OWNER/PUBLISHER; CO-OWNER

THE ALASKA LANDMINE, THE ALASKA POLITICAL REPORT; TUDOR ROAD STUDIOS

Hometown: Rio Rancho, N.M.

Current City: Anchorage

Education: Bachelor of Arts, history with a minor in economics, UAA, 2009

Community Work: Board member, Secretary of the board, Alaska Institute for Justice (20142016); Commissioner, Anchorage Sister Cities Commission (2017-2020), chair (2019-2020); Taku Campbell Community Council, President (2012-2014, 2015-2016); Federation of Community Councils, member (2013-2015), Chair (2014-2015); Board member, River Park Homeowners Association (2013-2016, 2017-present), President since 2017

Family: Parents, Dawn and Steve Landfield; sister, Holly Landfield

What is your favorite place in Alaska and why?: Hourglass Lake, near Big Lake: My friend Bryce's mom has a lake house there. We've been going up for years during the summer to enjoy the lake and spend time with friends. Nothing beats swimming in a lake during the Alaska summer and then having a cold beer in a hot tub under the midnight sun with friends. Name the person you respect and why: Ruth Botstein: After Mike Dunleavy was elected governor in 2018, he sent out letters to all exempt state employees requiring them to submit their resignations - which is common for most exempt employees when a new administration takes over - and indicate their intent to work for the new administration - which is not common. Ruth Botstein, who was a senior assistant attorney general with the Department of Law, was one of the people to receive that letter. Botstein, who had worked for the Department of Law for 12 years, gave her resignation and indicated that she wanted to continue working for the Department of Law. Nonetheless, she was terminated. However, not long after she was fired, it was brought to the attention of Dunleavy and his team that Botstein had argued before the U.S. Supreme Court on the state's behalf in support of John Sturgeon. Sturgeon, a conservative hero in Alaska, sued the National Park Service after he was forced off the Nation River while using his hovercraft. An ally and supporter of Dunleavy, Sturgeon was incensed that Botstein - who helped in his case against the federal government - had been fired. Botstein was contacted and told she could have her job back. But Botstein was a good friend of Libby Bakalar, another state lawyer who was also fired. Botstein said she would come back only if Bakalar was also offered her job back. When she was told no, she declined to come back. It's rare that people stand up for their friends in such situations. Botstein's ride-or-die attitude is why I respect her. And in a twist of irony, Botstein now works for the ACLU Alaska. So instead of employing her, the Dunleavy administration now must contend with her.

What was your first job?: Dishwasher and pizza delivery driver at a restaurant called Venezia's Pizzeria in Rio Rancho, N.M.

What has been your most rewarding community service?: Serving on the board of the Alaska Institute for Justice. Two of their core missions are providing low cost legal services to immigrants and providing interpreters through their Language Interpreter Center. Many immigrants have nowhere to turn to when trying to navigate our extremely complex and draconian immigration system. And when they do find a lawyer who can help them, they often cannot afford the fees. Alaska has a large immigrant population, and many of them require legal assistance or a professional interpreter. Being part of an organization whose mission is to serve those people was important and rewarding. In your professional life, what has been a project or achievement you have found to be the most fulfilling?: Starting the Alaska Landmine. I came back from nearly a year in Australia, at the end of 2017, and decided to start the Landmine. Prior to that I had always worked for someone else. It started small, but with a great team of Alaskans, I was able to grow it into one of the main political news sites in Alaska. Growing it has been hard and required a lot of work, but it has all been extremely rewarding. It has allowed me to spend the last five legislative sessions in Juneau, which resulted in me learning Alaska's political process in great detail. That led me to start the Alaska Political Report in 2021. It's challenging running your own business, but when it is successful you reap all the rewards. It has been very fulfilling.

Based on your own experiences, what advice would you give on maintaining a good work-life balance?: Travel. Go on vacation. See the world! So many people I know rarely go on vacation or get away from work. Nothing makes you work harder or appreciate work more than spending 10 days on the beach or visiting some far-flung part of the world.