Chris Carlson

A native of Kellogg, Idaho, Chris Carlson was born on December 22, 1946. He obtained his B.A. in English Literature in 1968 from Columbia, then taught and coached at a rural north Idaho high school before obtaining his M.A. in English Literature from Idaho State University in 1970. He then fell into journalism covering politics for the Idaho State Journal before becoming the Washington, D.C. correspondent for the Anchorage Daily News. In 1973 he began a life-long association with Idaho Governor Cecil D. Andrus becoming his press secretary. When Andrus became President Jimmy Carter's Secretary of the Interior Chris followed Andrus back to Washington as the Director of the Interior office of public affairs and as assistant to the secretary. In 1981 Idaho Governor John V. Evans appointed him to a seat on the Northwest Power Planning Council. In 1982 he began his private sector career in public affairs and strategic planning counsel serving initially as vice president for the Seattle-based Rockey Company, then northwest regional vice president for government affairs for Kaiser Aluminum. In 1989 he became the founding partner for The Gallatin Group, the northwest's largest independent public affairs and strategic communications business with offices in Spokane, Boise, Seattle, Portland and Helena. Two life-threatening diseases dictated an early disability retirement, but he has filled the time by writing a weekly political column carried by several Idaho daily and weekly newspapers as well as two blog sites and he has written two widely acclaimed and well reviewed books covering his time with Andrus as well as the many public issues he has been involved with over a 40 year career. As often as health and weather permit each Wednesday usually finds him fly fishing on Idaho's St. Joe River or the north Fork of the Coeur d'Alene. Married in 1970 to Marcia, their union produced four children (Alisa, Marissa, Serena and Scott) and to date two grandchildren. Devout Roman Catholics, they attend St. Augustine's in Spokane, a 90 minute drive from their home on Cave Lake in north Idaho.