Chris was born on August 28, 1950 in Sterling, Illinois. Chris was a pioneer Alaskan. That is any Alaskan that has been in Alaska before statehood. Chris like many Alaskans here either were born here or move come to this state for the outdoors. Chris liked hiking and hunting. Chris earned his degrees from the University of Alaska Fairbanks in mining and engineering in 1972 and in 1979 earned his science and management degree at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. In 1978 he married the love of his life Pam Bushey.
Chris's public service life
Chris started to serve in the Fairbanks North Star Borough assembly where served two terms from 1984 to 1990.
Chris serve three terms on the Anchorage Assembly representing Bayshore, Anchorage Hillside and Girdwood from 2005 to 2014. He beat Dick Tremaine in 2005. He was the voice of reason on the assembly.
He decided to run for a term in the State House beating Bob Lynn in 2016 served one term then ran in 2018 for state senate when Kevin Meyer decided to run for Lt. Governor. He won a very easy primary.
He served on various local boards and commissions throughout his life. They were the Hilltop Ski Area, Chugach Electric Board, East Anchorage Rotary Club and other organizations.
My experience with Chris is when I first testified in from of the Anchorage Assembly on a cab ordinance to prevent predators from having a cab drivers license if they are being charged with domestic violence and crimes involving sex. He enjoyed that I gave the assembly the perspective from a cab dispatch point of view which they never heard cab issues from that perspective.
He leaves behind his wife Pam, two kids Logan, his wife Heather, Tali and her husband Josh. He also leaves his 4 grandchildren.
Alaska will miss Chris Birch and what he brought to the state.
