Joe L. Hayes Jr.

Joe L. Hayes Jr. (born May 1, 1970) is an American businessman and politician. Elected to the Alaska House of Representatives from Fairbanks, Alaska, in November 2000. He was the only African American in the Alaska House during his term. A distinguished alumnus of the University of Alaska Fairbanks (B.A. 1997), he was elected student body president and as a student appointed by the Alaska Governor to the Statewide University of Alaska board of regents. Hayes worked for a decade as executive director of the UAF Alumni Association.

This article is about the Democratic former member of the Alaska House of Representatives from Fairbanks, born in 1970. For the other Joe Hayes not related, to serve in that body, see Joseph Hayes.
Joe L. Hayes Jr.
Member of the Alaska House of Representatives
from the 30th district
In office
January 2001 – January 2003
Preceded byTom Brice
Succeeded byredistricting
Personal details
Born (1970-05-01) May 1, 1970
New York City
Political partyDemocratic
ResidenceFairbanks, Alaska
Alma materUniversity of Alaska Fairbanks B.A., Political Science
OccupationConsultant

Early life

Born Joe L. Hayes Jr. to Brenda Ann Lee, a nurse assistant in Manhattan, New York, he was raised in Baltimore, Maryland, with nine other siblings without a father in the home. Hayes graduated from Baltimore Polytechnic Institute in 1998.[1]

Public service

Hayes enlisted in the United States Air Force after high school graduation. During his four years of service, Hayes advanced to the E-4 (rank) of sergeant,[2] earning the Commendation Medal, Good Conduct Medal and the National Defense Service Medal. His first and last duty station was Eielson Air Force Base near Fairbanks, Alaska.[3]

After his honorable discharge Hayes enrolled in the Political Science concentration of the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) in 1992, receiving his bachelor's degree in 1997. His student service included seats on the Sun Star publication board, KSUA media board, budget council, and the governance coordinating committee. He was elected to the office of a student body senator, receiving the Senator of the Year award in 1994. In 1995, he was elected UAF's first Black student body president, serving two terms. Hayes was on the 1994 dean's list. He was the recipient of the 1995 Blue and Gold Award and was inducted into the National Political Science Honor Society, Pi Sigma Alpha.[4]

From 1995–97, Hayes was the first African American on the University of Alaska board of regents. Appointed by Gov. Tony Knowles, he served as the student regent. The UA regents' seat for a current student began in 1973.[5] Student Regents are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Alaska Legislature after first being elected by students for nomination from his/her campus. Student regents serve a two-year term.[6]

Joe L. Hayes Jr. is not related to James C. Hayes, the former mayor of Fairbanks Alaska.[7]

Legislative service

After graduation from UAF Hayes worked as a legislative Aid, then as chief of staff for Rep. Tom Brice(D)[8] of the then College, Alaska/Fairbanks House 30th District before winning that seat vacated by Brice when he decided not to run again. In 2000 Joe Hayes ran as a Democrat, winning 62.06 percent of the vote against write-in candidates.

In Alaska write-in campaigns are not taken lightly. Incumbent Lisa Murkowski lost the Republican Party primary nomination for Alaska U.S. Senator. Still, Murkowski ran as a write-in candidate, defeating both the Republican and Democrat on the ballot in the 2010 General Election, with 39.5 percent of the vote.[9][10]

Hayes served as a member of the 22nd legislature in the Alaska House of Representatives, on the Labor and Commerce, State Affairs Committees, the Special Committees for Military and Veterans Affairs and the Administrative Review Committee.[11][12] Redistricting from the year 2000 moved most of the voters of House District 30 into the new Denali/University District 8 and Fairbanks District 9. In Nov. 2002, the new Denali/University 8th District had Democrat David Guttenberg running and winning.[13] While Hayes ran for election as a Democrat in the new Fairbanks House District 9. Hayes lost the House District 9 race to Republican Jim Holm who received 52.16 percent of the votes.[14] Joe Hayes returned to UAF as its new Alumni Director working enthusiastically for more than ten years. Hayes became an advisor to the UAF Nu Omega chapter of Alpha Phi Omega. He resigned from the director position in Feb. 2014.

His firm The Hayes Group, LLC provides consultation to non-profit organizations.

Accolades
  • September 26, 1997 The Board of Regents recognizes the dedicated service of Joe L. Hayes Jr., and extends to him this official statement of appreciation for his contributions to the University of Alaska and the advancement of higher education in Alaska. See[15]
  • At the 1997 UAF graduation, Hayes received the Joel Wiegert Award (as the Outstanding Graduating Senior Man.)[16]
  • The 2004 UAF Distinguished Alumnus Award winner was, Joe Hayes[17]

Notes
  1. UAF Alumni Director http://www.newsminer.com/news/local_news/uaf-alumni-association-director-savors-his-job/article_3d354bd2-78de-5c80-989f-26bf2fbc776f.html
  2. Powers, Rod (2 April 2018). "Air Force Enlisted Rank (Insignia) History". thebalancecareers.com. The Balance Careers. Retrieved 27 June 2018. 19 OCTOBER 1967 - Airman grades, titles, and terms of address were revised.to make the following changes, and to restore NCO status to grade E-4: Airman Basic (no stripes), Airman (one stripe), Airman First Class (two stripes), Sergeant (three stripes), Staff Sergeant through Chief Master Sergeant, and First Sergeants, no change.
  3. UAF Alumni Director http://www.newsminer.com/news/local_news/uaf-alumni-association-director-savors-his-job/article_3d354bd2-78de-5c80-989f-26bf2fbc776f.html
  4. Resolution of Appreciation for Joe L. Hayes Jr. https://www.alaska.edu/bor/minutes/1997/09-26-97minutes/
  5. The Associated Press "Provosts from university’s 3 regions get student names" Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, Nov 20, 1973 Page 16
  6. UA Regents https://www.alaska.edu/bor/members/
  7. Not related to James C. Hayes http://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/hayes-james-c-1946
  8. Rep. Tom Brice http://www.elections.alaska.gov/doc/oep/1996/brice.htm
  9. Yardley, William. "Murkowski Wins Alaska Senate Race." Retrieved 2017-8-7.
  10. "State of Alaska 2010 General Election November 2, 2010 Official Results". elections.alaska.gov. December 28, 2010. Retrieved August 8, 2017.
  11. 100 Years Alaska Legislature http://w3.legis.state.ak.us/100years/bio.php?id=733 Alaska Legislature-Joe Hayes
  12. UA Governance Council http://www.alaska.edu/governance/system-governance-council/whos-who/
  13. New 8th District http://www.akrepublicans.org/districts.php#9
  14. Former state Rep. Joe Hayes of Fairbanks http://peninsulaclarion.com/stories/121102/ala_121102alapm0060001.shtml
  15. Resolution of Appreciation for Joe L. Hayes Jr. https://www.alaska.edu/bor/minutes/1997/09-26-97minutes/
  16. Joel Wiegert Award recipients https://www.uaf.edu/woodcenter/awards/wiegert-boswell-tilly/past/
  17. UAF 2004 Distinguished Alumnus https://www.uaf.edu/alumni/awards/distinguished/
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