Menard recall election set

WASILLA — A unanimous vote by city council members officially puts Wasilla’s first ever recall election on the calendar.

Voters will cast their ballots Feb. 7, 2012, on whether two-time councilman Steve Menard should keep his seat. Council’s decision to schedule the election came Monday after discussion about what some on the governing body consider some misleading information in the recall petition.

“My concern with this is I read through the language and was very concerned that it makes a logical leap, one that I wouldn’t make even knowing more of the facts than those circulating the petition,” Councilwoman Dianne Woodruff said.

She also wanted to make it clear voting to set a date for the recall is not an act of support or derision of the petition.

“I am rather concerned … because it has been brought forward (that the impression is) that the city agrees that the claims are truthful,” Woodruff said. “The fact of the matter is that the city makes no claims as to the validity or invalidity of any of those claims.”

The recall effort is a response to Menard’s after-hours behavior while attending the summer Alaska Municipal League meetings in Sitka. When the city’s delegation went to check out, Menard’s room was found to have extensive damage. A $350 cleaning bill paid by the city, and repaid by Menard, itemized damages included two beds and a chair urinated on, a burned mattress and vomit on the floor.

Following the incident, Menard apologized and accepted a reprimand from the council that included agreeing to repay the entire $1,404 cost of the trip and a ban from future travel on city business for the rest of his term.

City attorney Richard Payne echoed Woodruff’s concerns that voters may believe the recall is backed by the city.

“This isn’t the city’s petition,” he said. “We’re not responsible for this petition, we didn’t word this petition, we didn’t help draft this petition.”

In fact, the claims made in the document alleging Menard’s actions were the result of a drunken party don’t necessarily have to be accurate for the recall to move forward, Payne said.

“Truthfulness is not a factor, believe it or not,” he said.

Although he recused himself from the council’s discussion and vote to set a date for the recall, in his closing remarks during Monday’s meeting, Menard said that part of the process is frustrating.

“About the recall — it’s the process,” he said. “If the atmosphere of the people has changed for me to sit in this seat, I accept that. I believe in the process and I don’t shy away from it. What I do shy away from is (petitioners) can write inaccuracies and false statements in their petition.

“All I can say is I’m sorry, and I hope you’ll see it in your hearts to forgive me and give me a second chance.”

Gesture not appreciated

Discussion about Menard’s recall wasn’t limited to council members at Monday’s meeting. One local resident, John Dewar, who was in attendance to voice concerns about the city’s code compliance enforcement, elicited ire from the council when he approached Menard and threw a clown nose at him.

“To pull some stupid little act like that in front of the council,” said Deputy Mayor Doug Holler. “We take a lot of criticism, but to have things thrown at you in your face, I would have probably jumped up and been hauled out of here in handcuffs.”

Menard said he also didn’t appreciate the gesture.

“I was totally on the side of somebody who had a concern (voicing that), then they had to go and do something like that,” Menard said. “If you have problems with me, take me outside, let’s be a man about it and talk about it. Does that make you feel better about yourself, John? I hope it doesn’t.”

“Yes, sir, it does,” Dewar replied from the audience.”

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