Dick Randolph

Dick Randolph
Member Alaska House of Representatives
1978—1982
Chair Alaska Libertarian Party
1983—1984
Predecessor:	John Kohler
Successor:	Joe Grove
Personal Details
Birth:	(1936-04-10) April 10, 1936 Salmon, Idaho
Party:	Republican Party (1970-x1976) Libertarian Party (c 1976—c 1985) Republican Party (c 1985-1998) Libertarian Party (1998-present)
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Richard L. "Dick" Randolph (born April 10, 1936) became the first Libertarian in state office with his election to the Alaska House of Representatives in 1978. He was re-elected in 1980 and was instrumental in the repeal of the state income tax. He ran unsuccessfully for Governor of Alaska in 1982. His campaign manager in 1982 was Steve Kirschbaum.

He was the 11th Chair of the Alaska Libertarian Party from 1983 to 1984.

Biography

Career

Richard Randolph was born in Salmon, Idaho on April 10, 1936. He graduated from Idaho State College in 1960 with a B.A. in education. He moved to Alaska that same year to become a teacher, spending several years doing such in Valdez and South Naknek. He moved to Fairbanks in 1964 and founded a State Farm Insurance agency, becoming its top sales agent in the nation in 1965. He also served as the state president and national vice-president for the Jaycees before entering politics.

Politics

Randolph was elected to the Alaska House of Representatives as a Republican in the 1970 election. He was re-elected in 1972, but did not seek re-election in 1974, likely in protest of financial reporting laws which had just been enacted. A number of fellow legislators, also self-employed, had resigned from the legislature around this same time.

Randolph managed Roger MacBride's presidential campaign in Alaska during the 1976 presidential election.

Running as a Libertarian in 1978 Randolph finished fifth out of 17 candidates, taking one of the six State House seats in District 20. He was re-elected in 1980, coming in first out of 18 candidates, with his fellow Libertarian Ken Fanning taking 4th and giving the Alaska LP two of the six seats in District 20. Randolph supported repealing Alaska's income tax in 1980. He declined to seek reelection in the 1982 election.

Randolph declined to run for the 1980 Libertarian presidential nomination after having his name put forward for the nomination by the then-chair of the Libertarian Party of Hawaii, and Ed Clark went on to become the party's presidential nominee.

In May 1981, Randolph announced that he would run in the 1982 gubernatorial election. Randolph and his running mate Donnis Thompson received nearly 15% of the vote. He spent $500,000 during the campaign.

He served as Alaska State Chair from 1983 to 1985. He later rejoined the Republican Party until 1998, when he rejoined the Libertarian Party.

Community Service

• President, Alaska Jaycees;
• Member, Alaska Jaycees;
• Vice President, National Jaycees;
• Member, International Jaycees;
• Member, Alaska Life Underwriters;
• Chairman, Central Council North Start Borough PTA

Employment

• Insurance Agent
• Teacher, Valdez School District;
• Teacher, Bristol Bay School District; Member, Alaska State Chamber of Commerce

Campaigns

• Alaska House of Representatives (1978, 1980)
• Alaska Governor (1982)

Organizational Positions

Libertarian National Committee

• Member-At-Large (1977—1983)

Alaska Libertarian Party

• Chair (1983—1984)

Gallery

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