(Juneau) — The Council of State Governments-West, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization serving Western state legislators in 13 Western states, has selected Sen. Bert Stedman (R-Sitka) as a participant for its prestigious training institute. The purpose of the Western Legislative Academy is to build excellence and effectiveness in state legislators in the Western region.

Admission to the Western Legislative Academy is highly competitive and is based on commitment to public service, desire to improve personal legislative effectiveness and interest in improving the legislative process. Sen. Stedman is one of thirty-nine state legislators from 12 states selected to attend the academy.

"I am honored to be selected to represent Alaska at this prestigious academy and hope to return armed with new ideas and innovative solutions," said Sen. Stedman.

The Western Legislative Academy is three and a half days of intensive training in subjects such as the legislative institution, ethics, team building, communications, legislative strategies and working relationships, negotiations and time management. Faculty will include the Eagleton Institute's Alan Rosenthal, a nationally recognized authority on state legislatures; Washington, D.C. communications expert Arch Lustberg, and a leading U.S. Air Force trainer in team building.

Sen. Stedman is serving his second term in the Alaska Legislature. He represents Senate District A, which includes the communities of Ketchikan, Sitka, Petersburg and Wrangell. Sen. Stedman, through chairmanship of the Community and Regional Affairs committee; membership on the Finance, Resources, Legislative Budget and Audit committees; and membership on the Advisory Commission on Local Government, has earned a reputation for his hard work and integrity in achieving proven success in tackling statewide projects including:

• Retirement system reform
• Harbor facility expansion and upgrade grants
• Revision of the oil and gas taxation formula
• Revenue sharing
• Gravina Access Bridge funding
• Timber access
• Salmon product development tax credits

"I look forward to an intensive exchange of ideas and sharing of experiences with the other distinguished legislators so I can be even more effective at serving my constituents," said Sen. Stedman.

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