Alaska law provides a process for holding a recall election when there has been serious misconduct, incompetence, or illegal behavior by an elected official. This is not the case before us now.
As an assembly member, I didn’t always agree with Heather Lende, Tom Morphet and Tresham Gregg, and often debated with them on various issues. However, my resignation from the assembly should in no way be taken as a show of support for this recall effort. I resigned because I was elected to work on issues, not to be pitted against my colleagues. At one point, a small group of citizens leveled criminal accusations against some of the assembly, including me. When those accusations went nowhere, the group turned to this recall effort based on the weakest circumstantial evidence. They are dedicated to expunging assembly members who they do not agree with politically, and under no circumstances is that grounds for recall.
Despite having opposing positions from Heather, Tom and Tresham from time to time, I remain respectful of them, our democratic system of government, and the will of the majority of local voters who elected them. That is why I decided to chair the Haines Voters Against the Recall group. I believe you can disagree about issues respectfully, all the while exploring and discussing ways to keep our community strong. Please join me on August 15 and vote “no” on this attempted recall.
Margaret Friedenauer