AFN president: Scheduling error canceled Sullivan-Mallott forum, not Sullivan

Alaska Federation of Natives President Julie Kitka listens during a panel discussion on taking tribal land into trust. (Photo by Jennifer Canfield/KTOO)
Alaska Federation of Natives President Julie Kitka listens during a panel discussion on taking tribal land into trust. (Photo by Jennifer Canfield/KTOO)

The president of the Alaska Federation of Natives says Republican lieutenant governor candidate Dan Sullivan is not skipping out on a convention election forum as a press release from the Alaska Democratic Party claims. Julie Kitka says the press release is false.

“He was not disrespectful to AFN and the Native community by not participating,” Kitka says.

“There was a glitch on the staff level, he did not get the formal invitation inviting him to participate. Sometimes this time of year with all the things flying left and right people get the wrong information.”

In the press release, Democratic Party Chair Mike Wenstrup accuses Mayor Sullivan of dodging the debate because “he can’t defend the Parnell Administration’s offensive record on Alaska Native issues.”

Kitka says the lieutenant governor candidates have been rescheduled to address the convention. Sullivan and his Democratic counterpart Byron Mallott will have 10 minutes each to address the convention. Mallott, who is a former AFN president, is scheduled to speak at 3:30 p.m. Friday. Sullivan is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Saturday. The mayor is also scheduled to give opening remarks to the convention Thursday.

AFN released endorsement resolutions Tuesday calling for the delegation to support Mallott for lieutenant governor, independent candidate Bill Walker for governor and Sen. Mark Begich for re-election to the U.S. Senate.

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