Meet Zac
In 1974, my parents built a cabin along Turnagain Arm. That’s where I spent the first years of my life. There was no electricity or running water, but there was a vibrant community and a love for the rugged spirit of Alaska.
A year before 9/11, I enlisted in the United States Marine Corps as an infantryman. Through two deployments, including the invasion of Iraq in 2003, I traveled the world, endured hardships, lost friends, and came to know what it means to put service above self.
Like many young vets, I found myself adrift after leaving the military. In 2006, I decided I’d spend a summer in Alaska, and moved back to that same cabin I was raised in. I thought it was just for a season, but as the summer came to an end, something clicked and I decided to stay.
I enrolled in UAA, where I ultimately graduated magna cum laude with a degree in Aviation Technology. While I was in school, I volunteered as a firefighter and EMT with the Girdwood Fire Department, and developed an appreciation for the ordinary citizens who put themselves in harm’s way to protect our neighbors.
In 2013, I joined the Alaska State Troopers. Posted in Fairbanks, I started out in the Patrol Unit, before becoming a State Pilot and joining the Special Emergency Response Team. Work took me from Dillingham to Arctic Village, and dozens of communities in between. In 2018, I transferred to Anchorage and took on a new role. As a Tactical Flight Officer, my missions ranged from remote search and rescues to fishery patrols to high-value drug busts with federal partners.
Ten years ago, I met and fell in love with an amazing woman from Ketchikan, Liz. We bought a house on the hillside in Anchorage, got married, and live happily together with our sweet and adventurous 14-year-old Chinook, Archer. (He’s a dog, not a helicopter or a fish.)
I left the Troopers in 2021, but I knew I wasn’t done with public service. Motivated by a desire to make my community a better place, I started going to community council meetings. In 2023, I decided to run for a seat on the Anchorage Assembly. I’ve won two competitive elections by focusing on public safety, infrastructure, and leading with integrity. I’ve always been an independent, and I’ve been proud to work with colleagues across the political spectrum to get things done.
Alaskans know that we thrive when we depend on community, compassion, and hard work. It’s time our leaders reflected these same values. That’s why I’m running with JKT.
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for the future of Alaska.
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