WHY WOULD FORMER PUBLISHER OF DISPATCH BE IN THE MIX?
A telephone poll of Alaskans this week asks a series of questions one might expect during gubernatorial election season, such as this one:
– Do approve, somewhat approve, somewhat disapprove or strongly disapprove of any of these names:
- Bill Walker
- Lisa Murkowski
- Mark Begich
- Scott Hawkins
- Sean Parnell
- Mike Dunleavy
- Donald Trump
- Mayor Dan sullivan
- Mead Treadwell
- Alice Rogoff
The order of the names rotates, of course, to give each name equal footing.
That a pollster would ask about Gov. Walker is no surprise in this election season, and the other names on the list seem normal for a pollster wanting to gauge the sentiment of likely voters.
But asking about Alice Rogoff, the former publisher of the Alaska Dispatch News?
The only reason that question would be included was because of former Lt. Gov. Mead Treadwell entering the race for governor on Friday. Treadwell and Rogoff are personal friends and have had a business relationship through PT Capital, and investment firm.
But Bill Walker also had a cozy relationship with Rogoff. She was part of a group he gathered early in his administration to come up with ways to fix the state budget, and she pushed borrowing money to do so. She also won support for the Port Clarence project — an Arctic port where PT Capital had some interest or involvement.
Our conclusion on why her name is included? Some candidate is polling to see if there are negatives from Rogoff that rub off on Treadwell or Walker’s reputation.
[Read MustReadAlaska’s latest coverage on the Rogoff-Dispatch bankruptcy]
Other questions in the nine-minute poll include:
– If primary election was held today, which of these names would you would you vote for?
- Treadwell
- Hawkins
- Dunleavy
– If you have to choose between Mead Treadwell and Mike Dunleavy, who would you choose?
– Do you support or oppose the use of the Permanent Fund for government services?
– If the general election was held today, and the candidates were Bill Walker, Mike Dunleavy, or Mark Begich, which would you vote for?
– Have you seen any advertising about the candidates — TV, Facebook, Other?
At least one other poll is in the field this week in Alaska, and it’s from a North Carolina call center using an automated voice.
