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Reggie Joule

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Reggie Joule
Mayor of the Northwest Arctic Borough, Alaska
Assumed office
October 2012
Preceded byMartha Whiting
Member of the Alaska House of Representatives
from the 40th district
In office
January 13, 1997 – October 2012
Preceded byDon Long
Succeeded byBenjamin Nageak
Personal details
Born (1952-07-14) July 14, 1952 (age 72)
Nome, Alaska
NationalityAmerican
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseLinda
ResidenceKotzebue, Alaska
Alma materUniversity of Alaska Fairbanks

Reginald L. "Reggie" Joule, Jr. (born July 14, 1952) is a politician in the U.S. state of Alaska. Until recently, Joule served a three-year term as mayor of the Northwest Arctic Borough, having been elected to that position in 2012. He announced his intention to retire from public service at the end of his term.[1]

Joule had previously served as a Democratic member of the Alaska House of Representatives, representing the 40th District from 1997 to 2012.[2] Before the beginning of the 26th Legislature in January 2008, Joule, along with "bush" Democrats Bryce Edgmon and Bob Herron, began caucusing with the Republicans in the House Majority Caucus. In the House, Joule served as a member of the Finance Committee. He also chaired both the Department of Health & Social Services and Environmental Conservation Finance Subcommittee and served on the University Of Alaska Finance Subcommittee. He was a member of the Special Committee on Economic Development, Trade & Tourism and the Joint Committee on Education Funding District Cost Factor for the 27th Legislature.[3]

While serving as the Mayor of the Northwest Arctic Borough, Joule was appointed by President Obama to the US President's State, Local, Tribal Leaders Task Force on Climate Preparedness and Resilience. More recently, Joule was a member of President Obama's State, Local and Tribal Leaders Task Force on Climate Preparedness and Resilience.[4] In this capacity, he was happy to welcome the first official and historic visit of the US President to the Alaskan Arctic to see firsthand the impacts of climate change on villages and advocate for local preparations and involvement. At present, Joule also serves on the Advisory Board of the UK-based 'Polar Regions' think-tank Polar Research and Policy Initiative.[5]

Personal life

Representative Joule has a wife: Linda, and five children: Lovisa, Reggie III, Angela, Dawn and Puyuk. Joule graduated from Copper Valley High School (a defunct Jesuit-run boarding school in Glennallen) in 1970 and attended the University of Alaska Fairbanks from 1970–1972.[6]

Before being elected to office Reggie Joule was a building maintenance and construction contractor.[7] Reggie Joule is also well known as a top competitor in the World Eskimo Indian Olympics. As a result of his accomplishments therein, he was inducted into the 2010 class of the Alaska Sports Hall of Fame.

Reggie Joule also made two appearances on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. He appeared on August 1st, 1973 and again on June 24th, 1983. Both appearances were to demonstrate the skills he used in the World Eskimo Indian Olympics.

See also

References