Don Benson is a lifelong Alaskan of 58 years. He resides outside of Palmer with his wife, Sharon and son Dalton. A 3rd generation descendent of a Colonist family, Don is dedicated to his community. He is President of the Mat-Su Pioneers of Alaska, and volunteers with the Palmer Food Bank, Boy Scouts of America, and the Palmer Historical Society. He is a member of St. Michael’s Catholic Church.
Don has vast construction experience, and presently works for an Alaska owned construction company, New Horizons Telecom, as a site superintendent. Like many Alaskans, Don loves to fly, and has been flying small airplanes since he was 16 years old. He retains licenses for an Airframe and Powerplant mechanic, and a Maintenance Inspector.
Don was appointed to the Alaska Natural Gas Development Authority (ANGDA) by Governor Palin in 2007, and is currently the vice-chairman. ANGDA was created by the People of Alaska through a 2002 General Election Ballot Initiative and is a public corporation (much like the Permanent Fund or Alaska Railroad). Don is committed to ANGDA’s mission of getting North Slope natural gas and propane to all Alaskan communities, as well as identifying feasible LNG opportunities for the State of Alaska.
Serving on ANGDA’s board has provided Don the opportunity to get an insider’s view of all aspects of natural gas in and outside Alaska. From field production to end-user prices, Don is always discussing and planning for Alaska’s future natural gas needs. Don firmly believes that providing the low cost, clean energy that natural gas offers to south-central Alaska is essential to maintaining the quality of life enjoyed by many Alaskans.
Don’s long tenure in Alaska and in Palmer has equipped him with an understanding of the needs and issues of our community. He believes that funding for education, road maintenance and crime protection are fundamental central services. Don believes that job opportunities, and low cost, clean energy are indispensable and critical to providing those fundamental services.
