Robb Myers kept retirement secret in scheme to put Tomaszewski in state Senate

Unless another candidate files for State Senate Seat Q today, now held by Robb Myers, the seat will go to Rep. Frank Tomaszewski as the two men enacted a secret plan to have Myers retire and Tomaszewski file for the Legislature in his place.

A second part of the scheme is to have Tomaszewski’s wife Harmony run for state House instead of Frank.

Frank and Harmony are already campaigning as the “T&T” team. Witness the “unauthorized” flyer below.

Myers and the Tomaszewskis are bragging about their scheme. They should be apologizing.

“As has been circulating for a couple of hours now, I'm not running for reelection for my Senate seat this year. I sincerely appreciate the trust that Interior residents have placed in me over the last six years, but I need to concentrate on my family for the next season of my life. It's hard to be a dad from afar for four months ago. I still care deeply about the future of Alaska and will be around, but this is where I need to focus my time and efforts for now,” Myers said on Facebook.

“I am endorsing Representative Frank Tomaszewski for the Senate seat. He has served at both the borough and state levels and brings a business owner and family man perspective to the Senate. I look forward to what he does in the Senate,” Myers said.

Frank, one of six administrators of the Fairbanks “breaking news” Facebook page, wasted no time posting his thanks to Myers for his generous gift of public office.

“Robb Myers thank you for your steadfast dedication to Senate District Q, you will be missed. I look forward to earning the trust from all Alaskans in District Q, and will work hard to represent their needs and values. Best wishes on your next journey in life, God Bless you and your family,” said Frank.

Who needs an election? “I look forward to what he does in the Senate,” Myers said of Frank.

Perhaps Myers and Frank will claim that because former Sen. Tom Begich waited until the last moment to say he was not running for state Senate four years ago, that their legislative replacement scheme is appropriate.

I didn’t like it when Begich made that move four years ago. I don’t like this one now.

And it gets worse.

The other part of the secret plot is to have Tomaszewski’s wife Harmony run for the state House seat that Frank is abandoning.

The good news in that case is that at least there is real competition for the office. Joy Beth Cottle is a strong candidate for House District 34.

Tomaszewski has yet to update his campaign website on which he claims that he is still running for state House. He said as early as last December that he was running for reelection to the state House and asking for campaign donations.

His Frank 4 Fairbanks Facebook page has a photo for his House campaign and text

“I am a long-time Alaskan with strong family values,” Frank claims on a state website.

“Having the right fundamental priorities in place is necessary for the continued growth and development of our community. Every Alaskan deserves the opportunity to chase the American dream in Alaska,” says Frank.

One of his family values is to get two state paychecks from the Legislature.

Harmony Tomaszewski listed a campaign website, but it doesn’t exist yet. They have already created an election flier that boasts of “twice the dedication” and “twice the commitment.”

But Frank and Harmony, who claim to be conservatives, failed to mention that this will be twice the salary, which would make them the highest paid legislative family in Alaska.

I’m supporting Joy Beth Cottle, a reasonable candidate who didn’t engage in a bait-and-switch routine.

Meanwhile, UA Regent, Fairbanks contractor and Repubican politician Seth Church has filed to run for state House in downtown Fairbanks for the seat now held by Rep. Will Stapp.

Church’s brother, Josh Church, is running for lieutenant governor with Dave Bronson. Seth Church controls the Fairbanks Facebook page, which has 217,000 members.

Seth Church is playing a leading role in promoting the “Build the Line!” propaganda campaign pitched by Glenfarne and the GOP. I expect that will be a central element in his bid for the Legislature. The “T&T” candidates will also be talking nonstop about the gas pipeline.

Everyone, or just about everyone supports building a gas pipeline, which is why a trite slogan like “Build the Line!” is perfect.

Every politician, and there are a lot of them, who even hint that legislative approval of the Dunleavy tax cut is the essential challenge is not telling the truth.

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