Two Anchorage Assembly members who represent the Eagle River area have introduced a resolution to initiate removal proceedings against East Anchorage Assembly Member George Martinez, citing a breach of public trust following Alaska Public Offices Commission (APOC) findings and new questions about taxpayer-funded travel and disclosures.
Assembly Members Jared Goecker and Donald Handeland submitted resolution AR 2026-192 for first reading at the July 7 meeting. The measure looks to formally deliver an accusation document to the city clerk and direct the city attorney to secure outside counsel for an independent investigation.
The resolution highlights prior APOC findings that Martinez improperly used campaign funds for personal benefit, including a round-trip flight to Florida, and provided testimony the commission deemed not credible under oath. He was fined the maximum $5,300 and complied with the order.
Additional allegations focus on whether taxpayer-funded travel contributed to Martinez enjoying elevated airline status or personal travel rewards. The resolution calls on investigators to examine if such travel coincided with or subsidized his private business activities, particularly involving Consoach LLC, and whether he fully complied with financial disclosure requirements regarding his “adjunct professor” role and business interests.
The proposed probe would also review potential modifications that were made to travel or reimbursement documentation and investigate whether officials at the city had been given complete and adequate information about the expenditures. The resolution aims to give outside counsel broad access to records and then represent the municipality in any administrative hearing.
“If these facts don’t warrant an investigation, it’s hard to imagine what would,” Goecker stated upon introducing the resolution. “An elected official was found by APOC to have illegally used campaign funds for personal benefit and gave testimony the Commission found not credible, under oath.”
Goecker noted that additional questions have surfaced about Martinez’s taxpayer-funded travel to Puerto Rico and an apparent undisclosed business interest.
“The public deserves answers, not assumptions, not excuses, but answers,” Goecker emphasized. “A vote for this resolution is not a declaration of guilt. It’s a declaration that no elected official is above scrutiny when public trust is on the line.”
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Fellow Assemblyman Handeland called into question Martinez’s judgment.
“Mr. Martinez has already shown serious judgment problems when it comes to travel paid for by others,” he noted. “After giving sworn testimony about travel that the facts do not support, similar concerns involving taxpayer-funded Assembly travel cannot be brushed aside.”
Handleman said Anchorage residents deserve to know whether Martinez was engaged in legitimate municipal business or abusing his publicly funded travel.
It’s unclear whether the hard-left supermajority on the Anchorage Assembly will agree to investigate one of their own ideologically aligned colleagues.
According to an Anchorage Daily News report, Assembly members Erin Baldwin Day, Keith McCormick and Sydney Scout are looking to introduce a public censure resolution that would express disapproval, but stop short of actually punishing or removing Martinez from office.
In order for the Assembly to oust a sitting member, two-thirds of the members (8 of 12) would need to vote in favor of the removal.
TAKING ACTION
— Click here to contact Anchorage Assembly members by either email or phone.
— Click here for information on how to participate in the July 7 Assembly meeting.
