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The Marines are coming: Commandant nominee, with Sen. Dan Sullivan

Suzanne Downing
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The Marines are coming: Commandant nominee, with Sen. Dan Sullivan

Must Read Alaska has learned that David H. Berger, the incoming Commandant of the Marine Corps, will be visiting Alaska this week with U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan, in advance of his confirmation hearing with the Senate Armed Services Committee next Tuesday. Sullivan is a member of the committee.

Lt. Gen. Berger was nominated to be general and commandant of the Marine Corps by President Donald Trump on March 26. Upon final confirmation from the Senate, Berger would become the Corps’ 38th commandant.

Berger is a former infantry platoon commander and recon Marine. He is currently the commander of Marine Corps Combat Development Command and Deputy Commandant for Combat Development and Integration, at Quantico, Va.

Berger served Iraq in the Desert Storm operation. He also commanded Regimental Combat Team 8 in Fallujah, Iraq as a colonel. He commanded the 1st Marine Division in Afghanistan.

Sullivan is also a member of the Marine Corps Reserves, where he is currently serves as colonel. Since 1993, Sullivan has had a variety of command and staff billets on active duty and in the reserves. In 2004, he was recalled to active duty for a year and a half to serve as a staff officer to General John Abizaid, the Commander of U.S. Central Command, spending substantial time deployed in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia.  In July 2013, while serving as commissioner of Alaska’s Department of Natural Resources, Sullivan was recalled to active duty to serve with a Joint Task Force in Afghanistan focusing on dismantling terrorist networks and criminalizing the Taliban insurgency. He was executive officer of the 4th Marine Division’s Anti-Terrorism Battalion.

Alaska has significant military presence with the U.S. Army, the U.S. Air Force, and the U.S. Coast Guard. Although Marines have trained in the state, there’s not a significant assigned presence for “the few, the proud.” Sullivan has said he’d like to change that. In 2016, Sullivan brought the now-retiring Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. Robert B. Neller to Alaska and toured him around the state’s bases, training facilities and ranges.

“The Marines are looking at spending a lot more time in Alaska,” Sullivan last year an August trip around the state with Army Secretary Mark Esper.

Review: ‘Learning the Ropes’ by Mike Gordon

Suzanne Downing
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Review: ‘Learning the Ropes’ by Mike Gordon

‘Mountain Mike” Gordon has penned the ultimate bad-boy-finds-redemption story in his rollicking Alaska memoir, Learning the Ropes.

He was an Eagle Scout. His family was in the “normal” range.

But he was divorced twice. He married thrice. He was a philanderer. He was a cocaine addict, a 15-year smoker, and owned one of the most successful nightclubs in Alaska, if not the entire Northwest.

Then, he read the book, The Seven Summits by Dick Bass, and decided to climb them himself, starting with Denali. He also completed 15 marathons, and eventually six of the seven summits.

Gordon sold Chilkoot Charlie’s in 2015 and retired, now living the life of a writer with his wife Shelli in Kachemak Bay. For those who remember reading Johnny’s Girl by Kim Rich, this is another tale from seedy Spenard, with no gritty stone unturned. Shelli must be a saint to let him publish these stories.

“In truth, it wasn’t long before I was up to the old habits that would eventually lead to our separation and subsequent marriage counseling less than five years later. I had been unfaithful to both of my previous wives, so falling into the routine was almost natural for me. But this time I had myself convinced that misbehaving in Thailand was somehow different. Shelli was so young, impressionable and in love and I was such a callous bastard,” Gordon writes. Ouch. What wife wants to read that?

“I destroyed something pure and beautiful that can never be entirely repaired, but at least I had the wherewithal, plus the support of a woman stronger than me, to work my way through the issues that continued to put distance between us and damage the marriage I desired, but to which I was unable or unwilling to fully commit.” Yes, this is a story of bars, adventures, and romance. It’s a love story at its core.

The narrative jumps around a bit between his troubled romantic exploits and his mountain exploits but readers can keep up between the vignettes and where the tale is heading — the three attempts to summit Mount Everest, each one bringing him closer to the top. The stories aren’t sequential, and that’s how the author intended it.

Gordon has done a great job on this memoir and it’s easy to imagine that Hollywood might come calling to buy the movie rights of this “sex, drugs, rock and roll, and redemption” life story.

Learning the Ropes can be found at Barnes & Noble in Anchorage, or at www.mikegordonauthor.com.  The author is having book signings around the state,  where he’ll pen “Mtn. Mike G.” on your own copy. See him at these locations:

May 3: Georgia Blue Gallery, 5-7 pm

May 10: Barnes & Noble, 6-9 pm

May 24: Halibut Cove, Alaska’s Experience Gallery, during the evening.

Poll: Murkowski, Sullivan both up with voters

Suzanne Downing
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Poll: Murkowski, Sullivan both up with voters

SULLIVAN NOT SEEN AS VULNERABLE IN 2020

Sen. Lisa Murkowski, who has been in the U.S. Senate since 2002 is still popular among Alaska voters, according to the quarterly poll from Morning Consult.

In the latest poll, 43 percent of Alaskans have a positive view of Murkowski, 36 percent have a negative view, and 21 percent have no opinion. Murkowski has a net positive of 7 percent with voters. She ranks 64th among all 100 U.S. senators in terms of popularity.

Alaska Sen. Dan Sullivan is not quite as popular as Murkowski, according to the poll, with a 38 percent positive, 32 percent negative and 30 percent having no opinion. Sullivan has a net positive of 6 percent with voters. He ranks 87th among all 100 senators.

Sullivan was elected to his first term in 2014 and comes up for election in 2020, while Murkowski has until 2022 before she stands for reelection — if she does. Many political observers believe she will not run again for Senate.

The company also posted results for governors, which shows Gov. Michael Dunleavy with a net 12 percent positive rating.

[Read: Polls says Dunleavy has net positive rating]

Poll: Dunleavy has net positive of 13 percent

Suzanne Downing
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Poll: Dunleavy has net positive of 13 percent

In the latest quarterly poll of how governors are doing, the polling company Morning Consult says that 42 percent of Alaskans approve of the job Gov. Michael Dunleavy is doing, 29 percent are unfavorable toward him, and 29 percent have never heard of him.

His net approval among all voters is +13 percent. Among Democrats, he’s not widely revered, with a net disapproval rating of -36. But Republicans hold him in a positive light with +56 percent approval, while those with no party still favor him slightly, with +9 percent approval.

Still, Dunleavy ranks second from the bottom of the list of all Republican governors, and is 42nd overall in popularity among the 50 governors. His “unknown” factor is fairly high on the list, with few other governors having a “who?”

View the sortable table at Morning Consult here.

Dunleavy was elected with 51.4 percent of the vote in November of 2018. Soon after taking office, he signaled he would have to cut the state budget dramatically in order to pay Alaskans their full statutorily determined Permanent Fund dividend. He also proposed three constitutional amendments:

  • Putting the Permanent Fund dividend into the Alaska Constitution.
  • Making no taxation possible without a vote of the people.
  • Instituting a constitutional spending cap.

Joe Biden picks up big endorsement — Michael Avenatti

Suzanne Downing
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Joe Biden picks up big endorsement — Michael Avenatti

Former Vice President Joe Biden announced his 2020 bid for president on Thursday morning.  He can already count on one vote: disgraced celebrity lawyer Michael Avenatti.

“I am extremely happy that @JoeBiden has decided to enter the race. He offers Dems the very best chance in 2020, especially in key states. He has the fight, intelligence and fortitude to beat Trump and begin to make America, America again. He has my enthusiastic support,” Avenatti posted on Twitter.

Avenatti represented adult film actress Stormy Daniels in a lawsuit against President Donald Trump over a “hush money” agreement they had regarding a sexual relationship he was trying to keep quiet. The president rejects the allegations and his lawyers are suing Daniels.

In March, Avenatti was arrested in New York City on charges of trying to extort up to $25 million from Nike Corp.

Biden is at the head of the pack of dozens of Democrats vying for the opportunity to knock off Trump in 2020. Morning Consult and Politico released a poll on Wednesday showing that, as of now, Biden could beat Trump.

Murkowski tours DMZ in Korea, visits Vietnam

Suzanne Downing
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Murkowski tours DMZ in Korea, visits Vietnam

Sen. Lisa Murkowski has returned from a trip to South Korea and Vietnam with Senate members, where she visited the Demilitarized Zone, discussed energy related issues, and focused on topics including trade and the U.S. relationship with North Korea.

“North Korea remains one of the country’s primary security threats. This opportunity to visit South Korea, see the DMZ, and get briefed on the recent events happening in the region was an invaluable way to learn directly from the soldiers carrying out their mission,” Murkowski said.

“The important work that USAID and its NGO partners are doing in Vietnam, including dioxin remediation and disposing of unexploded ordnance, helps to build our relationship with that country. Vietnam is also an important trading partner, and strengthening these ties helps our country, particularly Alaska, on both the economic and security fronts by countering China’s influence in the region,” she said.

The congressional delegation trip included Senators Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Rob Portman (R-OH), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Tom Udall (D-NM), and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI).

In South Korea, Murkowski toured the DMZ, including the Joint Security Area. Murkowski met with the U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Harry Harrison and U.S. and Swiss military officials to discuss the U.S.-North Korea relationship, ongoing military relationships, and energy production.

In Vietnam, she discussed energy, trade, legacy of war, and other issues with Ho Chi Minh City Party Secretary Nguyen Thien Nhan. Murkowski met with other top government officials as well as with representatives from non-governmental organizations involved with the disposal of unexploded ordnance to discuss clean-up options.  

Murkowski toured the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization World Heritage Site at the Hue Citadel, which was a key battle during the 1968 Tet Offensive.

Murkowski attended the ribbon cutting event for dioxin remediation at Bien Hoa Air Base, the largest project of its kind that will reclaim lands contaminated during the Vietnam War. She also witnessed the signing of a memorandum of intent between the U.S. Agency for International Development and the Vietnamese government, which will focus on supporting health and disability programs for people with disabilities due to Agent Orange exposure.

Anchorage Assembly passes 2019 budget revision: Another $5.7 million

Suzanne Downing
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2
Anchorage Assembly passes 2019 budget revision: Another $5.7 million

DYSON, KENNEDY DISSENT ON TAX-SPEND PLAN

The Anchorage Assembly on Tuesday passed the first quarter revisions to the 2019 budget approved in November.

It’s an increase of $5.7 million to the tax base, due to higher costs and revenue that fell short of projections made when the original budget passed.

The preliminary budget is passed in November before the city actually has all of the data. The first quarter adjustment is typical, after better numbers are in.

The main cost drivers for the 2019 budget increases were labor, health care, and police and fire retirement systems. New costs included in this adjustment include the new voter-approved bonds (operation and maintenance related costs), some workers compensation settlements, and other litigation settlements.

Revenues did not materialize to the level hoped for and aren’t expected to increase for this budget cycle. Those items are the state revenue sharing, tobacco tax income, slower federal Medicaid (ambulance) reimbursements, and lower utilities revenues.
Although the quarterly adjustment was lower than any of the last five years, it increases the tax burden. All of the increases are considered allowable under the tax cap requirements but the adjustment inches up the taxes allowed to be collected under the tax cap. That higher level becomes the base the municipality will start at for the 2020 budget. In other words, property taxpayers can expect their tax bills to be even higher next year.
If Anchorage ends up paying the unfunded bond debt reimbursements Anchorage will add an additional $180 tax per $100,000 of property value, which for the average house is well over $500 more in property taxes.

Property taxes have already risen year over year by five percent. For every $100,000 in value, owners now pay nearly $880 in property taxes to the municipality for services and another $700 per year for schools.

Anchorage’s mill rate of 16.4 is the second highest in Alaska, according to Connie Yoshimura at Dwell Realty. “Only Fairbanks has a higher mill rate of 19.8. In Anchorage the tax on a $350,000 home is $5,740 and $8,200 on a $500,000 home, excluding any exemptions entitled to the property owner. In Fairbanks, those same home values would be taxed at $6,930 and $9,900,”  she wrote.

Source: Dwell Realty

Of course, if Gov. Michael Dunleavy gets his way, every man, woman, and child in Alaska will be receiving a $3,000 Permanent Fund dividend, enough to pay for those local property tax, school bond increases, and then some.

Assembly members Crystal Kennedy and Fred Dyson were the only two who voted against the budget adjustment. While campaigning for Assembly, Kennedy said she heard time and again from people that they were paying all the taxes they could afford.

“This absolutely raises the tax burden on property owners. And another thing that really concerns me is that this pushes up the level to a point where we start at a higher level next year with the taxes,” she said.

Union organizers impersonate Labor Department inspectors?

Suzanne Downing
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Union organizers impersonate Labor Department inspectors?

ONE IS A FORMER CANDIDATE FOR HOUSE

Early Wednesday, a report was filed with the Anchorage Police Department stating that two men entered a midtown job site and presented themselves as Department of Labor employees who were there to do an inspection involving wage and hours.

The job site was the commercial building that houses the Anchorage Legislative Information Office, at 1500 Benson Blvd.

The company doing the work on the building was Bauer Construction. Bauer Construction filed the report at 7:50 am Wednesday.

The two imposters? They were identified in the report as Chris Dimond and Dustin Swatek, both organizers with the Pacific Northwest Regional Council of Carpenters.

According to the police report, Dimond and Swatek entered the job site and identified themselves to the superintendent as officials from the Department of Labor.

While touring the site, they managed to pull private information from one of the employees, including his name, phone number, job title, and the wage he was being paid.

The company superintendent had his doubts, however. The two didn’t act like state Department of Labor employees. One of them had a hardhat with a Neeser Construction sticker on it. Swatek is a former carpenter with Neeser.

When pressed, Swatek admitted that he worked for the union, but said that Dimond worked for the Department of Labor.

The men were asked for further identification; Swatek provided a business card right before he left the parking lot in his vehicle that had no State of Alaska identification. Dimond walked off the premises.

Dimond was a candidate for office in Juneau in 2018, when he ran for the House seat for downtown Juneau that was vacated by former Rep. Sam Kito III. Dimond ran as an undeclared candidate and lost to Democrat Rep. Sara Hannan.

Alaska Statute 11.56.830 says it’s a criminal offense if a “person commits the crime of impersonating a public servant if the person pretends to be a public servant and does any act in that capacity.” It’s a second degree, Class B misdemeanor.

CYA? Spohnholz attacks character of citizen Karl Johnstone — again

Suzanne Downing
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CYA? Spohnholz attacks character of citizen Karl Johnstone — again

Rep. Ivy Spohnholz doubled down today. She attacked the reputation of former Board of Fish Chairman Karl Johnstone, saying he “does not have the character” to serve on the Board of Fish.

Her comments came on the floor of the House on Wednesday, as she admitted that she had heard a lot of feedback about the shocking and unsourced accusations she had made against Johnstone in joint session with the Senate last week.

Just before the vote on his confirmation to the Board of Fish, Spohnholz had risen to speak last week and said that “more than two” women had sent her notes about his behavior, which she described vaguely as making them uncomfortable. When the vote was taken, Johnstone lost.

The point she was discussing today, a full week later after her first character attack on Johnstone, was under the topic she described as “Due Process.”

She said she supports a process for executive sessions in legislative committees, using Uniform Rule 22(b)2, so people would be able to make private attacks against others without revealing their names.

“People who have concerns could maintain confidentiality,” she said. Spohnholz also said she stood by her actions, but she wants to be “part of the solution.”

“We have to make decisions based on the best available information at the time. I stand  by  the actions I did,” Spohnholz said, referring to her unfounded accusation last week.

“Legitimate concerns about due process have been raised,” she said. “I share those concerns.”

She then proposed a working group to create a process for what effectively would be secret sessions in the Legislature.

“We don’t have that process currently,” she said.

Alaskans who serve on boards and commissions do so as volunteers. They may receive modest per diems to cover meeting days in some circumstances, but their service is unpaid.

[Read: What Ivy Spohnholz did to me, she can do to anyone]

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