Recall petitions filed on three Palmer council members over speaking to social justice group in private setting

Petitions calling for a recall of three members of Palmer’s city council have been filed and city clerk Shelly Acteson is now going through signatures to verify that they are legal, and by people who are Palmer residents.

Council members Sabrena Combs, Brian Daniels and Jill Valerius are charged with violating the state Open Meetings Act by conducting discussions with a local group, Mat-Su Moms for Social Justice, on what turned out of be a closed Facebook page.

Since the page was not open to the public it is like holding discussions behind closed doors.

Thirty-two separate discussions were held between October 2020 and mid-summer 2021, according to the petition documents that were filed. After complaints were filed with city investigated the matter and found that an open meetings act violation did occur.

Local activists Cindy Hudgins and Kristi Mercer filed the recall petitions and have stated their intentions over several recent city council meetings during required public comment periods.

The petitions were filed on Jan. 11 and Acteson, as city clerk, must verify that there are at least 169 legal signatures on each petition by Jan. 21. If there are sufficient signature that pass the validation tests, which includes confirming Palmer residency, the results will be presented to the council at its next regular meeting on Feb. 8, Acteson said.

The council is not required to take action, and the next step would be a special recall election if there is no scheduled regular municipal election within 75 days.

Acteson said the special election must be held between 45 days and 75 days after the petitions with validated signatures goes to the city council. Most likely, the special election would be held this summer.

Because of mechanics of a special election are similar to that of a regular city election the cost is estimated at about $10,000, Acteson said.

Mat-Su Moms for Social Justice was formed by local residents in June, 2020, to bring attention to local racial equity issues following the murder of George Floyd, a black man, by a white police officer, Derek Chauvin, who has since been convicted of the crime.

Conservatives have criticized the group, however. The far-right Alaska Watchman has labeled Mat-Su Moms for Social Justice as a “leftist” organization, according to its website.

There are obvious political overtones to the controversy, people familiar with the controversy said. “Had these three been in a conversation on Facebook with a gun-rights group instead of a social justice group I doubt there would be a recall effort underway,” said one person knowledgable with the issue, and who asked to speak on background.