Alaska Politics Blog

This is the place to talk about Alaska politics -- state, local, national. Public life in the Last Frontier has probably never been more interesting than right now -- the governor as candidate for vice president, the broad and still-evolving corruption investigation, a big election, powerful members of Congress under scrutiny, and the usual hardball Alaska politics. Come here for news, tidbits and information, and join the discussion. Keep your comments civil and on point. Avoid personal attacks. Do not use profanity. Posts that violate the Terms of Use will be deleted. Repeat offenders will be banned.


Erika Bolstad

Erika Bolstad covers Alaska issues, including the congressional delegation, from Washington, D.C., for McClatchy Newspapers. Before joining the bureau in 2007, she spent seven years as a reporter at the Miami Herald, where she covered politics, government and the state legislature. E-mail Erika at ebolstad@adn.com.

Sean Cockerham

Sean Cockerham writes about Alaska state politics. He spent three years based in Juneau for the ADN before joining the Tacoma News-Tribune to write about Washington state politics. He went to Iraq twice for the News Tribune, and previously wrote about Alaska government and politics for the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. E-mail Sean at scockerham@adn.com

Kyle Hopkins

Kyle Hopkins covers politics and other stories for the ADN. He covered the 2006 campaign for governor, has blogged extensively about Alaska politics, covered Anchorage city government and was a reporter based in the Mat-Su. He grew up in Southeast Alaska and previously was a reporter at the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner and Anchorage Press. E-mail Kyle at khopkins@adn.com

2008 Election

At one point the races with Sen. Ted Stevens and Rep. Don Young promised to be the highest-profile campaigns in Alaska history.

SECTION

Palin coverage

The nation was captivated by Sarah Palin's run to the White House, and now Alaska awaits the return of their governor.

SECTION

Alaska political corruption

The FBI raided state legislatures offices in Aug. 2006, and the fallout since has been epic in Alaska's political world.

Obama and the governors - 12/1/2008 7:50 pm

Palin mania in Georgia - 12/1/2008 4:07 pm

Palin on the trail (UPDATED: Video) - 12/1/2008 2:20 pm

Judge nixes Monday hearing in Stevens case - 11/28/2008 3:03 pm

Palin's gifts - 11/26/2008 4:32 pm

Stevens defense wants to see secret document filed by prosecutors - 11/26/2008 3:39 pm

The interview that won't die - 11/25/2008 2:21 pm

Hearing Monday on Stevens witness issue - 11/25/2008 2:07 pm

Palin back on the stump - 11/25/2008 12:28 pm

'Don't blame me! Blame Joe the Turkey Slaughterer' - 11/25/2008 12:18 pm

Senator for life - 11/25/2008 7:16 am

So what happened with DOJ and the Anderson letter? - 11/24/2008 7:33 pm

A Palin Thanksgiving: Thank-you notes or contempt charges? - 11/24/2008 11:15 am

Mayoral maneuvering - 11/21/2008 11:35 am

Palin talks turkey (Updated) - 11/20/2008 5:36 pm

Croatian village celebrates Begich victory - 11/20/2008 2:14 pm

Exit polling on Stevens-Begich - 11/20/2008 2:13 pm

Stevens farewell - 11/20/2008 9:22 am

Development crowd reserved with Palin, Begich - 11/19/2008 1:20 pm

Young, Murkowski and Palin on the Senate race (Updated) - 11/19/2008 12:20 pm

Stevens: 'It is apparent the election has been decided' - 11/19/2008 11:48 am

Begich on early voters and absentees: 'That's the group we worked.' - 11/18/2008 5:20 pm

The Branchflower report

Comments (0) |

Download the report here.

FINDINGS:

Finding Number One

For the reasons explained in section IV of this report, I find that Governor Sarah Palin abused her power by violating Alaska Statute 39.52.110(a) of the Alaska Executive Branch Ethics Act. Alaska Statute 39.52.110(a) provides

The legislature reaffirms that each public officer holds office as a public trust, and any effort to benefit a personal or financial interest through official action is a violation of that trust.

Finding Number Two

I find that, although Walt Monegan's refusal to fire Trooper Michael Wooten was not the sole reason he was fired by Governor Sarah Palin, it was likely a contributing factor to his termination as Commissioner of Public Safety. In spite of that, Governor Palin's firing of Commissioner Monegan was a proper and lawful exercise of her constitutional and statutory authority to hire and fire executive branch department heads.

Finding Number Three

Harbor Adjustment Service of Anchorage, and its owner Ms. Murleen Wilkes, handled Trooper Michael Wooten's workers' compensation claim property and in the normal course of business like any other claim processed by Harbor Adjustment Service and Ms. Wilkes. Further, Trooper Wooten received all the workers' compensation benefits to which he was entitled.

Finding Number Four
The Attorney General's office has failed to substantially comply with my August 6, 2008 written request to Governor Sarah Palin for infomration about the case in the form of emails.


By submitting your comment, you are agreeing to adn.com's user agreement.