By AlaskaWatchman.com

Gov. Mike Dunleavy took a conciliatory tone upon being sworn in for his second term as governor of Alaska.

Dunleavy won his re-election campaign last month by earning 50.3% of the vote to defeat challengers Les Gara and former Gov. Bill Walker who garnered 24.2% and 20.7% respectively.

After being sworn in by Alaska District Judge Paul Roetman at the Alaska Airline Center in Anchorage on Dec. 5, Dunleavy spoke of the need to focus on Alaska’s global importance as a hub in sea and air transportation. He also briefly noted the state’s vital role in natural resource development and said Alaska should be a resource supplier for the nation and the world.

Without getting into specifics about education funding, he mentioned the need to “invest in our kids,” while continuing to support and improve public safety.

Facing the reality that the State Senate will be controlled by a Democratic-led bi-partisan majority, Dunleavy said he was willing to work across party lines in his second term.

“It’s our job as the state to serve all of you,” he said. “I’m going to work with everybody and anybody. I’ll work across the aisle with individuals.”

He added that he will work with local officials, tribes and other Alaska entities, saying everyone needs to be willing to embrace “cooperation and compromise” in order to tackle critical issues facing Alaska.

Dunleavy ended by asking for divine blessing.

“God bless all of us,” he said. “God bless the great state of Alaska and God bless this great country called the United States of America.”

Gov. Dunleavy sworn in, saying he will ‘work across the aisle’

Joel Davidson
Joel is Editor-in-Chief of the Alaska Watchman. Joel is an award winning journalist and has been reporting for over 24 years, He is a proud father of 8 children, and lives in Palmer, Alaska.


9 Comments

  • Neil DeWitt says:

    It’s great knowing if Walker would of dropped out thst Dunleavy would of still beat Gara. Great job Mr. Governor. Now let’s get some things straightened out in our state. let’s state with Jun.How about moving the capital to the people. Last vote was for Willow. I say everyone in our state has to use Anchorage as a hub, let’s get it up here. The majority of the people live here or within driving distance from. here. Let’s get government where the poor man can go lobby for his cause and stop the rich man buying votes.

  • Friend of Humanity says:

    We have seen what happens when our “elected” reps “work across the aisle.” Does this mean that Dunleavy has flipped and is going to bring the state down?

  • Friend of Humanity says:

    Maria Zee | “Dr. Li-Meng Yan…..sounds the alarm that the tactics being exercised by our government are exactly like what the CCP did to Chinese citizens in previous times, and Australia must pay attention immediately.” Not only Austrailia, but the entire world needs to hear this conversation about how we need to stand up and fight back. At the 32 min mark: fraud tactics.
    https://rumble.com/v1z3jiq-dr.-li-meng-yan-warning-australia-is-quickly-escalating-to-ccp-social-credi.html

  • DaveMaxwell says:

    Woke across the isle! No that’s not a typo! Dunleavy indicated his willingness to do whatever, whenever, whoever, because he has no internal fortitude, conviction, vision, in fact no leadership qualities at all. Welcome to the committee named direction less, where comments like “I feel ….” Or my heart breaks for transgender rights….”!
    This governor willingly abdicates his responsibility to the wineries with the loudest voice! The loudest crybaby antics are right there in Juneau! This will not change and this state is screwed!

  • Steve Peterson says:

    I was under the impression he’s been doing this for years.

  • Shelia says:

    Being willing to work across the aisle does not mean capitulation. The governor worked with now-retired State Senator Tom Begich on the Reading Bill passed earlier in this year. Gov. Dunleavy did not capitulate anything but ensured that the bill that was passed met his criteria as well as areas that Begich wanted. There are generally areas where people can work together to get most of what they want. When these areas are ignored, you get a government that is non-responsive. Remember that last year Gov. Dunleavy called the legislature back into session 4 times because they had not passed a representative PFD, among other things. In short, you make inroads and then make more inroads next time. You don’t just jump up and down like a kid in a school yard throwing a tantrum to get his way.

    • Friend of Humanity says:

      I agree with what you are saying Shelia. However, in these times, Murkowski and Sullivan have shown us that working across the aisle has taken on a totally new meaning…traitor. Instead of representing us, Murkowski and Sullivan represent whoever is paying them off to be traitors. Dunleavy’s inauguration has made me doubt his loyalty to the humanity-loving people. We’ll be finding out how he rolls.

  • Friend of Humanity says:

    Off the topic: Is anyone aware that just about one million acres are being put up for auction by the end of this month by the Biden administration and that the land is in the Cook Inlet region? I saw the article in The EPOCH times (https://www.theepochtimes.com/us-to-auction-almost-1-million-acres-off-alaskan-coast-for-oil-drilling_4893096.html) The land is between Kalgin Island & Augustine Island according to the article and the auction will take place 12/30/2022. Supposedly the land is being sold for oil and gas production. Can you believe this considering that Biden has been shutting every other place down? My gut instinct is that the regime is up to no good again.

  • Scott says:

    I hope Dunleavy changes his tune from the last several years, or we are all doomed.