Anchorage’s House District 27 has been a nail-biter of a race. On Sunday, Democrat Liz Snyder slipped ahead of Rep. Lance Pruitt by 17 votes.

Must Read Alaska has learned that there are between 114 and 120 absentee votes left to be counted. Pruitt would need more than 57 percent of them in order to overcome Snyder’s lead.

Pruitt was first elected to the district in 2010. But the East Anchorage district has grown more progressive over the years. This year in the presidential race, Joe Biden won the district over Donald Trump, 4,476 to 4,072. But four years ago, Trump won the district with 4,085 to Hillary Clinton’s 3,729 votes.

Check back for further updates on whether this house seat has flipped to the Democrats.

In a letter from Alaska Gasline Development Corporation Board President Frank Richards, the state-owned agency has declined to meet with the former governor of Alaska, who has put together a consortium that proposes to take over the Alaska Gasline project from the agency:

November 11, 2020

The Honorable Bill Walker Mr. Keith Meyer
Mr. A.J. “Joey” Merrick II Mr. Bernie Karl

Alaska Gasline & LNG, LLC. 2501 Commercial Drive Anchorage, AK 99501

Gentlemen,

On behalf of AGDC’s Board, I am responding to your letter dated November 9, 2020. Thank you for your continued interest in the Alaska LNG Project.

In April 2020, the AGDC Board of Directors authorized our current strategic plan to transition leadership of the Alaska LNG Project to a third party or parties with the qualifications and capitalization to successfully unlock the benefits and value of Alaska’s North Slope natural gas.

AGDC is already collaborating with parties with whom we have an existing relationship to potentially achieve this goal. These parties have provided significant funds and in-kind contributions during the recent economic reevaluation, which successfully reduced the estimated cost of the Alaska LNG Project to a more competitive level. Collectively, we are working toward identification of a new lead party that can advance the project to Front End Engineering and Design, the next appropriate stage gate.

In early 2021, the Board will assess whether there is sufficient interest and progress towards our leadership transition goal. In the event that new Alaska LNG leadership is not identified, AGDC may formulate an open solicitation of interest to present to other qualified parties. Should AGDC offer such a solicitation in 2021, we will be sure to notify Alaska Gasline & LNG LLC.

Accordingly, we respectfully decline your request to meet until such time that we are ready to share a formal solicitation of interest. AGDC and the Board appreciate your keen interest in the success of the Alaska LNG Project.

Sincerely,

Frank T. Richards, P.E. President, AGDC

Cc: AGDC Board of Directors

In a letter to potential donors, mayoral candidate Forrest Dunbar said that “With regards to the Mayor’s race, my colleagues have decided to follow the Charter and NOT set a Special Election. The election will occur in April, as planned.”

That’s not what the charter says, and the Assembly most certainly did not follow the charter, but instead the liberal majority made a decision that having a special election for mayor would be too costly and confusing, as it would come right in the middle of the regular mayoral election.

“A vacancy in the office of mayor shall be filled at a regular or special election held not less than 90 days from the time the vacancy occurs,” the Charter reads.

Mayor Ethan Berkowitz resigned effective Oct. 23, that means at some point in late January, Anchorage residents should, by law, be allowed to vote on a temporary mayor who would serve until July 1, when the mayor-elect from the regularly scheduled April 6 election takes office.

But that would crimp the term of Acting Mayor Austin Quinn-Davidson and the liberal Assembly majority, which did not want to lose power between January and July.

Dunbar is holding a teleconferenced Zoom fundraiser on Nov. 19 for his candidacy, and he has 100 Democrat heavyweights signed on as co-hosts, such as Assembly members Chris Constant, Suzanne LaFrance, Meg Zalatel, and Pete Petersen — all who voted to not have a special election for acting mayor.

Dunbar had recused himself from the vote because he is an announced candidate. He promises a revitalized downtown, better trails, and “embracing a sense of Indigenous place,” if he is elected.