Party Candidate Votes % ±% Republican Ted Stevens (inc.) 179,438 78.17% +1.46% Democratic Frank Vondersaar 24,133 10.51% +0.17% Green Jim Sykes 16,608 7.24% -5.29% Alaskan Independence Jim Dore 6,724 2.93% Libertarian Leonard Karpinski 2,354 1.03% Write-ins 291 0.13% Majority 155,305 67.66% +3.47% Turnout 229,548 Republican hold Swing

1994 gubernatorial election, Alaska[8] Party Candidate Votes % ±% Democratic Tony Knowles 87,693 41.08 +10.2 Republican Jim Campbell 87,157 40.84 +14.7 Alaskan Independence Jack Coghill 27,838 13.04 -25.8 Green Jim Sykes 8,727 4.09 +0.7 Patriot Ralph Winterrowd 1,743 0.82 +0.3 Write-ins 277 0.13 -0.0 Majority 536 0.24 -7.7 Turnout 213,435 63.5 -1.3 Democratic gain from Republican Swing -36.01 1990 gubernatorial election, Alaska[9] Party Candidate Votes % ±% Alaskan Independence Walter Hickel 75,721 38.88 +33.3 Democratic Tony Knowles 60,201 30.91 -16.4 Republican Arliss Sturgulewski 50,991 26.18 -16.4 Green Jim Sykes 6,563 3.37 N/A The Political Party Michael O'Callaghan 942 0.48 N/A Write-in votes 332 0.17 -3.8 Majority 15,520 7.97 +3.3 Turnout 194,750 Alaskan Independence gain from Democratic Swing -49.70

References

1. "Defendant - Summary (3AN-07-10273MO Municipality of Anchorage vs. Sykes, James L)". CourtView. Alaska Court System. Archived from the original on April 2, 2012. Retrieved October 8, 2011.
2. "Reports Image Index for Candidate ID: S2AK00093". Washington: Federal Election Commission. Archived from the original on September 23, 2015. Retrieved October 8, 2011.
3. State of Alaska Official Election Pamphlet (pdf) (Region III ed.). Juneau: Alaska Division of Elections. 2004. p. 34. Retrieved October 8, 2011.
4. http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/2002election.pdf
5. http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/2004election.pdf
6. http://www.matsugov.us/assembly/district-1
7. 'Sykes, Beck win seats on Mat-Su Assembly', Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman, 11 October 2013. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
8. "1994 Gubernatorial General Election Results - Alaska". Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections. Retrieved 2008-07-23.
9. "1990 Gubernatorial General Election Results - Alaska" (PDF). Alaska Division of Elections. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 September 2009. Retrieved 2009-08-31.

External links

• Jim Sykes Borough Member Assembly Page