The Anchorage Assembly at Tuesday’s meeting is set to approve a new lobbying contract with a firm that employs former US Senator and former Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich, raising questions about transparency in city government.
According to Assembly meeting documents, the firm Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP was selected from seven applicants to provide federal and state lobbying services for the Municipality of Anchorage. The initial contract runs from July 1 through Dec. 31, at a not-to-exceed cost of $90,000. Two optional one-year renewals at $200,000 each could bring the total contract value to $490,000.
Begich, who also owns hotel properties periodically leased by the city for use as homeless shelters, is named in the contract as the “Lead Lobbyist.” Though he is not a registered lobbyist, his involvement in municipal matters is ongoing. He arranged for the sale of Municipal Light & Power when Mayor Ethan Berkowitz was in office, and his contracts with the city to house homeless individuals in his hotel properties has been worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.
The lobbying contract outlines specific safeguards to address potential conflicts of interest, requiring Mark Begich to disclose whether he is acting on behalf of the city in any meeting or communication with municipal officials. If no such disclosure is made, it will be presumed that he is not representing the city. Likewise, failure to disclose a conflict of interest will be taken to mean none exists.
The firm’s responsibilities include engaging with Alaska’s congressional delegation, monitoring and influencing key legislation, and pursuing federal funding opportunities on behalf of the city. Brownstein is also required to provide at least two briefings per year to both the Administration and Assembly, as well as regular written reports detailing its lobbying activities.
The contract comes at a time when Mayor Suzanne LaFrance and the Assembly are working to increase Anchorage’s influence in Washington, DC, and Juneau amid shifting federal and state funding priorities.
Also notable is that LaFrance’s chief of staff, Susanne Fleek-Green, formerly served as state director for Sen. Begich during his tenure in the US Senate and she served as former Mayor Ethan Berkowitz’ chief of staff, as well as her job in the Biden Administration running Lake Clark National Park and Preserve.
While Mark Begich is the Democrat uncle of Rep. Nick Begich III, a Republican currently representing Alaska in Congress, there is no indication that the contract would involve any lobbying directed at his nephew, the congressman. But the contract is awkward and does not acknowledge that conflict of interests that Mark Begich has.
The Assembly is scheduled to vote on the contract during its June 24 meeting. The agenda for the meeting is at this link.
Wow, to be able to make hundreds of thousands of dollars living off the taxpayers. Begich’s hotels were obsolete and unprofitable so he got them cheap. Then the homeless got moved in, he had 100% capacity, and I imagine a nice refurbishment was done. Now more money for lobbying efforts which will attract more Liberals to Anchorage and Juneau.
The corrupt democrats sure know how to scratch each other’s backs with the taxpayers money.
It’s a form of nepotism the way they take care of each other and city contracts stay within the clique.
Isn’t this what the democrats called “the good ‘ol boy system”?
Corruption.
I guess this is the “purple hair gender confused commie non-binary system”
Why does this not surprise me? Yet, had this been a conservative assembly that hired a conservative lawyer, the media and the (D)ems would be losing their minds. Double standards much?
Walker in the picture, Get ready to take it in the Well you know were
You know where
From the guy who got Anchorage to call 45% a win in Municipal Elections.
When he passes their won.t be any need for a Coffin. he will just be Screwed into the ground
Plain old cronyism, which is business as usual for our dysfunctional assembly.
These two sentences say it all: “Begich, who also owns hotel properties periodically leased by the city for use as homeless shelters, is named in the contract as the “Lead Lobbyist.” Though he is not a registered lobbyist, his involvement in municipal matters is ongoing.” Lead lobbyist? Soon as he pays his fee, registers as a lobbyist, goes through the required annual “ethics” training, then he can become a lobbyist.
The Anchorage taxpayers can see what they are getting for their money that the muni is spending on Mark and the firm his is with:
Chapter 2.35 – REGULATIONS OF LOBBYING
2.35.080 – Public records. Statements and reports filed under this chapter are public records and shall be made available to the public as soon as practicable after each reporting period. Copies of the statements and reports may be requested during normal business hours at the expense of the person requesting copies.
The endless municipal gravy train of cash continues for former municipal cronies/has-beens. Follow the money.
oh what a huge surprise, the anchorage assembly is once again proving they are as politically bias as they come. Gee do you think they considered any other agencies, NOT!
I’m sure he has a great explanation for his greed. He will almost certainly call in to AM “conservative” drive time radio and discuss it. There will be lots of laughter, jokes and back slapping. Lots of congratulatory banter about how much he has done and continues to do for the city. He always laughs a lot. Looks like he has good reason.
Corruption.
This is criminal.
Standard protocol for the Left.
Bill Walker is a sculpture. Begich too.
Anyone seen the disgraced Bill Walker since that photo was taken about 10 or 15 years ago?
I guess my old campaign commercials which showed me as a little fatherless boy didn’t go over too well in my last campaign. I’m still trying to figure out why people like Nicholas better than they like me. I just hope than I don’t have to go begging to Nick in order to show LaFrance that I still have influence in political circles.
Maybe I can help. Two Begich’s are better than one. Nicholas has a mighty big national presence today and may end up being the most influential Begich ever in Alaska. Maybe even the most respected.
NB1, NB2, NB3. The only Begich name you need to know. NICHOLAS.
.
The others are burnt pop tarts.
ALASKA’S POLITICAL CORRUPTION JUST NEVER STOPS. POLITICAL GRAFT, THEFT AND LIES AT IT’S FINEST! HOW IS IT THAT WE KEEP HOPING FOR CHANGE IN THIS MESS OF A GOVERNMENT WE SEE BUT KEEP LETTING THESE SAME BAS///// KEEP MANIPULATING OUR EXISTENCE
Mark should have Chris Constant on his payroll and off the assembly forever more. They would make swell pair to screw the taxpayers even greater than planned.
Thank you Suzanne for reporting this give away. It’s amazing how this mayor and assembly is giving contracts left and right to their friends and supporters. This is government at its worst. Shame on them. Shame on Mark Begich too.
Disgusting.
Begich has been shoveling money into his own pockets, using the Anchorage Assembly as his tool to do so, for over a decade now. He is following the Obama playbook to stay in the background and keep sucking up off the citizenry.
But just like Obama his clients Love Him.
Oh look…
The Assembly is once again giving taxpayer money to Mark Begich. What are the odds???
There was a lot of crying and complaining about Mayor Bronson giving lucrative contracts to his “friends”. I sure see a lot more of it with Mark Begich and this Assembly than I ever saw with Bronson. Someone should look into the amount of money that has passed from this Assembly to Mark Begich and his hotel.
Mark Begich and Bill Walker two of the least effective politicians with zero percent moral character between the two. Why yes, let’s give them millions of dollars stolen from taxpayers.