Allard and Vance spout half-truths and lies in attack on public members of ethics panel

Armed with the David Eastman playbook, right-wing Reps. Jamie Allard and Sarah Vance attacked two people who have served the state well for decades—ethics committee volunteers Joyce Anderson and Dennis “Skip” Cook.

Anderson and Cook deserve an apology for the confirmation hearing, in which Allard and Vance, acting as if they were auditioning for “Law & Order,” embarrassed the Alaska Legislature.

Anderson has been a good public servant, both during the 13 years she served as administrator of the ethics committee and the seven years she has served as a volunteer member.

Cook, a retired Fairbanks lawyer, has been a member of the committee since 1998. He is an outstanding Alaskan with a record of public service that Allard and Vance and Eastman will never come close to matching.

Allard and Vance spouted half-truths and lies that match those told by Eastman, the professional victim from Wasilla and the most ineffective legislator.

Eastman claims that the ethics committee is corrupt and targets conservatives and Christians, citing the investigations of himself, Christopher Kurka, Sarah Vance and Lora Reinbold, claiming that this proves corruption.

He doesn’t mention investigative decisions in cases involving Democrats Donny Olson, Lyman Hoffman and Geran Tarr over the past decade.

“At the heart of the corruption in the Alaska Legislature sits the Ethics Committee,” claims Eastman, who refuses to take responsibility for his actions.

Allard and Vance—eager not to offend Eastman’s fans—don’t want Anderson and Cook to be confirmed by the Legislature for another term on the committee. Anderson and Cook were nominated by the chief justice of the Supreme Court. Peter Maassen.

Allard attacked Anderson for being an officer of the League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan group.

Allard and Vance claimed that Anderson had acted unethically by serving as acting administrator of the committee starting last summer, following the death of the former administrator.

Anderson said the ethics committee asked for a legal opinion about hiring her on a temporary basis. The committee selected her because of her skill and institutional knowledge.

The outside lawyer that advises the committee said that having Anderson take a leave of absence from the committee and not participate in the committee made the arrangement acceptable.

Allard and Vance and Eastman claim otherwise.

“Just because someone’s passing, doesn’t constitute that we violate ethics,” said Allard, referring to the death of the former administrator.

“This is an ethics committee. And the questions I asked were very researched, which would um give me pause and hesitation. But if the ethics committee member can’t follow ethics and just because someone passes away gives them the right to be unethical, isn’t OK.”

Vance, who obviously collaborated with Allard on their tag-team interrogation, kept talking about the perception of unethical behavior.

“Do you think that the, that the leave in employment arrangement creates a perception of ethical issues, because under the minutes it’s listed as a contract, but in fact she became, she was on the payroll as a legislative employee. So the overall question that is concerning to me does this create a perception of ethical issues?” Vance asked Cook.

Cook said it was a contract and it was clear that she was taking a leave of absence and would return to the committee after a new person was hired. He said the payroll people working for the Legislature took care of those details, not the committee.

Vance was not satisfied. Legality was not the only issue.

“I understand that legal questions were pursued, but this is an ethics committee that has to rise above just what meets legal standards, that must consider all ethical standards,” she said.

“Do you think that this creates a concern from the public perspective of bringing ethical issues?” she asked Cook.

“I don’t think so, I think somebody’s trying to make it a public concern,” Cook said.

“I don’t think there’s any ethical perception except by people who want to make it an ethical criticism,” he said.

Cook, a credible source, said this of Anderson: “Joyce has been one of the most ethical people that I’ve ever met. She has not in any way that I know of violated ethics in this whole process. I would request that be taken note of by the committee.”

The confirmation vote will be held later this legislative session by the full Legislature, a two-thirds majority is required for confirmation.

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