Walker names Planned Parenthood veteran to midwives oversight board

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AWKWARD APPOINTMENT

Gov. Bill Walker has named a Palmer woman who was a political field organizer for Planned Parenthood to a group that oversees the delivery of live births: the Board of Certified Direct-Entry Midwives.

Kenni Linden is a graduate of Palmer High School and Naropa University, a Buddhist-inspired school in Colorado.

Linden ran for Palmer City Council and was endorsed by the AFL-CIO Mat-Su coalition of unions, including Local 302, IBEW, MSBEA, and MSEA. She lost to Sabrena Combs.

Linden describes herself in her previous campaign material as a “fierce reproductive justice activist—I was a political field organizer with Planned Parenthood.”

Direct-entry midwives are those who come into the field through apprenticeship, rather than for a formal nursing program.

The Board consists of two direct-entry midwives, one physician, one certified nurse midwife, and one public member, which is the board seat that expires March 1, and the one to which Linden would be confirmed.

According to the state’s web site, the Board adopts regulations to carry out laws governing the practice of direct-entry midwifery in Alaska and makes licensing decisions. It also takes disciplinary action against people who violate the licensing laws.

Will Linden get confirmed by the House and Senate, or is her nomination considered to be red meat to attract Republican ire? Is the plan to make her the new Drew Phoenix (controversial nomination of 2017) to draw attention away from other appointees?

Speaker Bryce Edgmon referred the nomination to the, er, Labor and Commerce Committee.

[Read: Transgender dosn’t make cut for commission]

The complete list of Walker’s most recent appointments:

Commissioner – Department of Revenue

Sheldon Fisher

Appointed:                     September 7, 2017

Commissioner – Department of Administration

Leslie Ridle

Appointed:                     October 6, 2017

Commissioner – Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development

Mike Navarre

Appointed:                     November 1, 2017

Accountancy, Alaska State Board of Public

Leslie Schmitz – Anchorage

Appointed: 3/1/2018                                            Term Expires: 3/1/2022

Alcoholic Beverage Control Board

Sara Crapuchettes – Soldotna

Appointed: 3/1/2018                                            Term Expires: 3/1/2021

Rex Wilhelm – Anchorage

Appointed: 3/1/2018                                            Term Expires: 3/1/2021

 

Architects, Engineers and Land Surveyors, State Board of Registration for

William Mott – Anchorage

Appointed: 5/26/2017                              Term Expires: 3/1/2020

Luanne Urfer – Eagle River

Appointed: 7/7/2017                                            Term Expires: 3/1/2021

Jennifer Anderson – Anchorage

Appointed: 3/1/2018                                            Term Expires: 3/1/2022

Richard Jones – Juneau

Appointed: 10/26/2016

Reappointed: 3/1/2018                             Term Expires: 3/1/2022

 

Assessment Review Board, State

Bradley Pickett – Palmer

Appointed: 5/26/2017                              Term Expires: n/a

 

Bar, Board of Governors of the Alaska

William Gordon – Salcha

Appointed: 8/15/2012                              Reappointed: 3/1/2015

Reappointed: 3/1/2018                             Term Expires: 3/1/2021

 

Barbers and Hairdressers, Board of

Vershawn Idom – Anchorage

Appointed: 3/1/2018                                            Term Expires: 3/1/2022

 

Big Game Commercial Services Board

Robert Beans – Palmer

Appointed: 1/29/2018

Reappointed: 3/1/2018                             Term Expires: 3/1/2022

Adam Trombley – Anchorage

Appointed: 2/2/2017

Reappointed: 3/1/2018                             Term Expires: 3/1/2022

Michelle Heun – Palmer

Appointed: 1/29/2018                              Term Expires: 3/1/2021

Cash Joyce – Wasilla

Appointed: 1/29/2018                              Term Expires: 3/1/2019

 

Chiropractic Examiners, Board of

James Morris – Dutch Harbor

Appointed: 3/1/2018                                            Term Expires: 3/1/2022

Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission, Alaska

Vance Fate Putman – Juneau

Appointed: 12/1/2017

Reappointed (to different seat): 1/29/2018     Term Expires: 3/1/2021

 

Carol Petraborg – Juneau

Appointed: 3/1/2018                                            Term Expires: 3/1/2022

 

Dental Examiners, Board of

Dominic Wenzell – Girdwood

Appointed: 3/1/2018                                            Term Expires: 3/1/2022

Robin Wahto – Anchorage

Appointed: 11/15/2017                             Term Expires: 3/1/2021

Education and Early Development, Board of

James Fields – Glennallen

Appointed: 3/22/2013

Reappointed: 3/1/2018                             Term Expires: 3/1/2023

Sandra Kowalski – Fairbanks

Appointed: 3/1/2018                                            Term Expires: 3/1/2023

Lorri Van Diest – Palmer

Appointed: 1/29/2018                              Term Expires: 3/1/2020

 

Fishermen’s Fund Advisory and Appeals Council

Mark Saldi – Skagway

Appointed: 3/26/2008                              Reappointed: 3/1/2013

Reappointed: 3/1/2018                             Term Expires: 3/1/2023

 

Human Rights, State Commission for

Megan Mackiernan – Nome

Appointed: 8/18/2017                              Term Expires: 3/1/2020

Christa Bruce-Kotrc – Ketchikan

Appointed: 8/1/2011

Reappointed: 3/1/2018                             Term Expires: 3/1/2023

Freddie Olin IV – Anchorage

Appointed: 3/1/2018                                            Term Expires: 3/1/2023

 

Labor Relations Agency, Alaska

Tyler Andrews – Anchorage

Appointed: 6/9/2008                                            Reappointed: 3/1/2009

Reappointed: 3/1/2012                             Reappointed: 3/1/2015

Reappointed: 3/1/2018                             Term Expires: 3/1/2021

Melinda (Mila) Cosgrove – Juneau

Appointed: 1/3/2018                                            Term Expires: 3/1/2020

Lon Needles – Valdez

Appointed: 3/1/2015

Reappointed: 3/1/2018                             Term Expires: 3/1/2021

 

Marijuana Control Board

Loren Jones – Douglas

Appointed: 7/1/2015

Reappointed: 3/1/2018                             Term Expires: 3/1/2021

Nicholas Miller – Anchorage

Appointed: 8/19/2016

Reappointed: 3/1/2018                             Term Expires: 3/1/2021

Travis Welch – Utqiagvik

Appointed: 1/19/2018                              Term Expires: 3/1/2020

 

Marine Pilots, Board of

Peggy McLaughlin – Dutch Harbor

Appointed: 5/26/2017

Reappointed: 3/1/2018                             Term Expires: 3/1/2022

Richard Harris – Juneau

Appointed: 12/18/2017                             Term Expires: 3/1/2020

Les Cronk – Ketchikan

Appointed: 3/1/2018                                            Term Expires: 3/1/2022

 

Marital and Family Therapy, Board of

Natalie Lewis – Kotzebue

Appointed: 3/1/2018                                            Term Expires: 3/1/2022

 

Massage Therapists, Board of

David Edwards-Smith – Soldotna

Appointed: 1/19/2015

Reappointed: 3/1/2018                             Term Expires: 3/1/2022

Jill Motz – Wasilla

Appointed: 1/23/2017

Reappointed: 3/1/2018                             Term Expires: 3/1/2022

 

Medical Board, State

Sai-Ling Liu – Nome

Appointed: 3/1/2014

Reappointed: 3/1/2018                             Term Expires: 3/1/2022

Catherine Hyndman – Dillingham

Appointed: 12/18/2017                             Term Expires: 3/1/2020

 

Mental Health Trust Authority Board of Trustees, Alaska

Mike Powers – Fairbanks

Appointed: 3/1/2018                                            Term Expires: 3/1/2023

Verné Boerner – Anchorage

Appointed: 3/1/2018                                            Term Expires: 3/1/2023

 

Midwives, Board of Certified Direct-Entry

Kenni Linden – Palmer

Appointed: 3/1/2018                                            Term Expires: 3/1/2022

Dianna Kristeller – Fairbanks

Appointed: 12/18/2017                             Term Expires: 3/1/2021

 

Nursing, Board of

Starla Fox – Dillingham

Appointed: 5/26/2017

Reappointed: 3/1/2018                             Term Expires: 3/1/2022

Linda Hutchings – Soldotna

Appointed: 1/24/2018

Reappointed: 3/1/2018                             Term Expires: 3/1/2022

 

Optometry, Board of Examiners in

Damien Delzer – Fairbanks

Appointed: 3/1/2014

Reappointed: 3/1/2018                             Term Expires: 3/1/2022

Eric Lingle – Juneau

Appointed: 3/1/2014

Reappointed: 3/1/2018                             Term Expires: 3/1/2022

 

Parole, State Board of

Sarah Possenti – Fairbanks

Appointed: 4/1/2011                                            Reappointed: 3/1/2013

Reappointed: 3/1/2018                             Term Expires: 3/1/2023

Personnel Board

Alfred Tamagni, Sr. – Anchorage

Appointed: 3/1/2006

Reappointed: 3/1/2018                             Term Expires: 3/1/2024

 

Pharmacy, Board of

Tammy Lindemuth – Anchorage

Appointed: 1/24/2018                              Term Expires: 3/1/2021

Sharon Long – Anchorage

Appointed: 3/1/2018                                            Term Expires: 3/1/2022

Lana Bell – Anchorage

Appointed: 5/31/2016

Reappointed: 3/1/2018                             Term Expires: 3/1/2022

 

Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy Board, State

Keith Poorbaugh – Palmer

Appointed: 5/26/2017

Reappointed: 3/1/2018                             Term Expires: 3/1/2022

Robert Calhoon – Anchorage

Appointed: 3/1/2018                                            Term Expires: 3/1/2022

Police Standards Council, Alaska

Michael Craig – Anchorage

Appointed: 5/26/2017

Reappointed: 3/1/2018                             Term Expires: 3/1/2022

Justin Doll – Anchorage

Appointed: 8/18/2017                              Term Expires: 3/1/2021

David Knapp – Palmer

Appointed: 1/24/2018

Reappointed: 3/1/2018                             Term Expires: 3/1/2022

 

Professional Counselors, Board of

Steven Cardwell – Fairbanks

Appointed: 11/15/2017                             Term Expires: 3/1/2021

Janece Richard – Anchorage

Appointed: 3/1/2018                                            Term Expires: 3/1/2022

Alice Baum – Anchorage

Appointed: 3/1/2018                                            Term Expires: 3/1/2022

 

Professional Teaching Practices Commission

Diane Kardash – North Pole

Appointed: 5/26/2017

Reappointed: 3/1/2018                             Term Expires: 3/1/2021

Phillip Graham – Soldotna

Appointed: 3/1/2018                                            Term Expires: 3/1/2021

Kent Runion – Nome

Appointed: 11/18/2016

Reappointed: 3/1/2018                             Term Expires: 3/1/2021

 

Public Offices Commission, Alaska

Anne Helzer – Anchorage

Appointed: 3/1/2018                                            Term Expires: 3/1/2023

 

Real Estate Appraisers, Board of Certified

Donald Faulkenburry – Anchorage

Appointed: 5/26/2017                              Term Expires: 3/1/2019

David Derry – Kenai

Appointed: 3/1/2014

Reappointed: 3/1/2018                             Term Expires: 3/1/2022

Wendy Lawrence – Sitka

Appointed: 3/1/2018                                            Term Expires: 3/1/2022

Regulatory Commission of Alaska

Janis Wilson – Anchorage

Appointed: 4/10/2006

Reappointed: 3/1/2018                             Term Expires: 3/1/2024

Paul Lisankie – Anchorage

Appointed: 1/31/2018                              Term Expires: 3/1/2019

Social Work Examiners, Board of

Lisa Hay – Fairbanks

Appointed: 1/24/2018                              Term Expires: 3/1/2021

Danielle LaFon – Fairbanks

Appointed: 3/1/2014

Reappointed: 3/1/2018                             Term Expires: 3/1/2022

Veterinary Examiners, Board of

Chris Michetti – Anchorage

Appointed: 3/1/2018                                            Term Expires: 3/1/2022

 

Violent Crimes Compensation Board

Jeffrey Stubblefield – Eagle River

Appointed: 1/23/2017

Reappointed: 3/1/2018                             Term Expires: 3/1/2021

 

Workers’ Compensation Appeals Commission

Michael Notar – Juneau

Appointed: 9/24/2015

Reappointed: 3/1/2018                             Term Expires: 3/1/2023

 

Workers’ Compensation Board, Alaska

Bradley Evans – Anchorage

Appointed: 5/26/2017                              Term Expires: 3/1/2019

David Kester – Anchorage

Appointed: 7/7/2017                                            Term Expires: 3/1/2019

Justin Mack – Anchorage

Appointed: 1/29/2018

Reappointed: 3/1/2018                             Term Expires: 3/1/2021

Chad Bolduc – Juneau

Appointed: 3/1/2018                                            Term Expires: 3/1/2021

Nancy Shaw – Anchorage

Appointed: 12/18/2017                             Term Expires: 3/1/2020

Jacob Howdeshell – North Pole

Appointed: 3/1/2015

Reappointed: 3/1/2018                             Term Expires: 3/1/2021

Bronson Frye – Anchorage

Appointed: 3/1/2018                                            Term Expires: 3/1/2021

Robert Weel – Anchorage

Appointed: 1/23/2006                              Reappointed: 3/1/2006

Reappointed: 3/1/2012                             Reappointed: 3/1/2015

Reappointed: 3/1/2018                             Term Expires: 3/1/2021

Pamela Cline – Wasilla

Appointed: 9/21/2012                              Reappointed: 3/1/2015

Reappointed: 3/1/2018                             Term Expires: 3/1/2021

Also, in accordance with AS 18.85.030, the Governor submits the following name for legislative confirmation.

Public Defender

Quinlan Steiner – Anchorage

Appointed: 10/13/2005

Reappointed: 10/13/2009                          Reappointed: 10/13/2013

Reappointed: 10/13/2017                          Term Expires: 10/13/2021

10 COMMENTS

  1. Someone who works for an abortion machine and advocates for the senseless murder of babies in utero has no business overseeing midwives, who, by their very nature and choice of profession, live, breathe and work to protect babies in utero. Walker is either sending a message to the midwifery community or he is mad. Or both. I will fight this nomination. What happened to your conservative Christian values, Walker? Oh, right, you sold them to get elected. You will not be re-elected. Thank GOD!

    • You mean advocating for the rights to plan pregnancy? You mean the rights to affordable testing and check up? The right to affordable treatments? STD screening? Free condoms to help prevent unwanted pregnancies? Plan B?

      You are very nieve if you believe that the only thing this place does is abortion procedures. You are obviously nieve if you believe its murder.

      How much meat do you eat? Are plants not living as well?

      Stopping an unwanted pregnancy doesnt make you a murder it makes you smart. Instead of birthing an unwanted baby and adding to the cycle.

      If you believe that life begins at conception then that is your view and your view doesnt get to be the law od the land. Neither does my view.

      The fact that it is legal is to allow for the choice to be made by the person who has to make the choice.

      No one is forcing you. Yet.

      My abortion was at 6 weeks, no heartbeat. It was a pill that i took and then i passed the “blob” as a heavier period.

      There are religions out there that dont believ life begins until there is brain function which happens around 24-27 weeks. For some at birth, and others not until age 2.

      Nobody advocates for abortion. They are fighting for our right to make that choice for ourselves. Pro-life doesnt make you pro-baby. Most who vote against abortion also vot against more aid to needy familys, sex education and birth control.

      With our planet over exceeded by a a half earth why would we want to keep making excess children, especially unwanted ones?

      Nobody wants and abortion, they need them. Some need them more then others. Some people just need to be sterilized. That however would be just as wrong as forcing abortions. Or forcing a woman to carry to term.

      • Its simple Steph. Protection or better yet SELF CONTROL if a child is not wanted.
        The end result of a sperm and egg joining becomes the beginning of a life and after 9 months child!
        You stated that you passed a” blob” (life) during your period doesn’t eliminate the fact that it was the beginning of a life.
        I feel sorry for you. You might regret your actions as you get older and miss the company of a child!

        • You nailed it … I was thinking the same thing … Self control … a foreign concept to most libs these days. But hey Steph .. Apparently your mom didn’t rid herself of your ” BLOB ” at six weeks !

      • Steph,

        I would suggest you look into Project Rachel. The heartbeat of a baby starts at six weeks. Gods love and forgiveness is open to all and His mercy and love encompasses all of us. Look into it.

  2. Good pick by Governor Walker. Kenni Psenak Linden is a young, smart, energetic, industrious mom and life long Valley resident.

    • Interesting descriptive term for a murder advocate ” life long “. Obviously her mama didn’t murder her in the womb so her life is much longer than those for whom she advocates for an extremely short life.

  3. This may be intended to help the Walker-Mallott campaign. Here in Juneau Planned Parenthood sends out people to go door to door during gubernatorial and Congressional elections. I have spoken to those people often as they knock on doors. It is always two young women traveling together. They go to targeted households and ask a series of directed questions. My residence has never been on their list but I run into them when I go door to door for candidates. I do not know if they are paid or not but they have sometimes more or less indicated they are. They do not walk far, preferring to drive to each house. They sit out rain in their cars – strange in Juneau, and unique. It’s different women in different years and in different neighborhoods, but they are all remarkably similar to one another. Other than that they are just like everyone else working on election campaigns in Juneau neighborhoods. It is not difficult at all to imagine them soon going door to door for Walker-Mallott.

  4. Your known by the company you keep, Walker. Appointing a planned parenthood (murder for hire) advocate to the Midwife Board is like putting the fox in the hen house!! Is there really a need for this position, why now you are on your way out 🙂

    There is transparency in the Walker administration, you will do ANYTHING transparent to try to get reelected! You can run but you can’t hide.

Comments are closed.