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Compulsive car thief behind bars, but will she stay there?

Suzanne Downing
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Compulsive car thief behind bars, but will she stay there?

The courts can barely keep up with Saliloimanatu Toilolo. She keeps taking those five-finger-discount cars in the Anchorage area.

But the 32-year-old’s trouble with the law goes way back to her teens.

She was arrested for stealing a car in 2004, but pled to a less serious offense. Then there were a string of minor offenses, like driving on a suspended license.

In January of 2011, Toilolo was arrested for shoplifting, and by then she had a long record of lawbreaking.

Fittingly, she created the email address “lawbreaker_22@—.com.”

On Aug. 15, 2017, Toilolo “attempted” to steal another car. She was out of jail again.

On Oct. 26, 2017 she was apprehended by Anchorage police in a stolen silver 2003 Cadillac Escalade. The vehicle had been sought by officers for weeks.

[Read: Catch and release through the court system; Toilolo nabbed again]

That case hadn’t even gone to trial when she was again arrested Jan. 11 after leading police on a high-speed chase in a stolen car that had plates from another stolen car. They caught her after she slammed the blue Honda into a retaining wall.

The vehicle had been stolen in a home burglary committed on Dec. 31, 2017. The rear license plate belonged to a different vehicle reported stolen on Nov. 18.

But her pretrial assessment under said she was low risk, and she was back on the street.

On Feb. 13, police caught her again in yet another stolen car. She scored a “7” on her pretrial risk assessment this time, just high enough for corrections officers to give her a cot at Hiland Mountain Correctional Center. Her risk assessment form is below:

 

Judy Brady steps down from ML&P Commission

Suzanne Downing
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Judy Brady steps down from ML&P Commission

By ANCHORAGE DAILY PLANET

‘TROUBLED BY THE PROCESS’ OF SALE TO CHUGACH

Judith Brady, longtime head of the city’s Municipal Light & Power Commission, has resigned, citing concerns about how officials are handling the run-up to the April election to decide whether Anchorage will negotiate a proposed $1 billion sale of the city’s electric utility to Chugach Electric.

In her Jan. 25 letter to Anchorage Mayor Ethan Berkowitz, Brady said she supports the decision to “review” the sale, but, “As you are also aware, I am also troubled by the process.

“Two nights ago the Anchorage Assembly voted to put the question on the April ballot. This vote includes a change to the Municipal Charter to lower the required public vote from 60 percent to 50 percent. This vote was taken after a series of executive sessions by the Assembly, in which the details of such a sale were discussed and decided. These discussions and information on which they were based remain confidential.

“This is the first time in a Alaska’s history a transaction of this size has been put on the ballot based on confidential information and after only one public hearing

“While the Assembly made it clear, if the public voted ‘yes’ to approve the sale, there would be several months of continued negotiation, “my concern is that these negotiations would continue to be in executive session. I am also concerned the only information available to the public will be from a Chugach  PowerPoint in which only cites their benefits.”

Brady said she was “uncomfortable” serving on a “municipal commission and publicly expressing views that may not agree with Municipality’s position.”

[Read the rest of this story at Anchorage Daily Planet.]

[Read: Shadow mayor Begich behind sale of ML&P?]

War chest report: Campaign fundraising’s first big reveal

Suzanne Downing
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War chest report: Campaign fundraising’s first big reveal

The first wave of campaign fundraising reports are due today. To an extent, they show the strength of candidates to be competitive in the August primary and November General Election.

Must Read Alaska will update this report as the candidates file them; the deadline is midnight for filing with Alaska Public Offices Commission.

Readers can see the entire listing at the APOC web site and explore the donor listings.

RESULTS MAY VARY

The fundraising amounts do not tell the whole story, as candidates filed for office at different times; some filed only recently, but still must report through Feb. 1.

There are other constraints that skew fundraising results: Sitting legislators are prohibited from raising funds while they are in session, while in the case of Mike Dunleavy, a separate election effort has started with a well-funded independent expenditure group that has entirely different reporting requirements.

Here are the amounts candidates in some of the possibly competitive races have reported raising up until the Feb. 1 deadline (R=Republican, D=Democrat, UD=Undeclared Democrat):

GOVERNOR

  • Alaskans for Dunleavy, R, (campaign): $105,171
          Dunleavy for Alaska (independent expenditure group): $274,000
  • Scott Hawkins, R: $217,170
  • Bill Walker, U-D: $277,191
  • Charlie Huggins, R, withdrawn: $38,843
  • Mike Chenault, R: $32,804

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR

  • Kevin Meyer: $83,305
  • Lynn Gattis: $42,255
  • Edie Grunwald: $41,878
  • Byron Mallott: $154,583
  • Stephen Wright: $2,283

SENATE

  • Pete Kelly, R, District A, Fairbanks: $71,445
  • Scott Kawasaki, D, District A, Fairbanks: $48,540

Click Bishop, R, District C, Fairbanks: $19,375

George Rauscher, R, District #, Sutton: $3,950

Mia Costello, R, District K, Anchorage: $28,257

Sam Cason, U-D, District K, Anchorage: $2,945

Elvi Gray-Jackson, D, District I, Anchorage: $67,814

Chris Birch, R, District M, Anchorage: $24,525

Peter Micciche, R, District O , Soldotna, Kenai: $40,355

HOUSE

  • Kathryn Dodge, D, District 1, Fairbanks: $27,569
  • Bart LeBon, R, District 1, Fairbanks: $25,375.00

Steve Thompson, R, District 2, Fairbanks: $10,152

Colleen Sullivan-Leonard, R, District 7, Wasilla: $3,681

Pam Goode, R, District 9: $11,793

David Eastman, R, District 10: 15,026

Cathy Tilton, R, District 12, Chugiak-Wasilla: $9,531

Dan Saddler, R, District 13, Eagle River: $10,518.75

  • Gabrielle LeDoux, District 15, Anchorage: $66,624
  • Aaron Weaver, R, District 15, Anchorage: $1,970

Ivy Spohnholz, D, District 16, Anchorage: $45,641

  • Marcus Sanders, R, District 17, Anchorage: $2,554
  • Andy Josephson, D, District 17, Anchorage: $22,942

Anthony Lekanof, R, District 18, Anchorage: $1,665

Les Gara, D, District 20, Anchorage: $16,160

  • Matt Claman, D, District 21, Anchorage: $39,433
  • Marilyn Stewart, R, District 21, Anchorage: $6,490

 

  • Liz Vazquez, R, District 22, Anchorage: $7,516
  • Sara Rasmussen, R, District 22, Anchorage: $7,170
  • Jason Grenn, UD, District 22, Anchorage: $27,125

 

  • Chris Tuck, D, District 23, Anchorage: $3,500
  • Forrest McDonald, R, District 23, Anchorage: $1,272
  • Connie Dougherty, R. District 23, Anchorage: $6,755

 

  • Joe Riggs, R, District 26, Anchorage: $19,037
  • Al Fogle, R, District 26, Anchorage: $11,600

Lance Pruitt, R, District 27, Anchorage: $10,500

Jennifer Johnson, R, District 28, Anchorage: $5,148

  • Chuck Kopp, R, District 24, Anchorage: $15,911
  • Steve Duplantis, R, District 24, Anchorage: $5,556

Laddie Shaw, R, District 26, Anchorage: $11,792

  • Paul Seaton, District 31, Homer-Anchor Point: $32,760
  • John Cox, R, District 31, Homer-Anchor Point: $928

 

  • Justin Parish, District 34, Juneau Mendenhall: $8,067.45
  • Jerry Nankervis, R, District 34, Juneau: $23,932.54

Daniel Ortiz, UD, District 36, Ketchikan: $9,346.74

  • Bryce Edgmon, D, District 37, Dillingham, Aleutians: $14,020
  • William Weatherby, R, District 37, Dillingham, Aleutians: $2,462

Louise Stutes, District 32, Kodiak-Cordova, $13,100

ANCHORAGE MAYOR

  • Ethan Berkowitz, D: $102,090
  • Rebecca Logan, R:$50,026.29

ANCHORAGE SCHOOL BOARD

Deena Mitchell: $22,649

Alisha Hilde: $8,108

Tasha Hotch: $5,656

OTHER

FAIR ANCHORAGE NO ON 1: $415,747

Fairbanks utility interested in purchase of ML&P

Suzanne Downing
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1

ANCHORAGE DAILY PLANET EDITORIAL

The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner is reporting this morning that the Golden Valley Electric Association is more than a little interested in the proposed $1 billion sale of Anchorage’s Municipal Light & Power utility to the Chugach Electric co-op.

The newspaper says GVEA sent ML&P a nonbonding letter of interest that “provides a purchase price range of $875 million to $1 billion and promises not to raise rates or lay off employees for 24 months.”

“It’s not an offer,” the newspaper reported GVEA CEO Corey Borgeson as saying. “This is a little bit of a defensive move. There is concern that if we lose one of our major suppliers that we may see higher costs of energy from the Anchorage area.”

The letter gives GVEA an opportunity “to work on issues and conditions of the sale,” Borgeson said.

Other entities also have submitted letters of interest, but Anchorage officials are blocked from discussing the proposed deal because of a nondisclosure agreement.

“I am very limited with what I can say,” Kristin DeSmith, communications director for Anchorage Mayor Ethan Berkowitz, told the News-Miner.

Borgeson told the newspaper GVEA is interested in “buying components of ML&P, namely gas wells in Cook Inlet, a new power plant near Eagle River and the Bradley Lake Hydroelectric Project of which GVEA owns a 17 percent share.”

[Read more at the Anchorage Daily Planet]

Tom Braund withdraws, but not before governor lashes out

Suzanne Downing
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REPLACING MIKE DUNLEAVY PROVES TRICKY

Less than 24 hours after he was appointed, the second man chosen by Gov. Bill Walker to fill Senate Seat E has withdrawn, saying he needs to take care of personal matters.

The first man chosen, Randall Kowalke, was rejected by Senate Republicans, who asked the governor to work more closely with the district in finding a replacement for former Sen. Mike Dunleavy, who is now a candidate for governor.

In a long letter to Walker, Braund — a former Marine and retired safety officer — said that none of the media attacks regarding him had anything to do with his decision, and that it was simply personal choices involving the health needs of a loved one.

His letter to Walker indicates why District E people chose him in the first place:

“My decision has nothing to do with the media trying to smear me with anything they think is dirt in their quiver; even a joke can be turned into dirt by the low reporters.

“My decision is my own. I’m a Marine; this stuff rolls off my back like the dew. I’ve had professional gangsters try; they lost. So, nothing leftists try sways my decisions.

“My decision has little to do with the fact that I am somewhat unfamiliar with the processes in Juneau or any lack of knowledge of any issues at stake; I know enough. I would be on a big learning curve and am highly qualified to learn.

“To me, the most important thing anybody elected can do is whatever makes life better and easier for the People of Alaska. These days, that means your elected doing what it takes to keep your money in your own pockets, not funding government expansion or special interests. Politicians forget whose money it is.

“This State belongs to Alaskans, not government. The elected are supposed to be maintaining essential infrastructure, not luxury. That is the foundation of my decisions – the Constitutional job description.”

CHIEF OF STAFF GOES BALLISTIC

At the same time Braund was withdrawing his nomination, Gov. Walker’s Chief of Staff Scott Kendall, fired off an angry statement defending the nomination:

To be clear, the Governor absolutely does not endorse any of the three nominees sent to him by the Republican Party, including Thomas Braund.  The Senate Republicans rejected the Governor’s nominee—Randall Kowalke—and then publicly demanded that he appoint one of the three nominees endorsed by Party officials.  Essentially, they announced they would deprive the people in Senate District E of representation unless this demand was met.  The Governor does believe that District E is entitled to representation.  Accordingly, all questions regarding Mr. Braund’s fitness and qualifications for office should be directed to the Republican Party— who did vet Mr. Braund and, by vote, endorsed his beliefs as acceptable to them—as well as to the Senate Republicans who rejected Mr. Kowalke and specifically requested such a Party-approved nominee.  The Alaska Republican Party and the Senate Republicans now have the nominee they demanded.” – Scott Kendall, Chief of Staff

VICKI WALLNER’S NAME FORWARDED

Alaska Republican Party Chairman Tuckerman Babcock said he was forwarding the next name on the list of applicants to the governor for his consideration: Vicki Chaffin Wallner of Palmer. Wallner had come in fourth during the voting process in the district meeting in mid-January.

Wallner is the founder of a popular crime-fighting Facebook group in the Mat-Su Valley, “Stop Valley Thieves.” She is a businesswoman and small farm owner.

Governor lowers flags, reminds Alaskans of ‘fragility of life’

Suzanne Downing
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Gov. Bill Walker has ordered Alaska and U.S. Flags lowered to half-staff in remembrance of the victims of yesterday’s deadly shooting in Parkland, Fla. The directive to do so comes from the White House.

“Donna, Byron, Toni, and I are heartbroken, and share our prayers with the children, parents, educators and community members of Parkland, Florida,” Walker said in a press release. “Yesterday’s tragedy is a reminder of the fragility of life, and we join the nation in grieving with those who have lost their loved ones.”

U.S. and Alaska flags should be lowered to half-staff immediately, his order said. All flags should return to full staff at sunset on Monday, Feb. 19.

According to the Associated Press, a white nationalist group called the Republic of Florida, said that the 19-year-old shooter in Parkland was associated with the group, which wants wants Florida to become its own white ethno-state. He also had “trouble with a girl,” which may have led to his actions, in which 17 people died.

Abortionist hunter? Governor’s pick for District E advocates execution?

Suzanne Downing
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‘BEST DECISION FOR ALL ALASKANS’

Gov. Walker said he believes Tom Braund is the best choice for Alaska.

He chose him over a sitting representative of House District 9, part of Senate District E — an area that stretches from Wasilla to Valdez, and from Talkeetna to Whittier.

Walker skipped over Rep. George Rauscher because Rauscher briefly had a note on his office door telling people to leave their gross perversions outside his office.

Rauscher’s door sign, which was only up for less than an hour, poked fun of the Democrats’ constant troubles and their lawmakers’ forced resignations.

His signage referred to, perhaps, how both former Reps. Dean Westlake and Zach Fansler were asked to resign within a two-month period because of their inappropriate behavior toward women, which included everything from butt-slapping by Westlake to alleged dating violence by Fansler.

A sign on the door of Rep. George Rauscher disqualified him in the governor’s eyes for the Senate seat.

The Walker Administration decided Rauscher wasn’t playing nice with the Democrats. He was disqualified from being appointed to the Senate seat because of the sign.

When asked about how he felt about having been disqualified because of the sign, Rauscher was unapologetic.

“Hiding behind ‘BDSM’ [bondage, domination, sadomasochism] as a reason for hitting a woman is wrong and has no place in [the legislature]. That was what the statement said. I don’t know how it was taken or how it was misconstrued, but that’s what it meant and that’s the way I feel about it.”

[Read: Fansler: Marching for women by day, smacking them around at night]

To fill the vacant Senate seat for District E, Walker turned to Braund, a man who some may say anchors the fringe on right-to-life issues.

Did Gov. Walker consider what Braund wrote in 2017 when he advocated violence in his Facebook feed?

Braund’s social media comments are making the rounds, as shown here in a conversation he was having with others about Planned Parenthood:

A screen capture of a conversation Tom Braund was having regarding Planned Parenthood.

Must Read Alaska has reached out to Braund for explanation, because it’s possible his post was made sarcastically.

But there it is, a viewpoint on Facebook that Gov. Walker will have to explain or defend to his Planned Parenthood supporters, because, while Braund is a private citizen engaging in social media, the governor is the CEO of the state who has made an official appointment.

On Monday, a day before he appointed Braund, Walker sent a letter to Sen. President Pete Kelly and Majority Peter Micciche, calling himself “a non-partisan Governor and my decisions are not based on the wishes or demands of any one party.”

Walker went on to say that he had a “sincere desire to make the best decisions for all Alaskans, including the residents of Senate District E.

Walker’s best decision for all Alaskans is, for the purpose of political revenge, Tom Braund. And if the Senate Republicans confirm him, he could become Walker’s worst nightmare.

Well played, sir: Governor picks Tom Braund to replace Mike Dunleavy

Suzanne Downing
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SHOWS CONTEMPT ON OFFICIAL LETTERHEAD

Gov. Bill Walker quickly sent another name back to the Senate Republicans as the person he wants to see replace Sen. Mike Dunleavy.

This time, he went off the list of three names given to him by District Republicans.

But he didn’t choose sitting legislator Rep. George Rauscher. And he skipped over economist Todd Smoldon. He chose Tom Braund, a retired first responder who has been recovering from a car accident.

Braund is the only one of the three names given to him by District E Republicans that the governor did not actually interview in person. Braund phoned in his interview.

The drama created by the departure of Sen. Mike Dunleavy has been elevated in recent days when Walker started contacting people around District E and interviewing them in secret. Word got out and the people who had volunteered hundreds of hours to vet applicants were dismayed.

On Monday, Walker said he would pick the person he feels will be best for Alaska and for the District, and he chose Randall Kowalke, who did not make the cut in the grassroots process. That name was rejected today by Senate Republicans.

By Wednesday, Walker was of a different mind. He was going to go off the list provided to him by the people of District E.

But Walker was so disgusted he could not even capitalize the word “Republican” in his curt letter to Senate President Pete Kelly:

Dear President Kelly:

I was disappointed to receive your notification earlier today that the Senate republicans decided to reject Randall Kowalke. Out of all the candidates who applied seeking appointment to Senate District E, please know I remain convinced that I forwarded the best choice for your consideration.

It is evident that the Senate republicans will continue to reject any person I appoint, no matter how qualified, unless that person’s name is on the list provided to me by the republican party. Therefore, in the interest of providing timely representation in the State Senate for the residents of District E and pursuant to my authority under Article II, Section 4 of the Alaska Constitution, I have appointed Thomas E. Braund to fill the vacancy in the Alaska State Senate, District E.

Subject to confirmation by the Senate republicans, Thomas E. Braund will hold this office for the remainder of the unexpired term for Senate District E. I emphasize that I make this appointment believing that Senate District E needs full representation at the earliest possible time in this important final session of the 30”‘ Alaska State Legislature.

Sincerely, Bill Walker

 

Dunleavy seat: Senate Republicans turn down governor’s pick

 

Juneau’s new mascot for combined football team is…uh-oh

Suzanne Downing
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1

The Crimson Bear mascot for Juneau-Douglas High School and the Falcon for Thunder Mountain High School will remain for most sports, but the football mascot for the new combined school team?

Students at JDHS, Thunder Mountain, and Yaakoosge Daakahidi High School were offered a chance to vote on three names: Thunder Bears. Capital City Senators and Orcas.

The response was overwhelming for Thunder Bear.

Evidently school administrators did not check the Urban Dictionary:

Bridgett Weiss, the Director of Student Services at the Juneau School District, told the Juneau Empire that it was a “very strong voice” for the Thunder Bears.

Likely because the students did check the Urban Dictionary.

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