David S. Wilson

David S. Wilson (born ca. 1981) is an American politician from Alaska. A Republican, Wilson has represented District D in the Alaska Senate since 2017. He formerly served as a city councilman in Wasilla.[1]

This article is about the politician. For the biologist, see David Sloan Wilson.
David S. Wilson
David Wilson seated in the Senate chamber of the Alaska State Capitol in May 2019
Member of the Alaska Senate
from the D district
Assumed office
January 17, 2017
Preceded byCharlie Huggins
Personal details
Bornca. 1981 (age 38–39)
California
NationalityAmerican
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)Aleta
ResidenceWasilla, Alaska
Alma materAlaska Pacific University

Wilson was elected to the Senate at the age of 35. He narrowly defeated Representative Lynn Gattis in the Republican primary to succeed longtime Senator Charlie Huggins, who was retiring, in August 2016. He was endorsed in his campaign by the conservative Republican Assembly but did not run with the backing of the Alaska Republican Party. He was previously an unaffiliated voter, registering with the Republican Party less than a year before his primary victory.[1]

Upon being sworn in on January 17, 2017, Wilson became the first African-American elected to the Senate from Alaska's Matanuska-Susitna Valley,[2] Wilson is the eighth African-American to serve in the Alaska Legislature. Of those eight, he is the third Republican, the second senator, the first Republican senator and the first to represent an area of Alaska outside of Anchorage or Fairbanks.

On May 2, 2017, Wilson allegedly slapped Nathaniel Herz of the Alaska Dispatch News during an encounter in the Alaska State Capitol in Juneau. The event was recorded by Herz's smartphone as the reporter was questioning Wilson on his reaction to a recent article about a bill proposed by Wilson. Herz filed a police report that day.[3]

On December 12, 2017, The Alaska Office of Special Prosecutions declined to pursue charges against Wasilla Republican Sen. David Wilson for a May incident in which he allegedly slapped Anchorage Daily News reporter Nathaniel Herz. In a letter Tuesday to Juneau police, Chief Assistant Attorney General Andrew Peterson wrote that it is unlikely the state will be able to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Wilson acted with the specific intent to harass or annoy Herz, the standard for determining harassment in the second degree.[4]

Personal life

Wilson was born in California and raised in a Christian household. He attended Alaska Pacific University, earning a degree in psychology, where he met his wife, Aleta.

See also

References
  1. Lockyer, Ellen (August 18, 2016). "Wilson upsets Gattis for state Senate seat". Alaska Public Media. Retrieved January 17, 2017.
  2. Hollander, Zaz (September 27, 2016). "After upset victory in Senate primary, Wasilla councilman still needs to win over some Mat-Su Republicans". Alaska Dispatch News. Retrieved January 17, 2017.
  3. "Alaska Dispatch News reporter slapped by Wasilla lawmaker". Alaska Dispatch News. Retrieved 2017-10-23.
  4. https://www.alaskapublic.org/2017/12/12/state-prosecutor-decides-not-to-charge-sen-wilson-in-reporter-slapping. Missing or empty |title= (help)
Honorary titles
Preceded by
Lesil McGuire		 Youngest member of the Alaska Senate
2017–		 Succeeded by
Current
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