Dunleavy extends no-bid contract for right-wing Washington, D.C. publicity agent to $100,000

Gov. Mike Dunleavy is raising the stakes on his effort to attract media coverage Outside and trying to elevate his status in right-wing circles for his next campaign.

Dermot ColeApril 8, 2021 Comments

Transportation officials consider asking for halt to Dunleavy snowmachine/ATV regulations

Engineers and others with expertise in transportation in Fairbanks may ask the Dunleavy administration to halt its plan to allow snowmachines and ATVs on roads with speed limits of 45 mph or slower.

Dermot ColeApril 6, 2021 Comments

Dunleavy prefers taking on cancel culture than the state deficit

Gov. Mike Dunleavy is making it a habit to try to stand tall on issues that appeal to his right-wing fans and carry zero political risk.

Dermot ColeApril 5, 2021 Comments

Dunleavy plan for snowmachines/ATVs on roads conflicts with state safety report

A Dunleavy campaign donor or one of his friends probably came up with the idea, according to the former Public Safety Commissioner fired by Dunleavy, Amanda Price, and Dunleavy gave the go-ahead, opposing efforts by state officials who wanted to create a plan with public safety in mind.

Dermot ColeApril 2, 2021 Comments

Dunleavy's backdoor licensing, registration, insurance plan for snowmachines, ATVs

Dunleavy has never said publicly that he supports requiring driver’s licenses, registration and insurance for those who would drive snowmachines, ATVs, air-cushion vehicles and other all-purpose vehicles on roads. But the state claims that is the Dunleavy plan, made possible by changing a few words in state regulations.

Dermot ColeMarch 31, 2021 Comments

Tshibaka, who claims to be efficiency expert, signed off on plan to pay barista $350 an hour

Since Kelly Tshibaka is making her expertise at saving the state money a central part of her argument for sending her to the U.S. Senate, Alaska news organizations should dig into the question of why she approved a plan last summer to pay a former barista $350 an hour—a total of $358,400 for six months.

Dermot ColeMarch 30, 2021 Comments

Tshibaka inflates state savings during her tenure as administration commissioner

With her resignation Monday as administration commissioner and the official start of her U.S. Senate campaign, Kelly Tshibaka posted a letter to Gov. Mike Dunleavy that is at least 11 pages long, exaggerating how much she has saved the state.

Dermot ColeMarch 29, 2021 Comments

Dunleavy flops on state budget, tries a 'wag the dog' attack on federal land managers

He can’t explain how he intends to fund state government starting in July 2022, so he can’t run for re-election on his fiscal record, but Dunleavy can appear to be a man of action by taking on the feds in court and talking tough—an Alaska wag-the-dog political stunt that never goes out of style.

Dermot ColeMarch 28, 2021 Comments

Political argument for Dunleavy's jumbo dividend dissolves with giant federal bailout

A nimble governor facing a budget crisis would recognize the political potential of the federal gift horse and adjust his plans accordingly.

Dermot ColeMarch 26, 2021 Comments

State floats idea of 100% federal subsidy for gas line to outskirts of Fairbanks

On Monday, the president of the Alaska Gasline Development Corporation upped the ante on Dunleavy’s gas pipeline dream, saying the state could aim for a subsidy of up to 100 percent to build the “first phase,” a $5.9 billion line to the outskirts of Fairbanks.

Dermot ColeMarch 25, 2021 Comments