The Recall Dunleavy Committee mailed petition booklets to more than 20,000 Alaskans on Wednesday, and launched an aggressive advertising campaign on TV and radio throughout the state to get people to mail in their signatures on the petition.
The recall committee has collected nearly 35,000 signatures so far to put the recall of Gov. Mike Dunleavy on a ballot.
“Winning in Alaska Supreme Court has energized Alaskans to sign the petition at home as soon as possible,” said Aaron Welterlen, Steering Committee Member, in an email to supporters. “When we collect another 40,000 signatures this summer, Alaskans will send one unified message together: we deserve a competent governor who respects the constitution and is equipped to lead us through a full economic recovery.”
Each of the petition booklets that were mailed contain room for up to 15 signatures, a prepaid return envelope, and an “I signed” sticker.
Mailed petition booklets contain an instructions sheet, a petition booklet containing a signature page for up to 15 signers, a prepaid envelope for convenient return, and an “I Signed” sticker. Such a recall campaign has never before been seen anywhere in the U.S., because the signature gatherers have been prevented from having direct contact with potential signers due to the Wuhan coronavirus.
Recall Dunleavy needs a minimum of 71,252 Alaska voters to sign the petition, and will deliver those signatures to the Division of Elections. Then, the division has 30 days to certify the signatures, and must set a date for an election.
Although the group has paid staff and has clearly spent well over $100,000 in the effort, it has not disclosed its donors or how much it has raised.
The recent mailer to 20,000 is likely to have cost them more than $50,000, all to rekindle a dead fire. The radio and TV ad buy is likely in the tens of thousands of dollars.
Those wishing to be mailed a recall kit can contact the group at the RecallDunleavy.org website.
