By the Journal of Commerce

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has placed former commissioner Tom Irwin back to the helm of the Department of Natural Resources - a job from which he was fired by Palin's predecessor, former Gov. Frank Murkowski.

Marty Rutherford, who had been acting commissioner, was named deputy commissioner Feb. 9.

Irwin disagreed with Murkowski on Alaska gas pipeline negotiations in late 2005 and was subsequently fired. Rutherford, who was deputy commissioner at the time, resigned in protest along with several other senior officials in the state's natural resources department.

"Tom has the experience, talent and know-how to manage Alaska's resources and bring those resources, including Alaska's gas reserves, to market," Palin said. "His strong private-sector background will be a major asset." Irwin is a former executive with Kinross Gold, operator of a large gold mine near Fairbanks.

Palin has been trying to recruit Irwin since she was elected last November, but family concerns kept Irwin from committing. Rutherford served as acting commissioner to keep the job open.

When Murkowski was governor, Irwin and Rutherford took a position on pipeline negotiations contrary to policies proposed by the state revenue department, arguing Alaska would give away too much to get North Slope producers to build the pipeline.

The revenue department asserted that a deal reducing the industry's risk and increasing the state's long-term financial return was the best way to get the project built.

Palin defeated Murkowski in the August 2005 Republican primary election.