Anchorage Unitarian Universalist Fellowship

The Forum IN PERSON at AUUF & on Zoom

9:00 am Sunday, May 10, 2026

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"Candidates for Governor of Alaska"

Gregg Brelsford, Meda DeWitt, and James Parkin

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​ Gregg Brelsford grew up Denver. After visiting his parents in Anchorage on a college break the year before, Gregg drove the Alcan highway in 1972 with his brother Jim to begin a life in Alaska. He earned his B.A. and a Master’s in Public Administration from UAA while working fulltime, and then a law degree from Harvard Law School.  He is a former Alaska prosecuting attorney, and is also a British Solicitor and former international lawyer.  He was the manager of the two largest municipalities in Bristol Bay (during COVID), the Bristol Bay Borough and the City of Dillingham. Gregg served as the CEO of the Aleutian/Pribilof Islands Association, one of Alaska’s twelve Alaska Native regional tribal governing bodies. For five years he served on the Alaska Federation of Natives board, and is an adopted member of two tribes. Gregg has been blessed with three wonderful children. He and his wife Puyong have been married 37 years.

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Meda DeWitt is a lifelong Alaskan, born on Prince of Wales Island, and Tlingit from the Naanya.aayí clan in Wrangell. She is the senior state manager for the Wilderness Society in Alaska, and president of Yak-Tat K̲wáan Inc., the village corporation for Yakutat. Meda is a Lingít traditional healer who harvests local plants for traditional medicines and foods. She earned a master’s degree in Alaska Native traditional healing from Alaska Pacific University, and is currently in an Indigenous studies doctoral program at Te Whare Wananga o Awanuiarangi, New Zealand. She has taught Traditional Health Practices at the University of Alaska for over ten years. Meda has 20 years of experience as a community and political organizer. She spearheaded the Campaign to Recall Governor Dunleavy six years ago, served as President of Stand Up Alaska, co-founded the Civics Academy through Alaskans Take a Stand, and continues to mentor emerging leaders in both Native and allied communities. 

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James William Parkin IV (“JP4”) was born and raised a military dependent, and first came to Alaska in 1968 when his dad was stationed at the naval base on Kodiak island. After leaving Alaska to serve in the military and earn bachelor’s degrees in Biology and in Natural Sciences Education, he returned 35 years ago. JP4 worked as a teacher and principal for 30 years in rural Alaska, along the way earning Masters Degrees in Educational Technology and in Educational Leadership, and serving as NEA President among other positons. For the last eight years he has worked in the mining industry. His government and business experience includes serving on the Angoon City Council and coordinating programs with Native associations, corporations, and city, state and federal government agencies, and commercial businesses. He and his wife of 45 years have lived in Adak, Anchorage, and Angoon, and have six children, 25 grandchildren and two great grandchildren.   

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