Steve Strait’s lawsuit against the state of Alaska’s approval of the Walker-Mallott no-party gubernatorial ticket will backfire on the Alaska Republican Party.
Strait and Frank McQueary, a financial supporter of the lawsuit, are among the chairman-appointees to the ARP executive committee. Party regulars whisper the appointees are the character assassination-litigation hit squad. These facts don’t matter. Proceeding with an orderly, lawful election is what matters.
Alaska’s Division of Elections has posted the sample general election ballot for all Alaska districts on its official website. Screenshots have been posted on Facebook. Vets are voting today, as official ballots were already mailed to U.S. military members. An orderly election is underway. To disrupt this election would be breaking the law.
The Republican Party is represented on the ballot with the Parnell-Sullivan ticket. So what’s the problem? Political parties are in a bad habit of alienating, embarrassing, or infuriating Alaskans with their “never-fight-fair” politics. Most folks will recognize actions like Strait’s as despicable with purpose to destroy a legitimate and orderly election process.
Despicable revisited: In 2012, we held our state ARP convention in Anchorage, attended to important policy decisions and elected new state officers. New leaders were legitimately elected by hundreds of Alaskans who paid hefty registration fees, travel and hotel costs. The outgoing ARP administration didn’t agree with the election outcome. Immediately after the convention the ARP executive committee began plotting to “nullify” a legitimate election. Were Strait and party leaders concerned then about disenfranchisement of Alaskans, their fellow Republicans? No. Instead they relentlessly attacked the elected officers, ousted them, and replaced them with “acceptable” individuals. Is Strait genuinely concerned today about disenfranchised Alaska Democrats with the Walker-Mallott no-party ticket? No. His litigation is disingenuous. It’s really about keeping power for the acceptable people.
When corruption or disregard of the election process or election results are identified, Alaskans have a responsibility to stop it.
When I served as state party chairman in 2013, I sent termination letters to 100 percent of the “chairman-appointed” executive committee. I gave it my best shot.
I am deeply grieved by the way my GOP is behaving these days. I remain hopeful that more Alaskans will stand up against lies and political shenanigans. Fight back with a united voice, by voting on Nov. 4. I also expect the Alaska Court System to act swiftly to dismiss Strait’s disruptive lawsuit. Alaskans demand an orderly election process.
Debbie Brown
Kasilof
All I hear from Dan Sullivan in his campaign for the Senate seat are a bunch of washed up talking points about repealing the Affordable Care Act. I’ve yet to hear him offer any real solutions that would actually work for Alaska.
I’d also like to point out that Alaska’s rising insurance rates are not because of the law itself, as Sullivan falsely claims, but because Governor Parnell chose not to build our own exchange system (as the law was designed for) and not to expand Medicaid. We are now paying the price for those decisions, while states that did opt for a state exchange system and to expand Medicaid are seeing reduced or stable insurance costs. These are failing efforts Dan Sullivan supports.
Alaskans benefit when we put our heads together and find solutions. If anyone can make health care reform work, it’s us. We need to stop focusing on the problems and look for solutions, just like with Medicare in the sixties.
I, for one, saw the need for a new law when my husband was diagnosed with lung cancer. Being self-employed, we had a catastrophic insurance. It was supposed to cover major illness but had a high deductible. Shortly after he began treatment, the insurance was gone. If my husband hadn’t been a Korean War Vet, I would have been left with a monstrous debt. The new healthcare law would have helped me.
I’m not saying there aren’t problems with it, but I join Mark Begich with his proactive “let’s improve what doesn’t work” approach. Don’t dismantle it.
In this election, I’m voting for Mark Begich, Forrest Dunbar, and the Walker/Mallot merger because they are actually offering solutions that will move this state forward.
Gail Duncan
Soldotna
