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Alaska State Legislature House and Senate Democrats |
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http://www.akdemocrats.org Mike Doogan, Press Secretary (907) 465-3842 or 723-2572 (907) 465-5125 press@akdemocrats.org |
| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE · September 24, 2004 |
Berkowitz Challenges Murkowski Over Appointment
Transparency and Accountability Needed in Senate Appointment Process
ANCHORAGE - House Democratic Leader Ethan Berkowitz (D-Anchorage) today criticized Governor Frank Murkowski for failing to provide transparency and accountability in appointing Charlie Huggins to fill Sen. Scott Ogan's vacant seat. While Berkowitz offered Mr. Huggins congratulations, he pointed out that the public has a right to participate in the selection of its elected officials and that Murkowski has a history of bad judgment and bad process when it comes to making appointments.*
Murkowski recently attempted to make an issue of transparency and accountability in judicial appointments. In order that those concerns not be considered either hypocritical or cynical, Murkowski should explain why he conducted his interviews in secret behind closed doors and shut the general public out of the process to fill legislative vacancies.
Murkowski neither articulated his standards for making his choice, nor did he sponsor public hearings to give the people a chance to get answers to issues of concern. Given that Randy Ruedrich, whose ethical failings surrounding coal bed methane have been well documented, figured prominently in forwarding the list of names to Governor Murkowski, the public has reason for skepticism.
Berkowitz said that this appointment highlights the need to make changes to the governor's appointment powers.
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* Murkowski has appointed 10 percent of the Legislature.
| Taken from office: | Replaced by: |
| Rep. Lisa Murkowski | Nancy Dahlstrom |
| Sen. Alan Austerman | Rep. Gary Stevens |
| Rep. Gary Stevens | Dan Ogg |
| Sen. Robin Taylor | Bert Stedman (Jim Elkins) |
| Rep. Jim Whitaker (resigned) | Nick Stepovich |
| Sen. Scott Ogan (resigned) | Charlie Huggins |
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·
 http://www.akdemocrats.org/Documents/092404_berkowitz_challenges_murkowski.pdf · Additional information: Representative Ethan Berkowitz |
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