Chancy Croft

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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 (1937-01-21)January 21, 1937 Jennings, Louisiana, U.S.
Died	August 30, 2022(2022-08-30) (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)^[1] was a workers' compensation attorney and Democratic Party politician from the U.S. state of Alaska. 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.