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From Richard Mauer in Juneau —

Gov. Sean Parnell’s nominee to the Alaska Public Offices Commission, David Eichler, withdrew his name from consideration just before what would have likely been a fiery hearing before the Senate State Affairs Committee Thursday morning.

Eichler, a North Pole dentist, was accused of making racist statements about Alaska Natives in 2006 at a time when the state dental association, which he then headed, was challenging the use of dental assistants to extend health care in the Bush. He apologized for his remarks, which were posted to an online forum, but the storm over his comments erupted again Wednesday when an Anchorage blogger republished the ADN story in which they were reported.

Wielechowski said Eichler would have been questioned about his remarks at the hearing Thursday. He would have filled a seat on the bipartisan commission reserved for a Republican.