Alaska Dept. of Fish and Game – Vote Early, Vote Often!
I arrived at the School District Building not knowing quite what to expect. Armed with Blackberry, camera and a plate of banana brownies I headed into the unknown. Last year at the election meeting of the Citizens Advisory Committee to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, there were 65 people in attendance. I hoped there would be more this year. This group is designed to represent the diverse interests of the Anchorage area when it comes to Alaska’s fish and wildlife. Many people hunt – some for sport, some for food, and some for subsistence use. Some are Alaska Native people, some are not. Some enjoy shooting wildlife only with a camera. Others make a living from wildlife tours, fishing charters, or hunting guide services. Some just like wildlife viewing on their own. The relationship between Alaskan humans and animals is complicated, to put it mildly. But we hope that this citizen group can represent this diversity and make reasonable recommendations to the board that reflect the many wishes and opinions of Anchorage area residents.
I pushed through the double doors and walked right into a wall of people packing the entryway. A long line snaked its way around the corner to the room where the meeting would happen. I was 35 minutes early.
As I walked along the line scanning the crowd for people I knew, I spotted many. And for every one of them, there were many more people around them wearing camouflage jackets, baseball caps with gun logos, and people in t-shirts with the names of various conservative political groups. There were definitely more than 65 people.
At the door, ballots were being handed out, and people were taking their seats. I took a place in line and eventually made it to the front to collect my ballot. It was pink and it had empty lines where you could write in the name of the candidates you were voting for. I was directed to write my information on a piece of paper on a clipboard. Name, address, phone number, email. The people before me on the sheet had left some of the information out, not providing emails or phone numbers. I wondered if this would somehow invalidate their votes. I filled out my information and took a ballot. There was no number on it. And it said to fill out the form with up to 8 names and 1 student.
And then I sat and waited and waited and waited. The line was even longer than it had been before, and they said they were waiting for everyone to get into the room before they began the meeting. I knew there was no way the room would hold nearly that many people, and someone told me that there was a PA system they could use to broadcast the statements by the candidates into the hallway. I was a bit skeptical this would be a workable plan. I felt sure that the meeting would be cancelled and rescheduled in a larger venue. I knew it was going to be contentious, and there was no way they expected this many people to show up.
I took another stroll down the line. A conservative group was handing out papers with a list of the people NOT to vote for. Someone asked me if I’d like to sign a petition to put a measure on the ballot which would require parental notification for any girl under the age of 18 to have an abortion.
(insert harp music here…everything goes a little blurry….) I saw a friend of mine burst in the door out of breath. “Weren’t you way ahead of me before?” I asked. “Yes, I was,” he said. “Did you notice that the ballots weren’t numbered?” Yes, I had noticed that. “Did anyone ask you for ID?” Nope. Nobody asked me for ID. Then he went on to explain that seeing the number of hunters that had been called out by various groups to stack the board with that particular interest above the others, he’d been frustrated. He thought at first that he’d run home real quick and grab the three visiting out-of-state guests, and bring them over to stand in line with him again, knowing they’d be given ballots. But then, he said, he’d had “a wonderful awful idea,” quoting the Grinch in the Dr. Seuss book. There was a Kinko’s just down the road. He grabbed a ballot, took it over there, fiddled with the lightness setting so he could copy from the colored pink paper on to other pink paper without leaving toner traces, and he’d made a stack of 25 ballots that he planned to bring in to the room, fill out, and slip in the box during the meeting. It was pretty casual. People were filtering up and putting their ballots in the box in a slow trickle. He had some friends inside and they were each going to slip 3 or 4 ballots in at the same time. ”Are you serious?” I asked. “As a heart attack,” he said. Frankly I was a little shocked at this. Election fraud at the Citizens Advisory Committee to the Department of Fish & Game?! This could only happen in Alaska. He looked at me with a twinkle in his eye and did one of those “Muahahahahaha!” evil laughs and rubbed his hands together like a fly. “It might just be enough, you never know,” he said raising his eyebrows. “It’s probably about 5% of the total number. They’ll probably never figure it out. Do you want to fill out a few?” I, being the virtuous type, flatly refused. But what was I going to do now?
Before I figure out how I am going to narc on my friend with the nebulous personal ethics, let me just tell you that the entire indented paragraph above is completely untrue. A work of pure fiction. There was no friend, no election fraud, no tampering with ballots. Were you outraged? Upset? Gobsmacked, perhaps? If you are a conservative reading this blog, were you ready to (metaphorically) strangle my friend? If you were a conservation voter, were you appalled that this could happen, even if you may have liked the candidates that were going to have their votes padded? So, what was the point of making your blood pressure rise? IT COULD HAVE HAPPENED. Quite easily, I’m afraid. Technically, I can’t say that it didn’t, and neither can anyone else. This is a problem. And that’s the point.
So take a big cleansing breath and let’s get back to the real story. In the meeting room, I noticed that the line of people waiting to get in was gone. And yet there were still a couple empty chairs. How could this be? There were more than 500 people trying to get into a room that sat about 300 by my estimate. I asked around, and learned that people were being allowed to vote and leave before the nominations had even been made, and before the candidates spoke.
I found out that the young man next to me had just turned 18. This was technically his first vote for anything, he told me. “How’d you like the rigorous screening process you had to go through?” I joked. He smiled. Nobody had checked his ID to make sure he was 18.
Nominations were made. Candidates spoke. Some gave great speeches. Some didn’t. But sadly, it didn’t really matter. Everyone knew who they were voting for. One candidate referred to “our democracy” and someone shouted out, “IT’S A REPUBLIC!” This was followed by an ill-timed series of “Yeah’s” from the crowd. Another candidate started off by announcing that yes, he was a convicted felon, but that it was a long time ago, and it wasn’t fair that his past be used against him. It was a long night.
After the speeches, I went to fill out my ballot and realized that I ran out of lines and hadn’t written in a name I wanted to vote for. How could I have miscalculated? I recounted quickly and realized that even though the ballot said to fill out the names of 8 candidates, there were only 7 lines. They also said to vote for one student. I never saw a student.
Finally, the voting was over and the ballots were counted. Those running the show were doing their best, but were obviously not prepared for the turnout they’d gotten. They asked for volunteers to read the names off the ballots while they wrote little tick marks next to the person’s name on sheets of notebook paper. Then, someone next to me recognized the woman reading the names to the “ticker” as the wife of one of the candidates who was running for a seat! This fact was pointed out to the counters, who appeared to be horrified, and told her that she couldn’t be involved in the process. She looked embarrassed and slunk away, and a new volunteer was found. They never did go back and redo the ones she’d done.
~Candidate’s wife getting up from the ballot reading.
I had that feeling I get at meetings when I knew it was time to go. I passed out the rest of the banana brownies that Spouse had concocted for the occasion. Everyone needed one. People were taking brownies and thanking me like I’d just given them a hug, or pain medication.
In the end, not one seat was won by a conservation candidate, even though several of them were also hunters. They weren’t on the list. That guy who was a lifelong Alaskan, and former marine, raising his young family here who had just taken his daughter caribou hunting? Sorry… he wasn’t on the “coservative patriots” list. That darn greenie. He did come sort of close to getting as many votes as the felon they endorsed, though. Maybe some day he’ll measure up.
While I was driving home, eating my brownie, I didn’t turn on the radio. My internal dialog was going – creating a list of what I thought went wrong at this meeting.
- No numbered ballots
- No checking of IDs to ensure proper residency
- No checking of IDs to verify age requirement
- No checking of IDs to make sure names matched to avoid multiple voting
- Improper number of spaces on the ballot
- Electioneering happening on line with “who not to vote for” lists
- No ability for residents of places like Homer (5 hours from Anchorage) who are represented by this group to vote absentee
- No candidate statements available on line or in writing
- Votes cast before nominations were even made
- A facility which would have been unable to contain all those who showed up had they cared to stay and listen to the candidates speak
- AND, they would not allow me to bring brownies into the meeting room, despite the fact that others brought coffee in there! An outrage if you ask me.
Almost one hundred out of the 560 who were present, came from the Mat-Su Valley. That’s quite a chunk. It should be noted that they have their own regional area in which they can run, attend meetings and speak for the Valley constituency which is of a very different makeup, culture and mindset than that of Anchorage. Why, then, are Valley residents permitted to speak for Anchorage? And if this huge region, as it is defined currently, is to be represented accurately, then how can we not allow absentee voting by mail for residents of the Kenai Penninsula and points too far to drive to Anchorage? Representative committee? Hardly.
But other than that, and the bullet list above, everything was swell.
The final vote, for those interested:
| Justin McGinnis | 158 | Phil Lincoln | 345 |
| Terry Miracle | 141 | Frank Newmann | 335 |
| Lynette Morino Hinz | 135 | Greg Bell | 331 |
| Kate Swift | 135 | Ron Jordan | 313 |
| Valerie Conner | 132 | Robert Kaywood | 312 |
| Kneely Taylor | 130 | Mark Campbell | 307 |
| Karen Deatherage | 135 | Hank Hodge | 306 |
| Steve Flory | 176 | ||
| Stacee Frost | 108 | ||
| Art Nelson | 80 | ||
| Mike Preebie | 65 | ||
| Grant Clotz | 48 | ||
| Kenny Rodgers | 39 |
The turnout really was spectacular, despite the disappointing result. Thank you to those who cared and came, and to those who were willing to serve. Until next time, we have a committee that completely represents the diversity of the Anchorage community (as long as they’re white, male gun enthusiasts and hunters between the ages of 35 and 60).
I don’t even know where to begin in response to those election proceedures.
Haven’t posted here in a long time, and have just been getting caught up on all things Alaska. Wow. I am speechless.
That CAN’T be a legal election of representatives. And who put the brownies on the banned list!? For shame.
no election laws in Alaska ?? this procedure isn’t covered by Board of Elections ??
No numbered ballots
No checking of IDs to ensure proper residency
No checking of IDs to verify age requirement
No checking of IDs to make sure names matched to avoid multiple voting
Improper number of spaces on the ballot
Electioneering happening on line with “who not to vote for” lists
No ability for residents of places like Homer (5 hours from Anchorage) who are represented by this group to vote absentee
No candidate statements available on line or in writing
Votes cast before nominations were even made
A facility which would have been unable to contain all those who showed up had they cared to stay and listen to the candidates speak
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HUH ?? Hey , call me an outsider asshole , but that sounds like an “election” in a banana republic.
Just insane AKM but helps further illustrate how someone like Palin can get elected
Is Anchorage the new Afghanistan?
And who is the convicted felon? Can he legally hold elected office?
This situation..as it continues to unfold..ought..I say OUGHT..to hit national news venues..all over the country..as that is an amazing ‘fall’ from proper protocol for correct voting. My godfrey..any self respecting local PTA..or scout meeting in the 50 states..can explain honest voteing procedures. Actually..give this lil happening a bit of time..as this has..’Legs’..my friends..REAL .. Major.. LEGS!! Thank about it! I’m grinning already
I’m really at a loss for words, stunned and appalled will suffice though. Is anyone following up on this, AKM? I can’t believe there aren’t by-laws that would pertain to this type of committee, truly unbelievable.
This doesn’t sound like a chance for fair and equal representation through election on a quasi-governmental body. Isn’t there a state employee that has a job that supposedly supports and coordinates meetings and elections for the Advisory Boards? Out here in Bush Alaska, concerned citizens are used to stacked meetings – looks like the selfish groups are spreading their disease to our Urban Center. Either that or the Special Interest groups have more money to spend on ‘control tactics’ than the common concerned citizen.
Simply amazing this could happen in the twenty-first century. It seems fairly obvious the inmates are still running the asylum. Next: National elections . . . wait, we’re already there.
This is a travesty. The inmates are in charge of the asylum. How do you change this????
I’m concerned about the over-all attitude of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Many workers are so easily influenced and manipulated by Special Interest groups and I suspect a lot of it has to do with back door promises of money to fund projects. The buddy system, patting each other on the back and using dirty tactics to discredit those who oppose the few who fight nasty to stay in control. What goes around will eventually come around but that takes time and for the salmon in some of the Norton Sound rivers, time is running out. A lot of bully game playing going on up here. The poor people losing an important cultural and traditional activity are the ones hurting in the long run.
AKM- I’ve just sent sent an email labelled URGENT. Please look for it.
Jeez
5 austintx Says:
January 7th, 2010 at 5:47 AM
No numbered ballots
No checking of IDs to ensure proper residency
No checking of IDs to verify age requirement
No checking of IDs to make sure names matched to avoid multiple voting
Improper number of spaces on the ballot
Electioneering happening on line with “who not to vote for” lists
No ability for residents of places like Homer (5 hours from Anchorage) who are represented by this group to vote absentee
No candidate statements available on line or in writing
Votes cast before nominations were even made
A facility which would have been unable to contain all those who showed up had they cared to stay and listen to the candidates speak
**************************************************************
HUH ?? Hey , call me an outsider asshole , but that sounds like an “election” in a banana republic.
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AKA as Alaska. May we please have the envelope, thanks.
This article, seriously, needs to be cross-posted on HP. And sent to both “The Daily Show” and “The Colbert Report.” Rachael and Keith might could have some ‘fun’ with it, too.
“We” need to make sure others with a lick of sanity know this type of shenanigan is happening – if it can happen in AK, it can happen in other places, as well. The utter contempt and disregard for the ’standard’/'normal’ election process for/of representatives (and/or officials) to local/state/national positions *has* to stop! That can only happen if people are made aware of how the process can be (and is being) hijacked.
Sometimes ‘local’ needs to be brought to national attention in order to ‘cut it off at the pass’ and prevent it from continuing at the ‘local’ (and/or national) level. Exposure to the light of day is a *great* disinfectant.
Please, AKM, cross-post the article…and CC it to Jon, Stephen, Rachael, and Keith. Please! beth.
The first time that I read about Alaska politics is when I began to follow the Sarah Palin Troopergate saga. She was clearly found to have abused the power of her office, yet there was no punishment of any kind. If anything, Sarah said that she had been cleared (like all of those nasty ethics violations). Todd and others were found to be in contempt of the legislature for failing to appear when served with a subpoena. There was no punishment. I read about the violation of the first amendment of the constitution where selective media were barred from what was advertised as a public event. So, to use the often quoted line from the movie “Casablanca,” “I am shocked that gambling is going on!” Or rotten politics, shocked, I tell you!
(And, apologies to people in Alaska. You don’t have exclusive rights to rotten politics. We could fill pages with the stories from every other state, from Florida’s darling, Katherine Harris and the lack of a fair vote recount, a governor in a southern state who went absent (for love) without punishment, or a senator involved in paying big money bribes to the family of his mistress.)
Are there no rules governing these elections? Are people from a different constituency really allowed to vote in another constituency? Surely the results must be invalid with so many infringements of the democratic voting process.
As austintx has said, it sounds like the sort of elections a banana republic would hold.
I was wondering about that when I read your twitter about busloads coming from the Valley. I didn’t comment because I’m not sure how things work up there most of the time. It didn’t sound right that they could do this, but I don’t live there.
I wish they could re-do this with only Anchorage residents but I’m guessing that isn’t going to happen. Were Prevo’s buses used for this also?
I hope the Fish and Game Board realizes that the lower 48 (and other parts of the world) are watching how they choose to treat the Beluga whales up there. Or do they still think they live in a tiny bubble that no one watches?
I like the fiction part, but no I wasn’t able to attend. (slightly flexible morality)
No, the rule of law must stand. How does this voting process stand in court? Do we have a lawyer in the house? This is jacked.
Seriously, this sounds like an election in Taliban ruled Afganistan.
Palin said that Alaska is a microcosm of lower 48….Uhhhhhh…..not so much.
We actually have laws and such.
It doesn’t help that you have a sham of a newspaper too that doesn’t do any investigative journalism. They are enablers.
sauerkraut Says:
And who is the convicted felon? Can he legally hold elected office?
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Much less vote. also , too.
anadventurer -
I agreed and responded to your post a couple of threads back.
Are there no published rules for this type of election? Doesn’t the Fishing and Gaming Commission (or the State) have rules and regulations for advisory board elections? I bet they do.
There are just too MANY things to point out that are totally wrong with this
” process ” { NO.. it was NOT an Election } that took place but as you pointed out…. where was the opportunity for the people in the Kenai Peninsula to be able to vote for representation..?
Kenai voters should start a petition or something to have the whole thing thrown out… that’s a start.
And who is their State Representative for that Area/District..? Shouldn’t that Elected Official be making a stink about this? His people were NOT represented.
Published rules
http://www.boards.adfg.state.ak.us/advisory/ops/whole-packet.pdf
see 5AAC96.040 and 5AAc96.060
State webpage with all the links about Citizen Advisory Committees
http://www.boards.adfg.state.ak.us/advisory/ops/acmanual.php
ID to prove residence within the local area AND numbered ballots SHOULD have been in operation…
and i’m wondering how qualifications for committee members per 5AAC 96.040 are checked…
AKM-
glad you were there with your keen and watchful eye…
NEXT time neighbor, next time!
I’m not sure what to think, but now I have to wonder if this type of thing is going on in other states. It really would be so easy in some of the smaller, more rural districts. Sadder yet is that there is no outcry over this, even from the ‘honest’ officials at the meeting. Thanks for your outcry AKM. I just hope it is heard.
Alaska Pi -
Oops………sounds like we’re talkin’ a “do over”. Of course we’ll hear how the “librul progressives” are subverting the voting process….blah…blah….blah.
Alaskanistan shenanigans?!
@31 austintx-
possibly
and Boards have to ok those elected… also, too…
7 sauerkraut Says:
And who is the convicted felon? Can he legally hold elected office?
—-
Steve Flory is the convicted sex offender – of a minor, no less. “No Contest Plea.” And, he got voted in as an alternate. Here’s the court record. (Interestingly, Rex Butler was his attorney.)
Only in Alaska would a sex offender get “voted” above someone who respects the environment and its wildlife.
HEY!! HEY!!!HEY!!!
No ‘next time’. We had something similar happen out here in the bush last year and when it was all said and done the results GOT KICKED AND redone.
Go to the state. There is a ‘Board Support” person who should have stopped it.
Let them know the issues.
Get a review.
This can not stand and I say that DESPITE who wins.
By letting this go without a formal complaint you are allowing the system to
breakdown.
Our Advisory Boards, Board of Fish meetings and processes and other citizen involved things in Alaska are what is good.
Do not allow this to break down too.
I can’t complain as I am not an ANC resident but those of you who are – COMPLAIN!!!
@35 UgaVic-
Was hoping you would pop in!
——————————-
The links are all here now folks in Anchorage committee area – go for it.
New members have 14 days to file their paperwork and Boards have to ok them all…
Go for it!
I am a little confused. This is the Anchorage Advisory Committee? 1 of 81 in the State? Is that correct? What are Valley People doing voting for the Anchorage Committee? Seems that the process need a little work by the Joint Committee that oversees the process.
YES !! Fight this BS !! Hammertime Baby !!
@37 austintx-
hammertime baby?
hehehe…
Next time COULD be very, very soon.
Go for it neighbors! Complain!
Alaska Pi -
Never mind MC Hammer and “Hammertime”
Let’s go with Johnny Cash and “I Won’t Back Down”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_IJw9jid5Yk
Alaska , take your state back !!!
Here is the law as stated for Fish and Game Uniform Rules of Operation. See specifically section (e) Membership:
http://www.touchngo.com/lglcntr/akstats/aac/title05/chapter096/section060.htm
RE: akgrrl @ 34
OK – so, from the link, we know that he was ‘older’ when charged; he at least had a son [since he is listed as "Sr."] We also know the charges were brought in ‘94 and he did jail time (a year and a half?).
It’s reported he told those assembled: ‘it [the felony conviction] was a long time ago, and it wasn’t fair that his past be used against him’ to which I agree … IF he was something like 18-19yo at the time of the offense AND AK has/had archaic laws saying that any [sexual] contact with a minor is punishable (i.e. – if the guy/gal is 18 and the ‘partner’ is 16, and even if the contact is by mutual consent, it still ‘counts’ as a punishable offense).
I’m assuming that the “if” above did *not* come into play with this upstanding paragon of virtue? beth.
@beth #41:
I’m assuming that the “if” above did *not* come into play with this upstanding paragon of virtue?
—-
Steve Flory’s date of birth is listed as 2/23/1961, and that puts him at approx 32 years old in 1994. Not exactly an 18 yr old with a 16 yr old girlfriend.
As I read everyone comments, I to believe things could have been ran better, I was there. I only filled out one ballot with 7 lines on it as well. I was wondering if the other side was filling out more than one as well. I didn’t see anyone doing so. I do believe that 99% of the people there, where average honest people that where stirred up by the rant from both sides. People came in the front door, stood in line for 45 min. to get a ballot, voted and went home. There was no seating left inside the meeting room, so hanging around in the hallway wasn’t much of an option. They came and spoke there minds with the ballot, and went home. As for the Valley taking over the election, 67 people where from outside the Anchorage bowl. I would think that the majority where of the pro-hunting mind set. But a few had to be from the other side as well. So the valley numbers wouldn’t have changed the outcome. Yes I’m a hunter and a Conservationist, a lover of the Great Outdoors. I’ve spent more time viewing wildlife than hunting it. And raised my kids to love and respect all aspects of the Great Outdoors. Hunter groups have always been the biggest supporters for wildlife and wild lands. We can’t let the bad apples, from either side spoil thing. Anyway, just a few of my thoughts, thanks for your time. God Bless America, Peace, Out.
95 people were from outside the Anchorage area. The rest were from Anchorage, Eagle River and Chugiak. Thanks for your thoughts. AKM
scout Says:
January 7th, 2010 at 9:54 AM
Alaskanistan shenanigans?!
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good one!
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Alaska deserves better. the people need competent representation. where are the elected members of your state house? they seem as oblivious as New York’s own worthless sacks of salt
WOW!!! WHAT??? OMG!!!!!!! Alaskanistan Election is right!!
How could this be called an ‘ELECTION’ ????
I hope you Alaskans DO NOT let this stand!!! According to the posts I just read, there is a way to dispute the process used in this rigging.
I hope you all PROTEST LOUDLY, LONG and LEGALLY until you win true Representation.
44 freshmeat Says: January 7th, 2010 at 11:30 AM
As I read everyone comments, I to believe things could have been ran better, I was there. I only filled out one ballot with 7 lines on it as well. I was wondering if the other side was filling out more than one as well… As for the Valley taking over the election, 67 people where from outside the Anchorage bowl. I would think that the majority where of the pro-hunting mind set. But a few had to be from the other side as well. So the valley numbers wouldn’t have changed the outcome.
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The standard is not whether the outcome would be different but whether proper public election procedures were followed. People from outside the jurisdiction casting votes with unsecured ballots is an act which needs to be rectified immediately thru the only avenue that ensures a clean, untainted election: a re-do.
When that happens, the appropriate security personnel should be present to check ID’s before handing people a properly constructed ballot. And no person with close or marital ties to a candidate should be allowed to handle a ballot other than the one she (or he) wishes to cast. Indeed, proper security measures should also be in place during the vote count process.
Whomever set up this disgraceful farce ought to be fired.
And that sex offender… someone plant your steel-toed boot up his you-know-what, willya?
The ADN in this morning paper have 67 voters from outside the MOA. that includes one from Homer, and one from Seward. Whats your source.Thanks
Here’s the tally, by community, as I received if from ADFG:
Anchorage – 395
Eagle River – 40
Chugiak – 28
Wasilla – 41
Palmer – 16
Sutton – 3
Willow – 1
Big Lake – 2
Chickaloon – 2
Cooper Landing – 1
Seward – 1
I think ANY High School Civics Class in America
could have run a more proper ‘ election ‘. Just saying…
There is no way this was an election! This was a disgraceful sham and a travesty! Please Alaskans, don’t accept this. Demand a do-over. Not one conservationist on the Board of Fish and Game; not one! This was rigged by the Viagra crowd.
I’m sorry to be a little dense here, but I couldn’t really tell from AKM’s post who was “running” this election. It seems to me if paid state gov’t personnel were in anyway involved, then their management needs to get on the job. If it was volunteers officiating then it seems that some state gov’t personnel should be supervising.
When I think about it, the fact that NONE of the candidates challenged the process pretty much says it all.
AKM, what you go through for readers is really amazing. Not only to you attend this “election” mess, but you re-lived it while writing your post. Next year’s Muddies Award should also have an ANTI-Muddy (obvious why I like the name) for courage above and beyond the call of duty.
By the way, this Hank Hodge who was “elected” last night- that’s the same Henry Hodge Jr who got drunk in 1994 as a teen and climbed into Binky the Polar Bear’s cage at the Alaska Zoo. The paper reported lacerations to his…”upper thighs”. Same guy who was pictured in his high school yearbook the year before, straddling a dead polar bear he’d hunted on the North Slope. Let’s hope his judgement has improved!
AKM, don’t you know that fishermen think bananas are bad luck? I guess that’s only on a boat, but you can put in your own “sinking ship” analogy [insert Palin wink here].
Give me a break!! At the beginning of this whine fest did you not say you were at last years elections–was the process broken then? Where was your whine then? Or just this year because it did not work out so well for you. Your very last divisive comment shows your presumptuous shallow character in your postulation that white male gun enthusiasts can not be diverse in their representation. Could you please put the facts on your blog to back up your statement. Obviuosly you have plenty of time on your hands. Otherwise I will have to consider you a bigot.
Dear Cindy, I am going to suspend the “bring your manners to the table” rule just for you. I did not say I was at last year’s election because I wasn’t. I did, however, find out how many people were there. I’m not sure exactly what facts you want me to include here. However, for a committee that is supposed to represent ALL of the region, I would have hoped to see women, Natives, and those who enjoy the other non-hunting business and recreational uses for our fish & game resources represented on the committee. Balance serves everyone. I assure you I do not have time on my hands, nor am I a bigot. I happen to be deeply in love with a white male between the ages of 35 and 60 who is a gun owner. So take a big deep cleansing breath, and next time bring your manners. AKM
Many, if not most, of the Fish and Game Advisory Committees in Alaska are so stacked toward consumptive use that they have lost credibility. A few coherent testimonies directly to the AK Board of Game can often help considerably when Advisory Committees put forward sorry proposals. Even Moose Pucky’s lone voice has seemed to make a difference on occasion.
The fact that a coalition of interest has come together to even address some of these problems is hopeful. Stick together, pay attention, and testify at every opportunity to the legislators, the governor, and Board of Game–the actual decision makers.
Kudos to all who care.
Just out of curiosity- are Committee members compensated in any way? A stipend for meeting or expenses? Or just the satisfaction of serving?
KateinCanada…AC members are only reimbursed for expenses if they travel to Board of Fish or Game meetings…no other stipends. It’s strictly volunteer stuff.
Cindy -
I’m not sure who peed in your Cheerios this morning , but AKM is not a bigot. If you visit the ‘flats even occasionally , you would see that AKM presents a wide spectrum of subjects in a concise , compassionate , and humorous manner. Have a nice rest of your day.
dear Cindy, i have been coming to this blog since august ‘08 and if there one thing i know, it is that the lovely spirit that is AKM is not a bigot. you, however, may very well be. needless to say, since this blog is owned and operated by AKM, most of us pups could give a beetle’s burp less WHAT you think. so next time ” suck it up buttercap!”
In my 72 years..I have seen a few, blessedly..very few ‘Cindys’..in this world. We need them to cross through our space periodically..to remind us why good manners are..a blessing.
I see an “opportunity” for any and many to take this to task and make some changes. A civics book and a clear mind would knock this whole thing out of the park.
BTW…you go AKM! You are on the right side here.
Wow.
poor Cindy….
I called Fish and Game this morning to register my complaint against this debacle. The gentleman with whom I spoke allowed as how they have seen this kind of hijacking of an advisory committee before. A similar situation occurred in Southeast with commercial fishing interests playing tug-of-war with charter fishing interests, trading control of the advisory committee year-by-year. Based on this one conversation, I was given to understand that F&G is aware of these shenanigans, and any committee that is stacked with narrow interest groups is given zero credibility in the larger process. Fine. That still leaves an important segment of our community without a voice. I agree with earlier posts: the result we saw on Tuesday needs to be tossed, and replaced with a process in which consumptive and conservationist interests are elected to respective chairs on the committee (this is how they balanced commercial/charter fishing interests in Southeast). Anything less is a waste of everyone’s time. I’m callin’ F&G back tomorrow, will follow that up with a letter, and I hope you will all do the same. AKM, you are a gem!
The results were disappointing, but at least I got a delicious brownie out of coming–thanks AKM
@65 Homesteader-
Good on you! Did your contact mention that the rules governing CACs talk about “… to the extent possible, at LEAST three user groups must be represented on each committee…”?
Consumptive use is an important part of the picture here but ALL user groups need to be represented- especially in our most populated area… where the pressure on wildlife in general has grown dramatically on a variety of fronts…
And yes , hanging head, Southeast has had a very untidy history with our committee…
I don’t understand Cindy’s point…
Is it that AKM is only questioning the balloting process because AKM’s preferred candidates lost ?
The sour grapes thingy?
I think it obvious from the (scary) fictional paragraph about the fictional-friend that AKM is truly questioning a process with no usual checks and balances built into it…
And clear problems with differences in ballots provided and instructions for filling them out…
And an untidy counting process…
And I feel confident that AKM would question these things -no matter the outcome. That’s what AKM does…
Joe 12-pack Says:
January 7th, 2010 at 12:25 PM
Here’s the tally, by community, as I received if from ADFG:
Anchorage – 395
Eagle River – 40
Chugiak – 28
Wasilla – 41
Palmer – 16
Sutton – 3
Willow – 1
Big Lake – 2
Chickaloon – 2
Cooper Landing – 1
Seward – 1
=============================================
How can ADFG know if this information is accurate or not if IDs were not checked? AKM said that some of the ballots were filled out without phone or e-mail addresses. So couldn’t the rest of the information about addresses or PO Boxes be fake indicating fake residences in the voting area?
I don’t believe they have any way of knowing if this is accurate since they did not check IDs. They can only go by what was self-reported. AKM
I think there were 80 some committees throughout Alaska. Why would votes from areas outside the resident area count? The purpose of regional advisory groups is so that the F&G can get local input. I don’t want Anchorage voting for me on the Kenai, nor would you want me voting in Anchorage. Could be wrong, but there was some rules about where you can vote.
Rules for voting are in Title 5-AAC 92. Anyone in area can vote. The ‘area’ in this case is all of Southcental Alaska, since that is the area the Anchorage AC discusses and votes on the most. If people live in that area, they can vote in that AC election.