In a unanimous 10-0 vote, the Anchorage Assembly agreed to postpone any actions aimed at removing or censuring Assemblyman George Martinez over concerns about ethics violations and improper use of taxpayer funds.

Assembly members agreed to wait until their July 21 meeting to vote on two proposals to address Martinez’s behavior. One of the resolutions aims to initiate removal proceedings to expel Martinez from the Assembly. The other is less drastic and would only be a public reprimand or censure.

Before deciding on either item, the Assembly wants to gather more information, consult city attorneys and hold a work session to address their options.

Martinez was recently fined $5,300 by the Alaska Public Offices Commission (APOC), after the oversight body found that he had improperly used campaign funds for personal benefit, including a round-trip flight to Florida.

Assembly Members Jared Goecker and Donald Handeland submitted resolution AR 2026-192 to formally deliver an accusation document to the city clerk and direct the city attorney to secure outside counsel for an independent investigation.

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.

Another resolution, which only looks to censure or publicly rebuke Martinez, was introduced by assembly members Keith McCormick, Erin Baldwin Day and Sydney Scout. This option would not seek to remove Martinez from office.

While assembly members are divided on whether to seek Martinez’s removal from the assembly or merely publicly chastise him, all members want more time to consider their options, as no member has ever been expelled from or censured by the Assembly.

While Assemblymen Goecker and Handeland introduced the measure to remove Martinez, both men agreed to postpone a vote on the matter until July 21.

Goecker said he came “ready to rumble,” but acknowledged that this is “an extraordinary time.”

Martinez, who attended the meeting, was dismissed during the deliberations and vote. Member Zac Johnson was absent.

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