Mark Myers named DNR commissioner; Randall Hoffbeck to head Department of Revenue

JUNEAU — Just over a week before he is sworn in, Gov.-elect Bill Walker announced his first Cabinet picks — Mark Myers as Natural Resources commissioner and Randall Hoffbeck as Revenue commissioner.

Myers is a former director of the state Division of Oil and Gas and U.S. Geological Survey who most recently has served as vice chancellor of research at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Hoffbeck formerly served as a petroleum property assessor for the state and as a North Slope Borough finance director.

Walker takes office Dec. 1. In an interview Friday, he said he is examining positions and not looking at a wholesale change-out of personnel from Gov. Sean Parnell’s administration. There would have to be a reason for him to make a change, he said.

Myers would replace Joe Balash, who has been a key figure in current efforts to advance a major liquefied natural gas project.

Hoffbeck would replace Angela Rodell.

The choices were announced in a news release issued early Saturday morning.