Dunleavy uses state money again for partisan campaign ads, violating state ethics standard

The Dunleavy administration is again using state money for campaign purposes, this time to promote the governor’s proposed constitutional amendment for the Permanent Fund.

The last time the state paid for ads for partisan political purposes, Dunleavy paid $2,800 of his own money to make the complaint go away. He should keep his checkbook handy, as the new ads from the state are repeating the behavior that led to an ethics complaint and the cash payment by Dunleavy.

If an ethics complaint has not been filed by the time you read this, I expect it will happen soon. The complaint just has to include a copy of the special counsel report from last fall and a copy of the “thumbs up” ad by Dunleavy backing Sen. Peter Micciche.

Blogger Matt Buxton tweeted about the new ad campaign.

The last tine around the independent counsel concluded that two state-funded mailers supporting Sen. Mia Costello and Rep. Josh Revak in 2019 were partisan, but only because Costello and Revak had announced plans to run again.

State money spent on partisan communications directed at other lawmakers doesn’t count as partisan, according to independent counsel John Tiemessen’s interpretation of the law.

According to Tiemessen’s logic, the Micciche ad counts as partisan because Micciche notified the Alaska Public Offices Commission Tuesday that he intends to run again.

Tiemessen’s report excused most of the money that Dunleavy spent on candidates because the candidates had not announced future plans.

Under Tiemessen’s faulty logic, it is possible to use public money in any amount to target or support legislators who have not declared plans to run again.

The law says that partisan “means having the intent to differentially benefit or harm a candidate or potential candidate for elective office.” The incumbent legislators praised by Dunleavy at state expense are potential candidates.

Dunleavy is a potential candidate, clearly intent on running for a second term.

About the ads, Micciche and other legislators should insist that this unethical expenditure stop and that Dunleavy should pay back the state. Perhaps they can split the cost 50/50.

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