Menard hopeful he’ll survive Tuesday recall vote

WASILLA - Yes or no. Should Wasilla City Councilman Steve Menard remain a city councilman?

Judging by the light numbers of early ballots cast in the city's first recall election, it is a question that will be decided by a small percentage of Wasilla voters, said Kristie Smithers, longtime city clerk.

"We've had some voters, a few, come in so far," Smithers said.

As of Friday afternoon, she said her office has accepted 53 ballots - 31 from early voters and 22 absentee ballots. The recall of Menard is the only question on the ballot in Tuesday's special election.

The recall effort, spearheaded by the local Conservative Patriots Group, seeks to oust Menard, a two-time councilman, in response to his behavior in August 2011 while in Sitka on city business. After the summer Alaska Municipal League meeting, when he went to check out of the room where he'd been staying, the hotel demanded a $350 payment for damage and room cleaning.

An itemized bill sent to the city lists damages including two beds and a chair that had been urinated on, a burned mattress and vomit on the floor. Following the incident, Menard repaid the $350 for damages, plus the $1,404 the city spent to send him to Sitka and issued a public apology.

On Friday he said he has sought help for an admitted alcohol program, is six months sober and still eager to serve on the council.

"I feel strong," he said. "I do feel positive. I just want to put people's minds at ease and restate the facts. I'm just tired of all the lies ... and it was never, ever my intention to have the city pay for the damages to that hotel. People think that was my arrogance and I was trying to escape from it. That never even crossed my mind. It was simply I didn't have the $350 on me right then at that time."

Menard's apology and restitution are not enough for CPG, which gathered more than 200 signatures of registered voters to put the recall on a special election ballot. Menard's behavior constitutes "misconduct in office," the recall states, and justifies his removal from city council.

"Menard, without any good cause, failed to carry out his official duties," the recall ballot says. "While intoxicated, he inflicted substantial damage to his hotel room and directed the hotel to bill the city of Wasilla for the damage. ... The council's action of sanctioning Menard and requiring him to make full restitution for all costs are sufficient reasons to find Menard committed misconduct in office."

Menard said repaying the city was his idea and he brought that to the other council members.

With two days left before the recall election, Menard said he's hopeful residents will recognize his passion for public service and that he's grown personally since the Sitka incident. He meets regularly with an alcohol counselor and he said he "took full responsibility" for his actions.

"I'm six months sober, not a drop," he said. "It's been a life-changing experience. We all battle alcohol in some way. For me, I was such a binge drinker. I didn't drink every day, but when I went out I had that work-hard, play-hard mentality. Why drink a six-pack when a 12-pack is better? Now, I'm healthier, I have more money. It's a (feeling of) personal pride to be able to look people in the face and not be able to lie to them."

Having his personal demons on public display has been difficult, Menard said, but that comes with the territory as a public figure.

"My life is just in a different place and I think I'll become a better councilman because of it," he said.

If he's to have that chance, Menard will need to win Tuesday's vote. Local municipal elections typically draw a low turnout, Smithers said. Before the October 2011 election, which also included a race for mayor, the city saw 145 early and mail-in ballots. Predicting the recall turnout is difficult, she said, because there are low early and absentee ballots in now, but that doesn't mean people won't choose to visit the two city precinct places on Election Day, Wasilla City Hall and the Wasilla Senior Center.

If he's recalled, will this be the last the Valley sees of Menard in local politics?

"It won't be," he said. "It's in my blood, it's who I am. The great thing about getting older is you know who you are. I love politics, I love talking politics, I love being engaged. In some regard, I will be involved. Does that mean I would run for office again? I'll probably have to take some time off and evaluate that."

Contact reporter Greg Johnson at greg.johnson@frontiersman.com or 352-2269.