By DAN FAGAN
Here’s the playbook for many legislators: Once out of office, score a job with a fat paycheck, one dependent on government bloat, largess, and wasteful spending.
A job like military advisor to the governor. Can you imagine filling a 40-hour work week as the governor’s military advisor?
Alaska state government jobs pay well with little accountability and iron clad job security.
The state has close to 700 public employees per 10,000 residents. That’s more than forty-eight other states.
One in four Alaska employees work for government.
Alaska spends north of $21,000 on state government per capita. That’s the highest in the nation and close to double what 40 other states spend on state government. Idaho spends one-third of what Alaska does on state government.
Back in 2010, Nancy Dahlstrom, after serving in the Legislature, decided to get in on the easy money state government job train.
Then-Gov. Sean Parnell made Dahlstrom his “Senior Military Advisor. “
I asked Republican Gov. Michael Dunleavy’s spokesperson, Jeff Turner, if the position of military advisor still exists. It does not.
“The governor has Gen. (Torrence) Saxe who is more qualified to advise the governor on issues relating to the military,” said Turner.
Parnell, also a Republican, had adjunct Gen. Thomas Katkus to advise him in 2010. Apparently, he needed Dahlstrom too.
Unfortunately for Dahlstrom, she had to give up her easy on the workload $96,000 per year job shortly after Parnell handed it to her.
The Alaska Constitution prohibits legislators from accepting jobs created while they were in office.
Parnell at the time told the Anchorage Daily News he waited to talk to Dahlstrom about the job until after the session. But Dahlstrom told me otherwise. She admitted the governor first talked with her about the job several months prior.
That’s a huge conflict of interest because Dahlstrom was still in the Legislature and held the powerful position of Rules Committee chair. The Rules chair is uniquely positioned to block or advance legislation, including the governor’s legislation.
Dahlstrom knew Parnell was going to give her this high paying job after the session was over. She had to know blocking any of Parnell’s legislation as Rules Chair could jeopardize her upcoming sweet $96,000 a year salary.
Then gubernatorial candidate and Republican Ralph Samuels told the Daily News Parnell clearly broke the law by giving Dahlstrom the job.
“This whole sorry episode reeks of politics as usual, doling out highly paid, made-up jobs to political friends. But in this case, what is most troubling is the governor’s clear intent to sidestep the Constitution,” Samuels said.
At first, Parnell’s Attorney General Dan Sullivan, now U.S. senator, gave the governor the green light on the Dahlstrom hiring. But changed his position after I challenged him on his legal opinion.
Here’s how the Anchorage Daily News reported it in 2010:
“KFQD talk-radio host Dan Fagan began to hammer Parnell on (his legal opinion) last month. The attorney general then came on Fagan’s radio show and said his department’s analysis wasn’t thorough and he would do a more complete one.”
After Sullivan’s “more thorough review” he changed his legal opinion on the Dahlstrom hiring.
In defense of Dahlstrom, when I talked with her, she seemed oblivious to the glaring conflict of interest with her serving as Rules chair, while knowing her potential future boss was willing to dole out almost $100,000 a year to her after the session.
When Dahlstrom admitted to me it had been months since she and the governor discussed her future job, she didn’t seem to be worried about hiding anything.
And there is no way to know if Dahlstrom used her power as Rules chair to benefit her future boss instead of her Eagle River constituents.
Keep in mind Juneau was awash in cash during this time. Only four years prior former Gov. Sarah Palin signed her massive tax increase, ACES.
State politicians, including Parnell, couldn’t find enough ways to spend all the money transferred out of the private sector and into wasteful state government.
It got so bad that the state offered free airfare to any Alaskan willing to fly to Anchorage and attend a game at the then- fledgling Great Alaska Shootout basketball tournament.
The big concern is not the illegal job offer or even the $96,000 heading Dahlstrom’s way.
It’s that as Rules chair, Dahlstrom had a giant financial incentive to do the bidding of the governor instead of her constituents.
Dan Fagan hosts a radio show on KVNT 1020 AM, 92 FM in Eagle River and North Anchorage, 104.5 FM in South Anchorage and globally on KVNT.com from 7 to 9 AM.
I don’t get why either Parnell or Dunleavy would think Dahlstrom is worth the money, let alone the trouble- then or now. How is she a beneficial political ally? What influence does she have that could possibly outweigh having a self-serving, petty backstabber on staff? Many of the optimistic Alaskans who helped jumpstart her political career have been regretting it for decades.
Wow, three articles now with Dahlstrom bashing. Rubbed somebody the wrong way, I’ve only seen Trump attacked more by the Left.
“…….Wow, three articles now with Dahlstrom bashing……….”
It’s a steady diet from the same fine folks who began this kind of “campaigning” with Palin Derangement Syndrome even before Trump Derangement Syndrome was a thing. Gotta’ wonder where the chicken or egg on this came from, but it appears that it’s here to stay……….at least into the civil war.
Hardly rubbing somebody the wrong way, Jim, if nobody, including Dahlstrom, seems forthcoming with a list of Dahlstrom’s accomplishments during her public employment, no?
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And we haven’t even started on the state of Alaska’s election system under Dahlstrom’s leadership…
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What would we think if the Left, who devote their lives and fortunes to wrecking everything American, didn’t attack Trump?
Well and truly Californicated
Anyone remember a time when they thought the government worked for us, not for itself?
Neither can I.
Welcome back Dan! We missed you!
This is not surprising both parties tend to create positions for there friends and Families. I do not think this should happen but I see that it does. I admit I have known Nancy a long time because of her work with friends of NRA in the past. I have had the opportunity to talk to Nancy in a couple of interviews and ask some Questions the only thing negative there is the answers seemed focus group created and not detailed. I will not vote for her in the primary. If she was to beat Nick then I would support her if he dropped out. Mary is bad for Alaska and is funded by out of state money.
You can hear my Show on KVNT 1020 AM 92.5 or 104.5 FM Monday thru Friday at 400 PM .
The Great Alaska Shootout was not a “fledgling” tournament in 2011. It started in 1978. By 2011, it had garnered many competing tournaments in locations more attractive and/or with easier travel.
I was thinking that myself. Maybe Dan and I have different definitions of “fledgling”
Shootout attendence 1996 49,710 2010 3,812 Fledgling.
Did you maybe mean faltering?
Did you maybe mean flailing?
State offers free airfare for Great Alaska Shootout fans
By Craig Medred
Updated: September 27, 2016
Published: June 12, 2012
Want to attend the Carrs/Safeway Great Alaska Shootout, but can’t afford a flight to Anchorage?
The Alaska Legislature has you covered. Starting at 12:01 p.m. Wednesday, fans who purchase Shootout general admission ticket packages ($120, plus a $7 processing fee) can apply for complimentary round-trip airfare to Anchorage, according to a press release.
Mr. Fagan and Suzanne are our best sources for reporting political graft and corruption. Nancy Dahlstrom is an ugly Alaskan, and shouldn’t be elected to ANY position. She”s a total fraud and a disgrace to Alaska.
Nancy Dahlstrom is just another bureaucrat feeding at the pig trough. Deceptive and a liar. Her conflict, eloquently identified by Mr. Fagan, demonstrates an attitude by Dahlstrom that makes her unfit to serve as congresswoman, governor, or Lt. Governor. She actually holds a blatant disregard and disrespect for the office she now holds. Nancy needs to drop out of the Congressional race and apologize to Alaskans for being the greedy, selfish old woman that she is.
Wow, Dan wasted no time in picking where he left off attacking Republicans in Alaska. It would have been nice to see a token article holding our leftist Congresswoman to account, but that’s not what Dan is known for.
Ride the gravy train into D.C.
people complaining about nancy bashing makes me laugh. this is reporting facts
makes you wonder what deal the governor and nancy have made.
Good column. Thanks for pointing out how with ACES the state was flush with money. Thanks to Parnell the state wants your PFD. And cut the cruise ship head tax. Throw away another 20 million a year. i guess Parnell and Dahlstrom had something in common. Neither represented their constituents. Is the position of military advisor to the governor similar to assistant commissioner of education?
She’s probly just a standard Republican. She’s running because Nick Begich represents changs, something the Republican party does not want. Let’s see what happens if Begich beats her in the primary. Will she withdraw? Will she stay in so Peltola will win? Republican Party would prefer Peltola to Begich, I’m thinking. Just as Sarah Palin assured Mary Peltola’s victory,
Nancy Dahlstrom is out to ensure the status quo continues.
Dan, did you move back to Alaska? If not, who cares what you say. If so, then great, you get an opinion.
Could this be the reason that Big Mike wants to ensure that she doesn’t replace him if Trump gets elected and he is off to DC as the Interior Secretary? Maybe he has watched her in action and doesn’t want to hand her the governor’s mansion. Just saying. Why else would he encourage her to run for congress? As Crum said, Dunleavy expects results.
A career government tundra swamp leach (Dahlstrom) or a Democrat family political dynasty silver spoon fed son (Begich) is what the AK GOP offers to counter a half White, yuppie oriented, air headed woman who pretends to be culturally Native (Peltola). She proves she has no wisdom or power, as Native matriarchal women traditionally kept public silence but their men, nominally leaders, unquestionably followed their advice. The GOP is so compromised a Begich Democrat looks conservative! We are a colony of the falling American Empire, it just gets worst at the federal level. The Pavlov theory is proven over and over with the misplaced, infantile and emotional passion of GOP vs Democrat expressed by voters. Independence for Alaska makes sense for the people, but our society is so far gone that we are unable to cope under subsidized socialism. The oil, gas and gold remains in the ground while the elite swine jostle for position at the trough of printed paper money.
Begich was raised by his conservative grandparents. He is succeeding in this nasty world of Republican politics despite the Democrat last name .. not because of it.
I do not question the integrity of Nick’s grandparents, the lost values and family cohesion of their generation is sorely needed today. Nor do I question Nick’s character as a man. I simply point out that Alaska is overwhelmingly subservient to what has become both federal and state totalitarian and incompetent governments, and consistently produces corrupt and unending family political dynasties who serve special interests outside of this state. The Alaska GOP has never once produced a God fearing actual conservative elected federal office holder.
Dahlstrom is the name of a notorious serial killer, the Atlanta Child Murderer.
And Simpson is the name of a guy who murdered his girlfriend, who was the mother of his child.
So let’s vote on people based on their last names.
Note to readers: ID10Ts should not vote.
You are, of course, following your advice and abstaining from voting?
ID8s like me vote, but never based on someone’s last name. Always based on who I think best represents the values that make America strong, good, lasting, and generally less like China and North Korea. You go with Kommunist Kamala and Welfare Mary. I get it. We cancel each other out. Thanks for playing.
You are projecting your ignorance and lack of fitness for voting. Nick Begich is the polar opposite of a democrat. Get informed before you further make a fool of yourself.
“Projecting my ignorance and lack of fitness to vote”, you eloquently expressed the foundational totalitarian concept that citizens questioning their leaders, those that patronize and prostitute themselves to the selfish interests of pompous persons of superior intelligence and sophistication such as yourself, should shut up and accept the incompetent leadership selected for them. Appreciate your confirming my suspicions that the Begich voter base is entitled Uniparty.
Don’t you miss the good old days when patronage was based on fund-raising?
Lt. Governor Dahlstrom as a Legislator and now as Lt. Governor took an Oath to uphold the Alaska Constitution which includes Article II Section 5.
Legal Opinion 1982 WL 43801 (Alaska A.G.) page 8, “In Warwick, the court considered Alaska Constitution, article II, section 5, which forbids a person to accept a government post which was created, or the salary for which was increased, while that person served in the legislature…”
Alaskans please VOTE on Monday or Tuesday. Alaskans need an elected person to Congress who shall uphold the Constitutions, protect not only our precious oil and other resources but also protect our constitutional rights, treaties, statutes, rules and our children within all communities. Public interest and safety for all Alaskans is of the utmost importance today.
Talk with people who have worked for her. Her follow through is so poor, the Dahlstrom staff bails her office faster than the staff of Kamala Harris.
I have only recently started to pay attention to Alaska politics so I have nothing to say that is knowledge based; however, I am interested in learning. I wanted to vote for Begish but even tho I searched for his standing on the PEBBLE mine issue, I could not find it … I live in a coastal FISHING community so that issue is very important for us. Is there anyone reading this who knows if he is pro or con the PEBBLE issue. Thanx
The real killer for the Great Alaskan Shootout was the change of rules by the NCAA which allowed for pre season basketball tournaments to be held in the contiguous 48 states and not count against the total regular season games number. Prior to that, those pre season tournament games played outside the U S mainland did not count in the games total and the tournaments were only held in Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico.
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