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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 · October 14, 2004 |
Legislators Told They May Let Voters Know They'll Join Mayor in Fixing Lake Otis & Tudor Traffic Problem
Early Statement by Rep. Rokeberg's Office Suggesting Legislators May Not Make Commitment of Support Deemed Incorrect
ANCHORAGE - This week the Administrator of the Legislature's Ethics Office confirmed that Legislators may in fact join Mayor Mark Begich in committing to fix long-term traffic problems at Lake Otis & Tudor and elsewhere. A week earlier a note from Representative Norm Rokeberg's Office contended such a statement of support might be illegal. In rejecting that suggestion, Joyce Anderson, the Legislature's Ethics Administrator, stated "it is permissible to respond from your Legislative Office."* Her statement came in response to legislator questions after Rep. Rokeberg's office responded to the Mayor's commitment. On October 5 Rep. Rokeberg's Office sent out an e-mail after the Mayor sought a Legislative commitment to fix this problem, stating that "legislators should be careful" about signing on to the Mayor's request. Rep. Rokeberg is an Anchorage Republican, and the Mayor is a Democrat.
Rep. Les Gara and Senator Hollis French, Anchorage Democrats, stated they'll offer their commitment to the Mayor after receiving the clearance from the Ethics Office that it was permissible. With the commitment, the legislators say that they'll need to review final plans to make sure the right amount of funds are given, and that the project is performed as wisely and efficiently as possible. The project itself, they agree with Mayor Begich, is long overdue.
Senator French states, "Improving the traffic flow through the intersection of Lake Otis and Tudor will help everyone in the city, including my west Anchorage constituents."
According to Rep. Gara, who requested the clarification from Ms. Anderson, "the Lake Otis and Tudor traffic problem has plagued Anchorage for too long, and I think the Mayor is right to ask for our cooperation in fixing it."
For questions, please contact Representative Les Gara (269-0106), Senator Hollis French (269-0234) or Joyce Anderson (269-0150).
*Ms. Anderson's response to the information request states more fully, "Yes, it is permissible to respond from your legislative office as long as your response is as "legislator Gara" and not as "candidate Gara." That does not mean that you cannot use that information as you campaign just like you would any other issue that comes before the legislature that you have taken a position on. I hope I have answered your question. If not, let me know."
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 http://www.akdemocrats.org/Documents/101404_ethics_ruling_lake_otis.pdf · Additional information: Representative Les Gara Senator Hollis French |
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