(2-minute read) INSTEAD OF GIVING IT BACK TO HIS DONORS, HE KEEPS IT
Former Gov. Bill Walker may not be done with his political life.
In his latest “year end report” with the Alaska Public Offices Commission, which was due on Feb. 15, he shows that he clawed back advance payments his campaign had made for ads that never ran.
Walker paid a few bills and payroll that was due during the period.
But surprisingly, he set aside $47,000 into a “Future Campaign Account” for himself. It was the biggest payment by far in the list of about 75 expenditures, most of which were nickel-and-dime bills.
Walker pulled out of the governor’s race on Oct. 19, 2018, and threw his support to Mark Begich, who he said aligned more closely with his values than now-Gov. Michael Dunleavy.
[Read: Walker suspends campaign]
Walker received a partial refund of $8,286 on his radio ads placed with Alpha Media that he cancelled when he quit.
He received another $3,300 in partial refund for his ads placed on Anchorage People Mover buses through the vendor, Alaska Channel Inc.
The Anchorage Daily News refunded him $16,875 for ads he cancelled with the state’s main newspaper.
Last Frontier Mediactive in Fairbanks refunded him $10,173.65 for unused air time.
Juneau Alaska Communications gave him back $6,269.27 for his unused air time.
IHeartMedia gave him back $12,570.65.
Ohana Digital Services refunded him $10,752.50 for air time placed by that company, which he no longer needed.
The total amount of advertising refunds he reported was $68,227.
He also paid each of his daughters Tessa and Lindsay $3,000, as “appreciation for campaign work.” His brother Bob got an appreciation payment of $2,000, and another check for his work removing signs.
$6,000 went to the Fraternal Order of Alaska State Troopers for the K-9 fund.
But the largest payment made was the one to his “future campaign,” whatever that may be.
[Read his year-end report filing here]
Walker received 2 percent of the vote for governor in 2018 after he dropped out too late to take his name off of the ballot.
