Litigation was disingenuous

To the editor:

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.

Debbie Brown

Kasilof

Editor’s note: Superior Court Judge Suddock ruled Sept. 26 that emergency regulations enacted by the Division of Elections to join the Bill Walker and Byron Mallott campaigns were valid. Steve Strait, who filed the lawsuit, said he will not appeal to the Alaska Supreme Court.