Dean Westlake

Dean Westlake
Nuna
Member of the Alaska House of Representatives from the 40th District
In office January 17, 2017 – December 25, 2017
Preceded by	Benjamin Nageak
Succeeded by	John Lincoln
Personal details
Born	(1960-01-08)January 8, 1960 Noorvik, Alaska, U.S.
Died	August 21, 2022(2022-08-21) (aged 62) Anchorage, Alaska, U.S.
Political party	Democratic

Dean Westlake (January 8, 1960 – August 21, 2022), or Nuna in Iñupiaq, was an American politician from Alaska. He served in the Alaska House of Representatives in 2017, representing the 40th District in Alaska's North Slope region. A member of the Democratic Party, he caucused with the Democrat-led majority in the House of Representatives that includes independents and Republicans.^[1]

Political career

See also: Me Too movement

Westlake first ran for the House in 2014, mounting an unsuccessful Democratic primary challenge to Barrow Representative Benjamin Nageak, who caucused with the Republican-led majority caucus at the time. He ran again in 2016 and defeated Nageak in a very close election that was contested in court. A lower court ruled that 50 votes cast in Shungnak, a rural community that went overwhelmingly for Westlake, had been improperly cast and should not have been counted. The Alaska Supreme Court reversed the ruling however, making Westlake the winner.^[2] Westlake was unopposed in the general election.^[3]

In December 2017, after seven female capitol staffers aired complaints of inappropriate sexual behavior by Westlake, he apologized. However, when he fathered a child with a 16-year-old in 1988 when he was 28 was about to be publicized, he tendered his resignation effective within ten days.^[4][5]

According to procedures in such a circumstance, elected District 40 representatives of his Democratic party submitted three names of prospective replacement candidates to the governor. House Democratic members were then to make a choice regarding confirmation of his nominee.^[6] By January 7, eight hopefuls had put their names into consideration for the post which officially became vacant on December 25, 2017.^[7] From those, district Democrats forwarded the governor the names of three candidates from whom he might choose to replace Westlake: Sandy Shroyer-Beaver and Eugene Smith, both of Kotzebue and Leanna Mack of Utqiagvik.^[8] Governor Bill Walker rejected the choice of those Democratic party leaders from District 40, after he interviewed the three. Instead Walker picked John Lincoln, an official with the Kotzebue-based NANA Regional Corporation, and he forwarded his choice to House Democrats for confirmation.^[9] House Democrats quickly officially endorsed Lincoln to take the seat, effective January 26, 2018.^[10]

Death

On August 21, 2022, Westlake was "pummeled" to death, at the age of 62, at his home in Anchorage, Alaska. His son, Tallon Westlake, was arrested and charged with manslaughter in reference to the death.^[11][12]

References

1. "Representative Dean Westlake". House Majority Coalition. Archived from the original on December 17, 2017. Retrieved January 17, 2017.
2. Waldholz, Rachel (October 12, 2016). "Supreme Court declares Dean Westlake winner of House District 40 Primary race". Alaska Public Media. Retrieved January 17, 2017.
3. "Alaska 40th District State House Results: Dean Westlake Wins". The New York Times. December 13, 2016. Retrieved January 17, 2017.
4. [1] | September 06, 2014 | Adjutant General Out After Release of National Guard Report, Governor calls for Special Team to Restore Respect and Responsibility | Mary Kauffman, SitNews | [2]
5. [3] | 10/22/2014 | Alaska National Guard Sex Abuse Scandal Threatens GOP Governor’s Re-election | Dana Liebelson | [4]
6. Representative Westlake, embattled by sexual harassment allegations, will resign, Alaska Dispatch News, Julia O'Malley, December 15, 2017. Retrieved December 16, 2017.
7. Alaska political roundup: Here’s who wants to fill the state House seat left empty by Dean Westlake, Alaska Dispatch News, Nathaniel Herz, January 6, 2018. Retrieved January 8, 2018.
8. Westlake replacement to be named soon, KINY, January 11, 2018. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
9. Governor Walker picks Kotzebue man to represent northern Alaska in State House, Alaska Dispatch News, Nathaniel Herz, January 25, 2018. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
10. Democrats approve appointment of John Lincoln to the House, KTUU, Richard Mauer, January 26, 2018.
11. "Charging Document, Tallon Westlake" (PDF). State of Alaska. August 21, 2022. Retrieved August 21, 2022.
12. Former Alaska state Rep. Westlake died after son ‘pummeled’ him, according to manslaughter charges, Alaska Public Media, Casey Grove, August 22, 2022. Retrieved August 23, 2022.