An ironic “quitter” theme has emerged from the Walker-Mallott camp, via social media.
The group calling itself “Unite Alaska for Walker-Mallott” may be hurting its own candidates, because when it comes to quitting public service, Walker-Mallott is a target-rich environment.
Bill Walker quit as mayor of Valdez. He lasted less than a year, because he wanted to go to law school and start suing oil companies. He made millions doing that, enough to finance his campaign for governor in 2010.
Lt. Gov. Byron Mallott quit being mayor of Juneau after four months because he received a lucrative job offer.
Walker quit the Republican Party in 2014, after he ran in 2010 but failed to win the primary for governor.
Mallott won the Democratic primary for governor in 2014, but he then quit a month later to run as a petition candidate for lieutenant governor.
In 2018, when the two looked at running for reelection, they chose the Democrat Party ticket, until Mark Begich appeared on the scene.
Then they quit the Democrats and ran as petition candidates in the General Election.
To be fair, at least one thing Walker quit could be viewed as a plus: After becoming governor, he quit suing the State of Alaska over Point Thomson, where a state settlement had led to the development of a huge oil and gas field.
Instead of tying up State dollars fighting Bill Walker in court, Alaska has seen 10,000 barrels of taxable energy per day going into the Trans Alaska Pipeline, adding revenue to the State’s budget at a time when it’s sorely needed.
And that’s a positive, as long as you don’t count giving that “sue-the-state” law practice to his prime supporter, anti-oil attorney Robin Brena — who is the one funding the group that is calling a public school teacher from Koyuk a “quitter.”
I’ve heard that ad on the radio several times, and thought it disgusting for its blatant and shrill dishonesty.
Glad to hear it’s backfiring on them, as it should.
Its a really stupid ad that insults the intelligence of anyone who hears it before they can quickly change the radio station.
It is an incredibly sophomoric ad. Who is their ad agency on that one? What a waste of funds.
My guess is Walker will also quit his reelection bid two weeks before we head to the polls and throw his support to Begich.
I think Bob is on to something.
Comments are closed.