The Republican Primary

I wish there were more public debates. Since 2020, there haven’t been many and none in this contest that I am aware of. We the voters are being short sheeted, as the advocacy groups that previously promoted such debates seem to have become silent. The parties don’t seem to want their candidates in a public venue to have their knowledge, record and acumen debated.

I am not advocating for either Begich or Dahlstrom. That is a personal decision on the part of whomever bothers to read this.

In July, 2010, Gov. Sean Parnell decided that he needed two Czars to assist his governance in the areas of military affairs and energy development. Then Sen. Gene Therriault was appointed as the energy czar at $110,000 per year and then Repl. Nancy Dahlstrom as military czar at $96,000 per year. Both were serving legislators when appointed by then Gov. Parnell to those positions.

Daniel S. Sullivan, then Attorney General, gave an Opinion dated July 1, 2010 at the governor’s request disfavoring the legality of such an appointment in the face of the bar against contained in the Constitution of the State of Alaska.

Dahlstrom’s and Therriault’s appointments were technically a violation of Art. II Sec. 5 of the Alaska Constitution:

“During the term for which elected and for one year thereafter, no legislator may be nominated, elected, or appointed to any other office or position of profit which has been created, or the salary or emoluments of which have been increased, while he was a member.” (Constitution of the State of Alaska Art. II §5)

It should be noted that initially, when asked by the governor the AG gave a favorable cursory opinion. That opinion was not published to my knowledge. When the hue and cry regarding the perceived violation of Art. II §5 started, a formal opinion was asked for by Parnell. That was the July 1, 2010 AG Opinion.

Both Nancy Dahlstrom and Gene Therriault resigned in July, 2010 from the governor’s appointments due to criticism received and the July 1, 2010 AG Opinion. However, both took the jobs offered in the face of and with knowledge of Art. II §5.

I am not opining that either Therriault or Dahlstrom did anything wrong, but Art. II §5 is plain English. This is a tenet of the state Constitution that is made clear to every legislator upon being elected to office.

In my opinion, Nancy Dahlstrom’s record in the Legislature and the state government is extensive, and favorable to her candidacy, both as a legislator to 2010, as the Commissioner, Dept. of Corrections and as LTGOV under Governor Mike Dunleavy. I cannot remember Dahlstrom being called down for her votes in the Legislature, her votes being on target and reliable. Dahlstrom was considered a conservative legislator. I have it on good authority that Nancy Dahlstrom’s conduct and performance as DOC Commissioner was good, she was a good administrator/manager, a fair arbiter of the DOC’s internal issues, and a good advocate for DOC. That she became the state’s LTGOV speaks for itself regarding her abilities, performance and the trust given her by the people of Alaska in her various roles in this state’s government. Dahlstrom also advocated that the standing of the Corrections Officers be considered the same as that of law enforcement.

I have spoken with Nick Begich only during his last campaign. He had no legislative or other government service record to consider. His primary sales pitch is his private sector experience, a positive attribute in my opinion. He is young with a family, which means energy to do the job. However, he has not spent his life in Alaska and, given my contact with him lacked knowledge in vital areas. Learning on the job about why you are there is an after the fact situation. However, he may have corrected his knowledge deficiencies since I spoke with him.

The Republican Primary vote is absolutely crucial. RCV will see that there will be two Republicans in the General, if the Republican with the least votes in the Primary does not withdraw from the General.

I encourage anyone interested in the candidacy of either Dahlstrom or Begich to contact them through their campaign. Get any questions you have answered before you vote.

In my opinion, given her record, Democrat Rep. Mary Peltola is an outright socialist nightmare fully supporting the Biden agenda against this country and our kids. She represents the extreme communist wing of the Dem party and makes no bones about it. We cannot send her back to D.C.

Larry Wood is a long time Alaska resident living on Lazy Mountain.