Palmer Special Election to determine recall of mayor set for May 20

After months of brewing tensions among several council members and residents and embattled Mayor Steve Carrington, the date has been set for a special election in which Palmer votes will decide whether to recall the mayor.

The city council approved a resolution to appoint precinct worker for the special election during a meeting on April 23.

Palmer voters will have the opportunity to decide on May 20, although early voting is set to begin May 5 and continues through May 19 at the Palmer City Council Chambers. Residents may also request an absentee by mail ballot. The last day to request an absentee ballot is Friday, May 9, or obtained online at palmerak.org/city-clerks-office/page/absentee-mail or from the office of the city clerk.

Carrington, who was elected to Mayor in 2022, has been the target of a local group over his handling of complaints by two council members on the management of matters related to former city manager Steve Jellie, who resigned after a short and tumultuous tenure.

Almost immediately upon the city manager’s resignation, Carrington came under fire for what recall supporters say was misconduct in office for violating Palmer Code Section 3.4- The Mayor. “The executive power of the city is vested in the mayor.” One duty listed is to execute “… official documents on authorization of the council.”

According to the ballot statement in support of the recall, “On, or before, the Emergency City Council Meeting on October 9, 2024, Carrington abused executive power by seeking outside legal counsel to draft an amendment/modification to the existing contract for the city manager already in place and publicly noticed. Without the knowledge or authorization of City Council, Carrington contracted with an outside law firm to craft an “overlay” to the existing city manager contract.”

The statement stems from accusations that the mayor overstepped his authority by hiring an outside attorney, Scott Brandt-Erichsen, who is based in Ketchikan, to draft a separation agreement for Jellie without consulting with the City Council. The “overlay” refers to Jellie’s overlay agreement, drafted by the attorney, who had previously been contracted by the city for a legal review of a 2022 recall of three Palmer city council members.

Brandt-Erichsen also crafted added legal elements that critics say is harmful to the city of Palmer, including a severance payment of $75,000 for Jellie, immunity from prosecution for any known or unknown future potential liabilities attributable due to him, and a Non-Disclosure Agreement. “This abuse of executive power by Mayor Steve Carrington constitutes unlawful behavior by a public officer in relation to the duties of his office, willful in character,” the statement concludes.

Carrington has said he ordered the agreement to give the council a way to end Jellie’s contract, which the council unanimously approved.

Council members Carolina Graver and Victoria Hudson, who took office in November, were critics of Jellie, and have been critical of the mayor over terms agreed for Jellie’s separation, and during a heated back-and-forth during the Oct. 22, 2024 Palmer City Council meeting, Hudson suggested that the mayor himself should be investigated.

Carrington offered his own statement for the ballot, in which he states that his actions were done in accordance with Jellie’s contract and was approved by the council. “I contacted the outside attorney to draft a termination agreement, following the terms of Mr. Jellie’s contract. The $75,000 severance was the exact amount included in his contract approved unanimously by the council the previous summer. Every council member voted to use this agreement.”

He also states that back in October, 2024, Palmer City Attorney Sarah Heath had told him she intended to publicly read an email against Jellie at a council meeting, even though he advised her not to, instead recommending her to schedule a meeting with the council to address the concerns. Heath went ahead and read her email during her report, to which Carrington said it was “triggering an emotionally charged meeting where 26 audience members, many city employees, echoed accusations. Notably, Ms. Heath had advised those employees to claim whistleblower status during public testimony, despite their roles being questionable under applicable whistleblower protection.”

His statement came under fire during the Palmer City Council meeting on April 22, when Hudson asked the clerk if the Mayor’s response statement went underwent any legal review. City Clerk Shelly Acteson said that per Alaska Statute, the ballot statements go directly from the person to the ballot.

“I think it’s strange that the first part of the ballot must be approved by an attorney so that the city cannot be held liable for things that are put on there,” said Hudson. “But the second half, anybody can just say whatever they want and we can just hope there’s not going to be any liability on the city.” Hudson was referring to the use of Graver’s first name on Mayor Carrington’s statement and though that it should have been reviewed by an attorney. Hudson said she plans to bring legislation in regards to this to protect the city in the future.

Council member John Alcantra said he found it problematic as well it “a little stunned” that the second statement was allowed to go through without any sort of review.

According to Alaska Statutes 29.26.330, a statement of not more than 200 words may be made by the official subject to recall in justification of the official's conduct in office.

“A statement by the official named on the recall petition of 200 words or less, if the statement is filed with the clerk for publication and public inspection at least 20 days before the election.” There is nothing within AS 29.26.240 through 29.26.360, pertaining to the recall of local officials that specifies a legal review of statements is required.

Palmer residents Paula Pettijohn and Cindy Hudgins filed the recall application late last year with 10 additional residents listed as sponsors, a requirement under state law. Acteson approved the application after a legal review by a contracted attorney with the law firm Munson, Cacciola & Severin LLP.

Hudgins and petition application sponsor Andrew Hudson, who is married to City council member Victoria Hudson, collected the recall petition signatures. Their combined efforts got the necessary 71 verified signatures, which is equivalent to 25% of the voter turnout in the last general election for the office and a threshold set by state law.

Carrington was first elected to Palmer City Council in 2013, serving for eight years before serving a year in as mayor following the resignation of former Mayor Edna DeVries, who stepped down after being elected Matanuska-Susitna Borough Mayor. He was then elected to serve as mayor in 2022.

If Carrington is recalled, the City Council will appoint a new mayor to serve until the city’s next general election in October.