I feel a close connection to many of you. As a former senator, I know how important your voice is in shaping the issues that affect you. When I spent months at a time in Juneau each session, I always stayed connected to my constituents, seeking input regularly and keeping them informed. Those steps were essential to doing my job well.
I recently learned of a troubling situation that affects all Alaskans. That is why I am personally reaching out to you today. The Division of Elections has sent disenrollment notices to Alaskans registered with the Alaskan Independence Party (AIP), giving them just 30 days to choose a new political affiliation or be reclassified as “undeclared.” This followed a vote by members of the AIP executive board to dissolve the party in December of last year. This action was taken without ever consulting, notifying, or seeking input from its 19,117 registered AIP members. Many are asking, “How is this even possible?”
I have agreed with the AIP for years in resisting federal overreach and have always firmly supported states’ rights and access to our promised lands, resources, industry, management rights and mineral rights. As a Republican, I’m running for governor to reassert these same core principles and make real progress on this front, but today I am writing to express concern over what I see as slippage of Alaska’s shared values. What happened to consent, fairness, transparency?
A handful of people should never have the power to silence the voice of thousands of Alaskans who voluntarily chose to affiliate with a party.
In reviewing what has occurred, I am – like many other concerned voters and citizens – baffled. Alaska State law (AS 15.80.008 & 15.80.010) recognizes a political party when it has more than 5,000 registered voters, which the AIP clearly meets. Article I, Section 5 of the Alaska Constitution protects the right of free assembly and association. When a person selects a political party, it is an expression of this protected freedom. There is no statutory power that provides a party’s board with the authority to unilaterally erase a party’s recognized status or strip voters of their affiliation.
Those of you who were registered AIP members, I feel for you. There is something disconcerting about losing your political “family.” Especially when you have no part in the decision process, and it occurs so swiftly: here today and gone tomorrow. As a former senator, I can relate, as I remember being unceremoniously booted as a senator from the majority caucus by “leadership” for voting to follow the PFD law on behalf of my district – all of a sudden, an orphan.
A few AIP leaders voting to disenfranchise more than 19,000 Alaskans without notification and input was wrong. A handful of people should never have the power to silence the voice of thousands of Alaskans who voluntarily chose to affiliate with a party. Your voice matters. Choosing a political affiliation is a direct way you as an Alaskans exercise your voice.
ALASKA WATCHMAN DIRECT TO YOUR INBOX
I want those of you who are now political orphans to know two things. First, your stand against federal overreach and your stand for state rights is a noble one, a correct one. I’m a Republican, and I agree with you. Secondly, as Governor, my approach to the status of the AIP would be very different. A 30-day window is wholly inadequate. I would issue an executive order to extend this window for you to have time to figure out next steps, to regroup, or whatever you chose as the best path forward. My Lieutenant Governor would consult with my Attorney General to ensure your constitutional protections are not violated. I would fight for your right for due process and for your right to be heard. You have my word.
Together, we can ensure that processes like this always include you. We can make sure decisions are not made quietly without your involvement. Again, this is about Alaskans’ shared values: fairness, consent and transparency. We must guard them. We must uphold them, because every voice matters.
The views expressed here are those of the author.
10 Comments
The political “airhead” has spoken. We know what convoluted thinking is inspired in her past and what she signs. Now that she is away from the legislature, I am hopeful the new persons will be able to see clearly because this airhead did not and can not for the future. Go back to selling real estate and the schemer’s world.
I hope Diane gets help.
on the article, it’s most interesting that Dahlstrom didn’t get advice from the Attorney General. Isn’t that what Senator Hughes is saying? Hopefully, Dahlstrom will respond to that. Why was the action taken to this small group the dissolution of a party and not the associated non-profit board called ‘AIP’, and who was consulted? I have a feeling this isn’t the last chapter of this story.
Glen, go back to singing in the choir! All your buffoonery didn’t get Joe Miller elected and it won’t get airheads like Hughes elected. Hughes is a real dipstick with very little between the ears!
Airheads? Dipstick? Little between the ears? I thought you were talking about Peltola.
Shelley Hughes, the disenfranchised AIP voters have a plan in the works, and we thank you for this marvelous example of statesmanship. Everything that you point out in the column is spot-on, regarding the absurd irregularities and the isolation of the Div of Elections legal bureaucracy. I endeavored to ask them to consult myself and the other former party chairman. All appeals were arrogantly ignored.
A marvelous example of statesmanship? Really? She sounds like a smarmy mama comforting her crying children.
She feels for you? She’s clearly hoping to scoop up 19,000 votes into her tender, motherly arms. …It’s more than a tad off-putting.
I’m sure she will advance to the finals, especially with Kevin maccabe as her running mate! You go girls!
“There is no statutory power that provides a party’s board with the authority to unilaterally erase a party’s recognized status or strip voters of their affiliation.” Is there a statute saying a political party’s board can not dissolve the party? Dissolving the AIP in no way disenfranchised a single voter. An AIP voter can vote for whoever he or she wishes to vote for today, the same an he could before the AIP board voted to dissolve the party. The “right of free assembly and association” had not been lost by anyone.
Marv, your assertion that no rights have been deprived rings absolutely hollow and patently false with this AIP member who lost his party and membership along with 19,000 other fellow Alaskans. You may say, just join the Democrats or Republicans or form a new party. And I would reply, why do I need to reinvent the wheel when I could simply remain with a reconstituted AIP under newly elected leadership? Do you really believe the loss of a political party is of little consequence being a voice is essentially magnified when it is united and coordinated with others similarly motivated? – that is exactly why the right to free assembly and association is so highly valued. Has not the right of free assembly and association been UNEQUIVOCALLY and GROSSLY VIOLATED when but a handful of party leaders (in secret) unilaterally disband the party without any input from the membership, and the Division of Elections CONFOUNDINGLY gives its blessing to that duplicitous, and dare I say criminal, disenfranchisement? Marv, are you really O.K. with that? Do you really believe organizational leadership comes with the dictatorial right to unilaterally annihilate the political organization you were duly elected to govern and advance? Marv, are we supposed to just shrug our shoulders and say no big deal, as you have?
Shelly Hughes, you have my attention and thank you! May the AIP be a force in Alaskan politics again!
Hughes has been in Juneau way too long! Time for Her to give up the Grift!