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.
