Representative
CHRIS TUCK

I’m Here for You

I want to hear from you,
share your thoughts, voice
your opinion. Together we
will make a difference.

Click here to visit my Website
 
Click here to write me an email

Call me anytime:
   (907) 465-2095
   Toll-Free (866) 465-2095

Visit me:
   May-December
   716 W. 4th St., Ste. 340
   Anchorage, AK 99501
   (907) 269-0242 fax

   January-April
   State Capitol Bldg. Rm. 404
   Juneau, AK 99801
   (907) 465-3810 fax

Contact Other Elected Officials:

Governor Parnell,
Anchorage Office:
907-269-7450
EMAIL: Gov. Sean Parnell
www.state.ak.us

Senator Lisa Murkowski,
Anchorage Office:
907-271-3735,
EMAIL: Sen. Lisa Murkowski

Senator Mark Begich,
Anchorage Office:
907-271-5915
EMAIL: Sen. Mark Begich

Congressman Don Young,
Anchorage Office:
907-271-5978
EMAIL: Rep. Don Young

March 21, 2014

Appointments Questioned
Legislative Survey Available On-line

Dear Neighbors,

Today is the 60th day of the 90 day session and the legislature has been moving at a hectic pace.  I am providing the following update in order for you to have access to good information about what is taking place in our government.  As always, if you have thoughts, questions, or concerns, please do not hesitate to share them with me.  It is essential that I have your input in order to best represent you in the State House.

Governor’s Illegal Appointees Harm Alaska

I am deeply concerned that recent board appointments by the Governor have not been made in the state’s best interests and are designed to stack the deck in favor of Outside interests rather than those of Alaskans. 

Recently the Governor appointed two former oil company executives to the State Assessment Review Board (SARB) after removing board chairman Marty McGee and another member.

From left to right: the Alaska Legislature can be watched on Gavel to Gavel at 360 North or on-line at Alaska Legislature TV. Representative Tuck and Senator McGuire serve food to raise money at “Thanksgiving in March” for the Glory Hole soup kitchen in Juneau.

The SARB plays a major role in determining the assessed value of oil and gas properties for the purposes of municipal taxes.  Last spring, the board rejected a request from the administration and industry to remove Mr. McGee from a case involving the assessed value of the TransAlaska Pipeline, finding him to be a fair and impartial member.

Both the administration and the industry had estimated the value of the pipeline at far below the board’s $11.9 billion assessment which was ultimately upheld in a superior court decision.  This led to a potential increase of millions in property tax revenue for municipalities along the route of the pipeline to pay for roads, schools and public safety.

The Governor then fired the two members of the board and replaced them with oil industry executives.  A third member resigned after the replacements were named.

One of the appointments was illegal as it is clearly stated in Alaska law that “A person appointed to a board or commission of the state government shall be and have been before the last general election, (1) a registered voter in the state.” Despite this, the governor appointed California resident Dennis Mandell to the board. In addition to not being an Alaskan, Mr. Mandell has a long history of working for the oil industry in disputes between the industry and the state of Alaska.

Fortunately, Mr. Mandell has decided to withdraw his name.  Firing a fair tax assessor and trying to break the law to give oil company executives control over pipeline tax rates is putting the fox in charge of the henhouse.

This troubling trend continues.  The Governor has also appointed Texas oilman Richard Rabinow to the Alaska Gasline Development Corporation (AGDC), in clear violation of the same law.  So far, the Governor has refused to withdraw this appointment even though there are plenty of qualified Alaskans to fill the position legally.

This is particularly concerning if AGDC takes a major role in the state’s potential ownership of part of a large diameter gasline, which will include negotiating the state’s interests against Mr. Rabinow’s former employers.

It is fortunate these appointments are subject to confirmation by the legislature, so I will have the opportunity to give them full scrutiny and vote against them if they are illegal or against the best interests of Alaskans.

Take my constituent survey online!

If you haven’t yet had time to respond to my recent constituent survey which I mailed out earlier, please take a moment to respond online at:

http://repchristuck.com/survey

The responses I receive will provide valuable guidance and help me better serve you.

Rep. Tuck’s latest survey (front page reproduced above) can be answered by mail or on-line.

I’m here for you, so please keep in touch on matters important to you and your family!

Warm regards,

      Chris Tuck
      Alaska State Representative
      District 22 - Anchorage