Renkes -- and Alaskans -- deserve answers and action

Frontiersman editorial board

Should Gov. Frank Murkowski fire Attorney General Gregg Renkes? Some Democrats in the Alaska Legislature say yes, pointing to Renkes' relationship with KFx Inc. and his work to secure a $1-billion coal project that benefited that company.

Renkes owned more than $100,000 in KFx stock and was apparently purchasing more while he was securing a deal to ship Alaska coal to Taiwan -- a deal that would have produced financial gain for the company, and for Renkes. The attorney general had also worked as a technical adviser and consultant for KFx.

Democrats say evidence of conflict and unethical behavior is overwhelming, and the governor should remove Renkes now. Murkowski appointed former U.S. Attorney Robert Bundy to investigate the allegations, and Republicans say the attack is politically motivated -- that investigation should be completed before any decisions about Renkes are made.

What is clear at this point is that Renkes did stand to gain from the deal, and that he did not disclose the details of his relationship with KFx. It also appears that he sought to expand his holdings in the company as he used his government position to improve its economic standing. That would not only be unethical and worthy of his removal, but it would also be in violation of federal law.

Renkes did disclose his stock ownership to the Alaska Public Offices Commission, but apparently did nothing to alleviate the conflict of interest until the furor began. After charges of conflict were made, Renkes said he sold all of his stock and donated his profits to charity.

If Renkes was confident no conflict existed, why didn't he retain the stock? If he wasn't confident, why did he wait until the information became public?

Those are questions the governor must answer even after the investigation is complete. He must also explain why the attorney general was working on energy deals to begin with. In a state that is short on prosecutors, prison space and law enforcement resources, isn't there enough for the AG to do? Was Renkes' relationship with KFx just a lucky coincidence for him, or was it one of the qualifications that made him the right man for the job?

As we have seen in the past, Alaska law is generous where conflicts of interest are concerned. The governor must also consider the spirit of the law and Renkes' ethical intent. In fairness to Renkes, the investigation should be completed. In fairness to Alaskans, the governor must look beyond what is merely legal and also consider what is right.