Chancy Croft

Leland Chancy Croft
Member of the University of Alaska Board of Regents
In office 1995–2003
Preceded by	Mark H. Helmericks
Succeeded by	Cynthia Henry
Chair of the University of Alaska Board of Regents
In office 2001–2002
Preceded by	Michael J. Burns
Succeeded by	Brian D. Rogers
Member of the Alaska Senate from the E district
In office January 11, 1971 – January 14, 1979
Preceded by	at-large
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	at-large
Succeeded by	at-large
Personal details
Born	August 21, 1937 Jennings, Louisiana
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Toni Croft (née Williamson)
Children	Eric, Kymberly, Lee
Residence	Anchorage, Alaska
Alma mater	University of Texas School of Law
Occupation	Attorney

Leland Chancy Croft (born August 21, 1937) is 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.

Facing reelection in his downtown Anchorage-area district in 1978, he instead ran for governor of Alaska. Winning the Democratic nomination in the primary election over two challengers, he would 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 continues to practice law and remains prominent in legal and political circles in Alaska. 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.

Leland Chancy Croft was born in Jennings, Louisiana on August 21, 1937. He grew up in Odessa, Texas, where he graduated high school. He graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with baccalaureate degrees in government and sociology, as well as a law degree.

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