Recall Dunleavy group goes after more signatures

The social-distancing protocols of the pandemic severely cut into their petition signature gathering efforts last year, but now the Recall Dunleavy group wants to reengage Alaskans and win a spot on the ballot.

The group, which started its effort in July 2019, held a virtual press conference Jan. 19 to start a renewed push to reach the 71,252 signatures of registered voters to force a statewide special election to recall Gov. Mike Dunleavy.

The group already has close to 50,000 signatures, and wants to exceed the legal minimum of 71,252 as a cushion for signatures that are rejected by the state Division of Elections.

Dunleavy's term will expire in December 2022.

The group said at the Zoom press event that organizers hope to gather enough signatures "within the next several weeks, paving the way for a special election later this year."

The signature drive has been mostly dormant since last fall, hampered by the inability to collect signatures at in-person events.

The recall effort comes down to accountability, recall volunteer Pat Race, of Juneau, said in the group's Jan. 19 announcement. "If we don't do something about this pattern of illegal activity and bad faith governance, if we don't hold [the governor] accountable, no one will."

Recall supporters cite Dunleavy's proposed deep budget cuts to state services in his first year in office in 2019, along with other executive actions they say violate his constitutional responsibilities.

Information about signing the recall petition is available at the Recall Dunleavy website http://www.recalldunleavy.org, or to request a petition to sign, call 866-744-6425.