White House appoints former Alaska park official as director of the National Park Service

JULY 10, 2009 - 1:52 PM

From Erika Bolstad in Washington D.C. --

President Barack Obama is appointing the former superintendent of Alaska’s Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve as the director of the National Park Service, the White House announced Friday.

Jon Jarvis, who has worked for the National Park Service for over 30 years, most recently served as the regional director for the Pacific West Region. There, he was responsible for all National Park Service units and programs in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, California, Nevada and Hawaii, plus the Pacific islands of Guam, Saipan and American Samoa. In that role, he oversaw 3,000 employees and a $350 million annual budget.

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It doesn't all add up to $1.9 million

JULY 10, 2009 - 11:03 AM

From Sean Cockerham in Anchorage –

There is some double counting and other apparent issues with the Palin administration spreadsheet outlining $1.9 million in state costs for ethics complaints, public records requests and lawsuits.

The administrative director in the governor’s office, Linda Perez, conceded that some costs were counted twice and said “the total cost is overstated by $26,849.” She said she missed that the Department of Law’s updated numbers included costs that were already counted.

“It was my error…mea culpa,” said Perez, who has worked for governors of both parties since the 1980s.

Perez said she’s going to ask the Department of Law about some other puzzling parts of the spreadsheet, including a line item that says 0.3 attorney hours added up to $10,063 in costs. That would add up to an attorney billing of over $30,000 an hour, and Perez said the flat billing rate the state uses for its attorneys is $121.98 an hour. Perez said she would check and see what costs beyond the staff time went into that calculation of over $10,000 in costs.

There are also discrepancies between two pages provided by the administration detailing attorney hours on ethics complaints. For example, one sheet lists 119.4 attorney hours adding up to $14,564.41 for work on an ethics complaint, but the other page says it was 13.3 attorney hours adding up to almost the same amount, $14,565, for work on that same “Troopergate” related complaint.

Perez said she'll check with the Department of Law on this.

Questions have also been raised about the costs listed for the governor’s office in dealing with this stuff.

Perez said the initial costs for the governor's office through March 24 added up to $315,268 for 4,488 staff hours for 49 employees. That equals $70 an hour at 90 hours average work for those employees. She said the updated cost adds $110,281 through June 23, representing 1,285 additional staff hours spent by 29 employees. That's an average rate of $86 an hour.

Perez said that doesn’t mean governor’s office employees are being paid an average salary of $85 an hour.

She said those figures don’t reflect just the salary they get, but also their benefits and other costs the stay pays to employ them.

“For every $10 in payroll I’ve got $3.35 employer costs plus health insurance on it…. This ranges everywhere from an intern I hired at $10 an hour up to the hourly cost for John Katz (the director of the governor’s Washington, D.C., office. She said the cost for Katz is almost $118 an hour including employer costs.

Alaska blogger Mel Green has been going through spreadsheet issues in detail over the past few days. It's also attracted the attention of Mako Yamakura, a blogger with the Detroit News.

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Palin's team shoots back at Ramras. Plus: Schmidt on the lite guv job

JULY 8, 2009 - 8:08 PM

From Kyle Hopkins in Anchorage --

Allow me to dump my notebook a little bit on this who-gets-to-be-lite-guv story.

The news today was that the Legislature’s lawyer wrote an opinion saying Craig Campbell, the man Palin said will be the new lieutenant governor, can’t get the job until lawmakers sign off on him.

Here’s what Corrections Commissioner Joe Schmidt had to say in a phone interview today. Remember, he’s the one who was confirmed by the Legislature to be the next lieutenant governor, but he’s not interested in the job:

On the phone: Joe Schmidt

...

(Schmidt’s special assistant, Richard Schmitz, later called to make it clear Palin & Schmidt had never dated, for what it’s worth.)

You probably saw the press release earlier, where Rep. Jay Ramras said his judiciary committee is holding a confirmation hearing for Campbell on July 20.

Ramras said: “The Governor quit and went fishing. ... Governor Palin failed to leave specific instructions, so the Legislature is stepping in to bring order to the constitutional chaos she created.”

Palin’s chief of staff, Mike Nizich, had something to say about that in a short phone interview:

“I just think it’s an irresponsible statement on behalf of Rep. Ramras. I mean, it’s not like the governor’s on vacation,” Nizich said. “She’s in contact with this office just like normal ... She has asked the attorney general’s office to go over this with a fine-tooth comb, and ensure that the process that is in place is legal, defensible and they’re working on that right now. We hope to have an opinion by Law that lays everything out,” Nizich said.

And finally, here’s the statement Gov. Sarah Palin sent, via her spokeswoman, this afternoon. Here's what I got out if it: They plan to follow the law ...

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Palin mentor: "She has that magic"

JULY 8, 2009 - 12:45 PM

From Erika Bolstad in Washington D.C. –

Prominent Republican fundraiser Fred Malek has emerged as one of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin’s staunchest defenders, although he has known her only since she was tapped last fall as Sen. John McCain’s Republican running mate. Malek, a wealthy investor, tells the Washington Post's The Fix political blog that "my strength is loyalty, my downfall is loyalty. I'm the guy who waved goodbye to [former President Richard] Nixon from the White House lawn."

Malek was also one of the few high-profile Republicans last week to offer unequivocal support of Palin’s decision to step down as governor, telling me last week from his vacation home in Aspen that he thought she had made the right move: "I did have the impression she was not happy in the role in she was in," Malek said. "We see her through a political prism, but I think we sometimes forget she's a wife and mother of five kids and has responsibilities that are very dear to her."

Malek told The Fix that he knew Palin only slightly from the campaign, but said he was irritated by the post-campaign sniping of former aides. "It really torqued me," he said.

So he took her under what The Fix called his "considerable Washington wing." Palin and her spokeswoman Meg Stapleton were Malek’s guests at the famed Alfalfa Club dinner this winter, where he served as something of a tour guide and escort to official Washington. He also recently escorted Palin and her husband to the Senate-House dinner, an annual Republican fundraiser in Washington, D.C., for congressional candidates. Palin’s appearance at the event was controversial -- she had been asked to speak at the dinner but was replaced with former House Speaker Newt Gingrich after a mix-up over whether she would attend.

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Legislature's lawyer doesn't think Campbell can be Lt. Gov on July 26 (Updated with Ramras calling a confirmation hearing)

JULY 8, 2009 - 12:18 PM

From Sean Cockerham in Anchorage -

The Legislature's top lawyer, Tam Cook, has come out with an opinion that Craig Campbell can't become the lieutenant governor on July 26.

But she conceded that it's muddy and there are unresolved legal questions.

July 26th is the day Palin is to resign as governor and hand power over Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell. Palin picked Campbell, who is the head of the state department of military and veterans affairs, to replace Parnell as the lieutenant governor.

But the state Legislature already confirmed a line of succession under which corrections commissioner Joe Schmidt should be taking over as lieutenant governor.

Palin herself proposed that line of succession, but I gather that Schmidt is happy to give up the job to Campbell and stay as corrections chief.

Cook's opinion says that Campbell can't take over as lieutenant governor until the Legislature confirms him. The Legislature isn't in session until January. I doubt legislators would be excited about coming into a special session in the summertime to confirm him, but that could be where this is headed.

Cook concedes that "alas, the situation is somewhat muddied," by conflicting articles in the state Constitution. The attorney general's office is also doing its own legal review.

(UPDATE -- The state House Judiciary Committee just scheduled a July 20 confirmation hearing for Campbell. It's still an open question, though, whether the full Legislature would agree to call itself into special session to confirm him.

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jay Ramras -- no fan of Palin's -- got in a dig at her in his announcement of the hearing. “The governor quit and went fishing,” the Fairbanks Republican said. “Governor Palin failed to leave specific instructions, so the Legislature is stepping in to bring order to the constitutional chaos she created.”)

Read Cook's opinion by clicking here.

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Palin to campaign in Texas, maybe Virginia

JULY 8, 2009 - 11:45 AM

From Sean Cockerham in Anchorage --

Texas Gov. Rick Perry is telling the Associated Press that Sarah Palin has committed to campaigning for his re-election bid (Perry has what's likely to be a tough Republican primary fight ahead of him next year with U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison.)

Palin, whose resignation is effective July 26, has said she doesn't know what her future plans are, other than that she will campaign for candidates she supports.

She said she will "work hard for others who want to fight for things that Alaska needs and America needs. ... What is good for Alaska, energy independence, our contribution to national security and reining in our own state government, which contributes to reining in our national government, which is what we need. I can do that outside having a title."

Virginia Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob McDonnell told the Associated Press that his campaign had had conversations with the Palin camp. But he stopped short of saying whether he wanted her help.

Meanwhile, his Democratic opponent, Creigh Deeds, seemed happy to link McDonnell with Palin.

"If what Bob McDonnell wants to do is to bring in Sarah Palin and advocate for the same Republican policies that would take Virginia backward, I think Virginians would say, 'Thanks, but no thanks," his spokesman told the Associated Press.

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Harris on his bid for governor

JULY 7, 2009 - 5:13 PM

House Speaker John Harris, R-Valdez, left, talks with Gov. Sarah Palin in her office at the state Capitol Nov. 12, 2007, in Juneau. (AP Photo/Seanna O'Sullivan)

From Kyle Hopkins in Anchorage --

Valdez Republican Rep. John Harris today filed a letter of intent to run for governor with the Alaska Public Offices Commission.

He’ll formally announce he’s running tomorrow, but it’s no secret. He’s made it clear in the past that he’d run if Palin didn’t.

“It’s a practical thing. I don’t know if anybody could have beat (Palin) in a primary race for governor. Maybe Lisa Murkowski, but not me,” Harris said in a quick phone interview today. “Now that she’s decided not to run, it’s basically an open seat.”

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Poll: 40 % of Republicans say Palin hurt her chance to be president

JULY 7, 2009 - 2:31 PM

Photo by Diana DeStafeno/ADN reader submission
Sarah Palin talks with Miss Arctic Circle after signing the VPSO bill today in Kotzebue. Check the Daily News Village blog for more photos of Palin's visit.

From Kyle Hopkins in Anchorage --

Forty percent of Republican voters nationwide say Gov. Sarah Palin hurt her chances of winning the party’s nomination for president in 2012 by resigning as governor, according to a new poll from Rasmussen Reports.

The national polling firm conducted a telephone survey of likely GOP voters after Palin’s surprise announcement that she’s leaving the job. Only 24 percent said quitting helps her chances. Another 28 percent said it doesn't matter either way.

What else did pollsters find?

Palin remains a polarizing figure, even for Republicans. Those polled listed Palin among their top two choices for Republican presidential candidates in 2012. The survey asked who people would vote for in their state's primary. Palin finished just behind Mitt Romney and ahead of Mike Huckabee on GOP wish lists.

But in the same poll, Palin ranked among the two candidates they’d least like to see head the Republican ticket. She tied with Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, who is still an unknown to many Republican voters around the country.

Palin’s decision to resign played better with conservative Republicans than moderates, the poll says: GOP voters who are Evangelical Christians are fairly evenly divided but a narrow plurality say Palin’s resignation helps her political chances more than hurts them. But the plurality of other Protestants (41%) and Catholics (46%) disagree, seeing the governor’s move as hurtful politically.

Other findings:

-- 61 percent of those polled say it’s at least “somewhat likely” Palin will run for president.

-- 76 percent of Republican voters still had a favorable opinion of Palin, even after her resignation announcement. (78 percent have a favorable opinion of Huckabee.)

The July 6 poll was a telephone survey of 750 likely Republican voters. Margin of error: Plus or minus 4 percentage points. No, it has nothing to do with the Rasmuson Foundation.

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Palin's interview blitz: 'Politically speaking, if I die, I die. So be it.'

JULY 7, 2009 - 10:12 AM

From Kyle Hopkins in Anchorage --

Gov. Sarah Palin talked to reporters last night from the beach in Dillingham in a series of quick interviews.

One was with the Daily News -- read that story here -- while the rest went to network news channels.

The round-up:

-- ABC: 'Politically speaking, if I die, I die. So be it.'

-- FOX NEWS: Palin Blasts Critics, Remains Mum on 2012 Bid

-- CNN: 'I'm not a quitter' (video)

-- MSNBC: One term was enough

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Parnell says he'll keep Palin's chief of staff

JULY 6, 2009 - 6:05 PM

From Kyle Hopkins in Anchorage --

This from the governor's office, a moment ago.

On Friday, after Palin's surprise announcement, her team said Parnell probably wouldn't shake up Palin's team too much. The chief of staff job is a key piece.

Palin promoted Mike Nizich to the job, replacing Mike Tibbles, last August. Nizich was a deputy chief of staff for both Palin and her political foe, former Gov. Frank Murkowski.

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An only-in-Alaska tale: how Murkowski heard Palin's news

JULY 6, 2009 - 4:51 PM

From Erika Bolstad in Washington D.C. –

Of all the elected officials who had something to say about Gov. Sarah Palin's departure, Sen. Lisa Murkowski's statement stood out for its short and honest brevity. Nothing about seeing a future for Palin in the Republican Party or any of the other throwaway phrases trotted out at times like these. Just a short sentence from the state's Republican senator: "I am deeply disappointed that the Governor has decided to abandon the State and her constituents before her term has concluded," Murkowski said.

It was a bit of a surprise, since Murkowski generally offers nuanced explanations for how she arrives at decisions. Turns out, there’s a reason for the brevity: Murkowski kept losing a signal on the satellite phone she was using from a remote Alaska lake. More after the jump:

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Palin gone fishing. Next: Kotzebue?

JULY 6, 2009 - 12:32 PM

From Kyle Hopkins in Anchorage --

Good luck getting a detailed list of where Gov. Sarah Palin is going to be this week, and when she’s going to be there.

But for today, at least, Palin spokeswoman Sharon Leighow said she has gone fishing in Bristol Bay.

About this time yesterday, Palin tweeted that: “As has been the case for decades, family is commercial fishing in Bristol Bay-I look forward to joining the work crew for 1 day picking fish.”

Palin also wrote over the weekend that she planned to head to “West AK villages” as early as Sunday and talked about a visit to Kotzebue.

I don’t know about the villages, but Rep. Reggie Joule, D-Kotzebue, says he expects the governor at a bill signing tomorrow in Kotzebue.

“I don’t know anything else,” Joule said.

Leighow said in an e-mail that she’d release more info about Palin’s schedule “once I get details confirmed.” An assistant scheduler for the governor in Juneau said she wasn’t allowed to give out Palin’s travel plans.

The bill Palin and Joule are talking about is House Bill 106. Palin tweeted Saturday: “Our VPSOs r great contributors to rural communities, we've worked hard to see them recognized & rewarded; Kotzebue hub appreciates them too!"

VPSOs, of course, are Village Public Safety Officers – village cops trained by the state.

Watch for how the bill is described this week -– because as far as I can tell it simply allows local governments to administer the VPSO programs if local non-profits don’t want to.

In the Kotzebue region, the non-profit Maniilaq Association handles the VPSO program and is anxious to hand it off to the borough. I wrote in May about the lack of village public safety officers in the region. At the time, only two of the five VPSO jobs were filled.

Joule said he didn’t know if the bill would make any difference when it came to filling jobs. Here’s his sponsor statement.

He said Palin’s public safety commissioner, Joe Masters, was a big advocate for the bill.

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Does Palin have the VP Jinx?

JULY 6, 2009 - 10:20 AM

From Erika Bolstad in Washington D.C. --

My colleague Steve Thomma, one of McClatchy's White House correspondents, posted this over the weekend on the bureau's Planet Washington blog:

You’ve heard of the SI Jinx? Well, it’s nothing compared to the VP Jinx.

The SI Jinx, of course, is the alleged curse of bad luck that comes when an athlete makes the cover of Sports Illustrated. Well known, and more myth than reality.

But the VP Jinx is another story. With the political implosion that could follow Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin’s abrupt decision to quit her job, she would make seven politicians in a row whose careers in national politics peaked or otherwise ran into trouble after being tapped to be the vice presidential running mate on what turned out to be a losing ticket.

Most think they’ve jumped into the big time when they are named running mate, thinking they’re in great position to win their party’s presidential nomination the next time around. But not since Walter Mondale did in 1984 has a vice presidential also-ran gone on to win their party’s top nod. Mondale was vice president and vice presidential candidate in 1980 and Democratic nominee four years later.

Of course, he lost 49 states in the general election. But he at least won the nomination.

Consider the modern history: (after the jump)

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UPDATE: Palin to resign as governor

JULY 3, 2009 - 10:04 AM

Gov. Sarah Palin says she will resign in a few weeks. Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell will take over in late July.

Wow. So ... is this the end of her announcements this weekend or will we hear something on July 4?

From Kyle Hopkins in Anchorage --

Woke up to a cryptic e-mail this morning from Gov. Sarah Palin's office. All it says is she "will make an announcement at her Wasilla home this morning" at 11.

On Fourth of July weekend? From her home? Hmm.

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Palin gets Sitting Duck Award

JULY 2, 2009 - 12:47 PM

From Bill White in Anchorage --

The National Association of Newspaper Columnists has named Gov. Sarah Palin the winner of its Sitting Duck Award.

The group said the award is "an honor bestowed each year on the crème de la crème of the most ridiculed newsmakers in America."

Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich finished second.

Winners in recent years include former President Bill Clinton and former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.

The association gives the award tongue in cheek, noting "The award’s title originates from the fact that these figures are easy targets — sitting ducks — during the most perilous of times a columnist can face: the slow news day. The award may be given to a person, animal, group or thing, but the point is to poke a little fun."

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French files intent to run for governor, says it doesn't mean he's running

JULY 1, 2009 - 6:00 PM

From Sean Cockerham in Anchorage

Democratic state Sen. Hollis French filed an intent to run for governor today.

But French said it’s doesn’t mean he will run for sure next year.

“It’s just simply a preliminary step towards making a final decision but also keeping the dialogue going...continuing the conversation I’ve been having with a lot of people about what sort of governor they want to have in the next election,” he said.

French, of Anchorage, said he filed the letter of intent with the Alaska Public Offices Commission. That allows him to legally start raising for a campaign. But French said he doesn’t intend to raise any money until he makes a final decision and a formal announcement of whether he will run for governor.

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Troopergate looks to have dominated state costs for ethics complaints

JULY 1, 2009 - 8:43 AM

From Sean Cockerham in Anchorage --

The state personnel board has now posted its expenses for dealing with ethics complaints against Gov. Sarah Palin and her staff, saying the costs has been nearly $300,000 over the past year.

Most of the expenses --$187,797 -- appear to have come as a result of the "Troopergate" investigation of Palin that the governor herself initiated. Palin did so because, she contended, the Legislature's investigation on the matter was politicized and she was seeking the appropriate venue to deal with the allegations.

That figure could also include the related claim by the Public Safety Employees Association that Palin or her staff improperly disclosed information from personnel records of state trooper Mike Wooten. The personnel board investigator dismissed the PSEA complaint.

Click here to read the expense list.

I was off yesterday when the numbers were released, so I've just started going through them. But the other biggest case expense -- $43,028 -- was also from last year.

The personnel board expense list doesn't specify the nature of each case listed so it takes some deduction to figure out which costs are associated with which complaint. The list calls them "independent counsel expenditures" and only provides case numbers followed by total expense incurred per case.

The board won't say which case numbers correspond with which complaint, or provide a detailed breakdown of the expenses.

The chronology of the list suggests that the $43,028 could be the complaint where Andree McLeod contended Palin and some staff members used their influence to get a Palin supporter a job in state government.

The complaint against Palin was dismissed but the board investigator did recommended ethics training for one of the governor's closest aides.

That was the first known personnel board complaint made against Palin last year (on Aug. 6) and it is case number 2008-001 on the personnel board expense list just released. It's the first case number on the list, right before what appears to be the Troopergate investigation it immediately preceded.

The third biggest case expense listed -- $29,962 -- is also from last year. Based on the chronology, it's possible that is the complaint made against Palin for having the state pay for her children's travel. Palin ended up settling that complaint by agreeing to reimburse the state about $8,000 for several trips.

The personnel board decided to publicize the costs after complaining about the expense of ethics complaints filed against Palin or her staff (the best estimate now seems to be 18 of them.)

Click here for a chronological list of known ethics complaints.

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Palin sparks internal GOP warfare. Again.

JULY 1, 2009 - 8:03 AM

From Erika Bolstad in Washington D.C. --

The Vanity fair article about Gov. Sarah Palin has taken on a life of its own, reports Politico, which has delved into some of backstabbing, eating-their-own politics going on within the GOP right now as the party looks for a leader.

From Politico: "The vitriol also suggests the degree to which Palin remains a Rorschach test not simply to Republicans nationally but within a tight circle of elite operatives and commentators, many of whom seem ready to carry their arguments in 2012. Was Palin a fresh talent whose debut was mishandled by self-serving campaign insiders, or an eccentric "diva" who had no business on the national stage? Going forward, does she offer a conservative and charismatic face for a demoralized and star-less party? Or is she a loose cannon who should be consigned to the tabloids where she can reside in perpetuity with other flash-in-the-pan sensations?"

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Sullivan names spokesperson, city attorney

JUNE 30, 2009 - 3:30 PM

From Bill White in Anchorage --

Anchorage Mayor-elect has named Sarah Erkmann as his chief spokeswoman and Dennis Wheeler as the city attorney for his three-year term that starts Wednesday.

Erkmann has been a columnist for The Alaska Standard Web site, a public relations executive and a drug sales person. She worked for the former Anchorage PR firm Bernholz & Graham for many years and earlier had been a weekend producer at KTUU-TV. She is a lifelong Alaskan who graduated from Service High School and has a history degree from the University of Oregon.

Wheeler has been an attorney for the Regulatory Commission of Alaska with responsibility for utility and pipeline regulation. He previously worked in the city’s law department and served two years as deputy municipal attorney. He graduated from Chugiak High School, also has a history degree from the University of Oregon and earned his law degree from Willamette Law School.

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Sean Parnell questions Young's candidacy

JUNE 30, 2009 - 3:02 PM

From Sean Cockerham in Anchorage–

Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell isn’t saying what office he will run for next year.

But he questioned the chances of his old campaign foe, Don Young, being re-elected.

Parnell told me in an email today that he acknowledged the past effectiveness of Young, Alaska's lone representative in the U.S. House. But Parnell said he was surprised by Young's decision to file yesterday to run next year for his 20th term in Congress.

“Where Don Young’s own Republican members of the House took away his clout by removing him from committee leadership, Young will be hard pressed to explain why Alaskans should send him back in 2010,” Parnell said.

In December, after winning re-election, Young agreed under party pressure to relinquish his committee leadership until his legal problems were resolved.

Young said yesterday that he’s still the best person to be Alaska’s Congressman, as Alaskans decided by re-electing him last year (he beat Parnell in the Republican primary by just 304 votes than defeated Ethan Berkowitz in the general by over 16,000 votes.)

So what are Parnell’s plans?

”I’ll be a candidate for statewide office in 2010 as I want to continue serving Alaskans,” he said.

That’s a pretty broad statement. It could mean he’s running again for lieutenant governor, gunning for governor (presumably if Palin doesn’t run), taking on Don Young in a rematch, or running against Lisa Murkowski for U.S. Senate.

Parnell said a formal announcement would come at a later date.

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