Edie Grunwald, the lieutenant governor candidate on the Charlie Pierce ticket, has decided she’s out. She is endorsing Gov. Mike Dunleavy and his running mate Nancy Dahlstrom and encouraging others to join her.
Pierce has been sued by one of his former employees at the Kenai Borough, where he was mayor until Sept. 30.
Grunwald made the statement sent to supporters Tuesday. Her name will remain on the ballot, as voting has already begun and the legal window has long past. 7,000 absentee ballots have already been cast. Should Pierce win election to the governorship, she would have to resign.
Pierce has not yet released a statement, but has denied the claims made by his former employee, who evidently didn’t accept a settlement negotiated by her lawyers with the borough and is now suing Pierce and the borough for a list of salacious allegations. Many political observers have noted the timing of the lawsuit, which appears to be intended to damage Pierce.
