Recall effort gathers 66 signatures in Wrangell

The Recall Dunleavy movement, an ongoing effort to oust Governor Mike Dunleavy from office, has entered into its second round of signature gathering. The group successfully gathered about 49,000 signatures in the first phase of the recall process. According to the organization's website, http://www.recalldunleavy.com, 21,768 signatures have been gathered as of March 9. Over last weekend, supporters of the recall effort set up shop in Wrangell, adding 66 more signatures to the list.

"I think that it's important that the governor be held to the same standards as Alaskans, and he should be working for Alaskans and not for corporate," said Janalee Minnichgage, of Ketchikan. "And he's just been breaking rules. I sat at Southeast Conference and listened to him lie to us about the ferries ... Our seniors, our elders, disabilities, I mean the cuts are going to hurt actual Alaskans."

Vivian Faith Prescott, of Wrangell, added that she also supported the recall effort for the same reasons. She was also out helping gather signatures on behalf of her niece, Maleah Wenzel. Wenzel helped gather local signatures during the first phase of signature gathering, last year, and had also helped in organizing local efforts.

"I'm just concerned about our whole state and everything, so that's why I'm volunteering," Prescott said.

Among the reasons for the recall effort, the Recall Dunleavy website reads that Governor Dunleavy violated state law by refusing to appoint a judge to the Palmer Superior Court within 45 days of receiving nominations, has misused state funds for partisan purposes, improperly used his ability of line-item vetoes, and "acted incompetently" by vetoing about $18 million more than he had informed the state legislature he intended to cut.

Phase two of the recall effort requires a total of 71,252 signatures to trigger a recall election. If successful, a recall vote will either be on the ballot in a special election or as part of a regularly-scheduled election. Should Governor Dunleavy be removed from office, he will be replaced in the interim by Lt. Governor Kevin Meyer.