Alaska health commissioner to head Revenue Department

Nov. 14—Adam Crum, covid, covid briefing, covid-19

Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy said Monday that his health commissioner will now lead the Department of Revenue.

Adam Crum was appointed to head the Department of Health and Social Services at the start of Dunleavy's time in office. Crum has led the agency through the COVID-19 pandemic and its split into the Department of Health and the Department of Family and Community Services.

Dunleavy announced that Heidi Hedberg, who currently serves as the director of the Division of Public Health, will serve as acting commissioner of the Department of Health.

The state Revenue Department has undergone multiple leadership changes in recent months.

Commissioner Lucinda Mahoney resigned in September and was replaced by Deven Mitchell, who in turn left the agency last week to serve as executive director of the Alaska Permanent Fund Corp. Brian Fechter, who had worked for the state of Alaska for the past nine years, was named acting revenue commissioner last Monday.

Crum is set to officially start his new role on Wednesday. The Department of Revenue collects and enforces taxes, manages the state treasury, child support services and the Permanent Fund Dividend Division.

Dunleavy is well ahead in preliminary returns and strongly expected to be reelected. Jeff Turner, a spokesman for the governor's office, said Crum will be acting commissioner until his name is submitted to the Legislature for confirmation next year.

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A joint session of the Legislature typically meets in spring to consider the governor's appointees for boards, commissions and cabinet positions. A majority of legislators must approve an appointee through an up-or-down vote.

This is a developing story and will be updated.