Alaska Politics Blog

This is the place to talk about Alaska politics, state, local, national. Public life in the Last Frontier has never been more interesting -- Sarah Palin, a new governor, a new Anchorage mayor, the political corruption investigation, the usual hardball Alaska politics. Come here for news, tidbits and information, and join the discussion. We encourage lively debate, but please keep it civil and stay on point. Don't use profanity, make crude comments or attack other posters. Posts that violate the Terms of Use will be deleted. Repeat offenders will lose their ability to post comments.


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's worked for the ADN in Anchorage and Juneau, covered the legislature for the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, and covered Washington state politics for the Tacoma News Tribune. E-mail Sean at scockerham@adn.com

Kyle Hopkins

Kyle Hopkins covers rural affairs, general assignments and politics 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 wrote for the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner and Anchorage Press. E-mail Kyle at khopkins@adn.com and also find him on our rural Alaska blog, The Village.

Don Hunter

Don Hunter covers Anchorage city government and politics. He is a longtime ADN reporter and editor and wrote for the Anchorage Times. E-mail Don at dhunter@adn.com

David Hulen

David Hulen, the ADN's state and local news editor, is responsible for political coverage. He has been an editor and reporter at the ADN for more than 20 years. E-mail David at dhulen@adn.com

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Sarah Palin

Follow the former Alaska governor's actions as she embarks on life outside of office.

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Alaska political corruption

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

Palin, Huckabee and yesterday's elections - 11/4/2009 1:22 pm

Sarah Palin's book tour - 11/3/2009 5:51 pm

John Harris may get out of the race for governor - 11/3/2009 4:37 pm

Knowles in D.C., talking energy - 11/2/2009 3:57 pm

House Ethics Committee and Young - 10/30/2009 9:43 am

Parnell talks to reporters three months into office - 10/29/2009 5:35 pm

Democrats suggest replacements for Richard Foster - 10/29/2009 3:53 pm

New CNN poll numbers on Palin - 10/28/2009 6:13 pm

Palin on Levi: "those who would sell their body for money..." - 10/28/2009 12:48 pm

Ramras: prosecutors too easy on "despicable" Allen, Smith - 10/27/2009 8:40 pm

Palin's book retainer: $1.25 million (Updated) - 10/27/2009 8:32 am

Wall Street Journal writes about Parnell - 10/26/2009 4:44 pm

Legislators looking at new office building in Anchorage - 10/26/2009 3:56 pm

Richard Foster's funeral scheduled - 10/23/2009 5:36 pm

Sen. Wagoner rebuffed from majority - 10/23/2009 4:04 pm

Coghill confirmed, Bunde new minority leader - 10/22/2009 6:00 pm

Frank Bailey book: “Renegade: Sarah Palin's Hatchet Man” (Updated) - 10/21/2009 12:01 pm

Got pipeline questions? - 10/20/2009 1:28 pm

Ramras running for lieutenant governor - 10/20/2009 9:31 am

Rasmussen poll: Palin slipping against Huckabee and Romney - 10/19/2009 4:34 pm

Palin's going to Wisconsin (updated with Missouri appearance) - 10/19/2009 2:55 pm

Wielechowski and McGuire release energy recommendations - 10/19/2009 11:57 am

Personnel Board report

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Report on Monegan/Wooten

Report on complaint from Andree McLeod

"Summary of Public Findings and Recommendations":

1. There is no probable cause to believe that Governor Palin violated the Alaska Executive Ethics Act by making the decision to dismiss Department of Public Safety Commissioner Monegan and offering him instead the position of Director of the Alaska Beverage Control Board.

2. There is no probable cause to believe that Governor Palin violated the Alaska Executive Ethics Act in any other respect in connection with the employment of Alaska State Trooper Michael Wooten.

3. There is no basis upon which to refer the conduct of Governor Palin to any law enforcement agency in connection with this matter because Governor Palin did not commit the offenses of Interference with Official Proceedings or Official Misconduct.

4. There is no probable cause to believe that any other official of state government violated any substantive provision of the Ethics Act.

5. There is no legal basis or jurisdiction for conducting a “Due Process Hearing to Address Reputational Harm” as requested by former Commissioner Walter Monegan.

6. The Amended Complaint by the PSEA should be dismissed.

7. Independent Counsel recommends that the appropriate agency of State government address the issue of the private use of e-mails for government work and revisit the record retention policies of the Governor’s Office.

These findings differ from those of the Branchflower Report because Independent Counsel has concluded the wrong statute was used as a basis for the conclusions contained in the Branchflower Report, the Branchflower report misconstrued the available evidence and did not consider or obtain all of the material evidence that is required to properly reach findings.


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