By S.E. STEELE
Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia disorders disproportionately affect older individuals, and the number of residents entering the Alaska Pioneer Homes with these illnesses continues to rise. In fact, approximately 58% of Alaska Pioneer Home residents live with some form of dementia, making memory care a core component of the services provided. These are some of our most vulnerable citizens deserving of dignity, not manipulation.
Yet, Assemblyman Daniel Volland, on the Anchorage ballot for reelection, has taken a “charitable” approach not out of compassion, but out of campaign calculation.
In a tight race, he’s shown himself to be a predatory opportunist, exploiting residents with cognitive decline to harvest votes for personal political gain. Assemblyman Chris Constant was right there beside him, seizing the same photo and political opportunity after the recent fire at the Pioneer Home.
Here are just a few of the campaign photos they posted on social media, documenting that they were campaigning, rather than giving actual charity, inside a government facility:
Let’s be honest, when have either of them ever visited these facilities before, donated goods, or offered their services?
The timing is no coincidence. While it’s heartening that the residents received supplies, it’s despicable that what motivated Volland and Constant wasn’t kindness, it was votes.
Moreover, such activities may run afoul of Alaska’s legal standards. According to Alaska Statute 39.52.120(b)(6), public officers are prohibited from using state resources for partisan political purposes, which includes benefiting a candidate or political party.
While this statute specifically addresses public officers, the ethical principle extends to all candidates: campaigning on government property, such as state-run facilities like the Alaska Pioneer Homes, is inappropriate and potentially unlawful.
This underscores the troubling nature of Volland and Constant’s actions, suggesting not only a lapse in moral judgment but also a disregard for the ethical boundaries designed to protect vulnerable populations from political exploitation.
Our seniors, especially those battling dementia, deserve better than to be used as pawns in political games. It’s imperative that we hold our candidates to the highest ethical standards and ensure that the sanctity of our elder care institutions remains uncompromised by political ambition.
SE Steele lives in Anchorage.
dimlibbys have NO shame!
Makes me sick!
I trust Volland as far as I can throw my mini-van.
VOTE GEORGE!
To anyone in the downtown district (District 1) who hasn’t voted yet, please vote Volland out!! You have a QUALITY CANDIDATE in DANIEL GEORGE, and he needs your help to win! He can do it, but it takes ALL OF US! Volland is not a genuine person and doesn’t care about We the People unless it benefits him or his agenda i.e. Bike Lanes.
If you are unaware, the Downtown district is not the same size it used to be. It incorporates a much bigger area. For directional purposes, District 1 is the following:
North – Government Hill & Mountain View
East – Turpin
West – Westchester Lagoon and down the east side of Minnesota Drive to 36th Avenue
South – Debarr Road, down Lake Otis to the coastal trail, to Seward Highway to Northern Lights to C Street to 36th Avenue
If you aren’t sure, you can follow this link and type in your address: ‘https://www.muni.org/Departments/Assembly/Clerk/Elections/Pages/Find-Your-District.aspx
Please help DANIEL GEORGE aka “The Good Daniel” win this race!
Get out and vote!
Get your friends and neighbors to vote!
Anchorage needs you, and it needs Daniel George!
These people have no shame.
“Never let a good crisis go to waste.”
It is no surprise to any of his constituents, that Chrissie Constant has lost his moral compass and is behaving in the most morally bankrupt way.
I don’t think he ever had a moral compass.
And noone will do anything about this illegal behaviour… these elites get away with illegal acrivities every day, this just empowers them to get worse. Where are the handcuffs for these two law breakers?
Bronson’s guy George will bring back incompetence to City Hall.
Now there’s an attention-seeking, cheap-shot guy.
Didn’t know Volland was so desperate.
I hate this. I see it at church all the time. People who never do anything for anyone all of the sudden start showing up during election season. This is disgraceful.
Watch out for constant, he has larger plans. We need to stop him before he gets started. Opportunist in our A$$- embly. No shame, who keeps voting these fools in?