New director should sequester her party affiliation while running Alaska Division of Elections

Will Carol Beecher, who was appointed to serve as director of the Alaska Division of Elections, comply with Alaska state statutes in the future?

The relevant statute clearly states that the elections director must be nonpartisan and may not make political contributions. The Sentinel reported Feb. 22 that Beecher made recent contributions to the campaigns of Republican candidates including Donald Trump, Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy and Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom. Four months later, Dahlstrom appointed Beecher as director of the Alaska Division of Elections.

Her prior partisan political activity does not prevent her appointment. But Beecher should now sequester her Republican affiliation. The citizens of Alaska need a truly nonpartisan director of state elections.

Michael Henry Clark

Houston, Texas