Hampered by the pandemic, Alaska's movement to recall its governor adapts
U.S. NEWS
Unable to do grassroots organizing, the recall movement has taken a cue from the virus that stalled their momentum, creating drive-thru petition sign-ups across the state.
Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy, at a news conference in Anchorage in 2019.Mark Thiessen / AP file
June 17, 2020, 6:27 AM CDT
By Ben Kesslen
Last summer, Alaska’s famous bright nights had dimmed for many residents.
The state's governor, Mike Dunleavy, a Republican and a Trump ally in office a little more than six month, had campaigned on restoring the state's annual oil wealth dividend, a decades-old stipend given to Alaskans off the state’s oil and gas surplus that had beencut back in recent years as oil prices declined. But to do so, Dunleavy maintained that he had to veto 182 line-items from the state budget, totaling more than $440 million.
Residents of the state were aghast: The suggested cuts would gouge primary and university education, Medicaid, services for the homeless, addiction treatment and public transportation, including a ferry that connects Alaskans in remote areas to essential services. Advocates and state lawmakers scrambled to figure out how their communities could move forward without desperately needed funds. Under pressure, Dunleavy scaled back some of the cuts, but Alaskans on both sides of the political aisle had seen enough. They formed “Recall Dunleavy” to remove him from office.
Kicking an elected official, be it an executive, legislator or judge, out of office is never easy, but in Alaska, a state known for pride in both its natural resources and its resourcefulness, the idea took hold quickly and spread widely. A poll last summer found Dunleavy with only a 31 percent approval rating as widespread dissatisfaction with him swept the state.
But then came the pandemic, which curtailed the ability of recall petitioners to reach fellow citizens, and made even supporters reconsider if it was, indeed, time to switch leaders.
More:
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/hampered-pandemic-alaska-s-movement-recall-its-governor-adapts-n1231100
