 |
Chancy Croft | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Chair of the University of Alaska Board of Regents | |
| In office 2001–2002 | |
| Preceded by | Michael Burns |
| Succeeded by | Brian D. Rogers |
| Member of the University of Alaska Board of Regents | |
| In office 1995–2003 | |
| Preceded by | Mark Helmericks |
| Succeeded by | Cynthia Henry |
| President of the Alaska Senate | |
| In office 1975–1977 | |
| Preceded by | Terry Miller |
| Succeeded by | John Rader |
| Member of the Alaska Senate from the E district | |
| In office January 11, 1971 – January 14, 1979 | |
| Preceded by | Multi-member district |
| Succeeded by | Terry Stimson |
| Member of the Alaska House of Representatives from the 8th district | |
| In office January 27, 1969 – January 10, 1971 | |
| Preceded by | Multi-member district |
| Succeeded by | Multi-member district |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Leland Chancy Croft January 21, 1937 Jennings, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Died | August 30, 2022 (aged 85) Salem, Oregon, U.S |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Toni Williamson |
| Children | 3, including Eric Croft |
| Education | University of Texas, Austin (BA, LLB) |
Leland Chancy Croft (August 21, 1937 – August 30, 2022) was an American politician and workers' compensation attorney. Elected to the Alaska House of Representatives in 1968, he served a single term from 1969 to 1971. He was then elected to the Alaska Senate, serving in that body from 1971 to 1979, including serving as the president of the Senate from 1975 to 1977 during the 9th Alaska State Legislature.
In 1978, he ran for Governor of Alaska, winning the Democratic nomination in the primary election over two challengers. He would then become the first of 3 major party nominees in Alaska gubernatorial elections to place third in the general election. The 1978 gubernatorial election was dominated by Republican challenger Walter Hickel. Hickel lost the primary to incumbent Jay Hammond by 98 votes, then launched a write-in campaign, which outpolled Croft in the general election.
Croft largely retired from electoral politics after this campaign, but remained prominent in legal and political circles in Alaska. He founded the Croft Law Office, a workers' compensation firm, in downtown Anchorage, and appeared before the Alaska Supreme Court in over sixty cases. He served a term on the University of Alaska Board of Regents from 1995 to 2003, including as chair of the body from 2001 to 2002. His older son, Eric, has gone on to have his own political career.