Alaska Legislature confirms all of Dunleavy’s commissioners

Department of Health and Social Services Commissioner Adam Crum talks to Department of Public Safety Commissioner Amanda Price before a cabinet meeting with Gov. Mike Dunleavy on January 8, 2019, in Juneau, Alaska. (Photo by Rashah McChesney/Alaska’s Energy Desk)

The Legislature confirmed every commissioner appointed by Gov. Mike Dunleavy in its annual joint session on Wednesday. It continued to consider appointees to boards and commissions Wednesday afternoon.

The closest votes were for Public Safety Commissioner Amanda Price and Health and Social Services Commissioner Adam Crum.

Price’s appointment had been particularly controversial.

Opponents criticized her for various statements, including for saying she had voluntarily left a job in the administration of former Gov. Bill Walker when her supervisor says she was fired.

Anchorage Republican Rep. Laddie Shaw said the support of Price’s subordinates helped convince him to vote for her. Shaw trained and evaluated troopers during 17 years with the department.

“People I know that feel responsible, heart and soul, to this department: They are solidly behind her,” Shaw said.

Anchorage Democratic Rep. Zack Fields said inconsistent statements Price made to lawmakers show a pattern of lying.

“Based on Commissioner Price’s consistent record of deception before the Legislature this year, I must rise in opposition to her nomination,” he said.

Both Price and Crum were confirmed by separate votes of 34-25.

Most of the votes on Price were along party lines, with Republicans voting for her and Democrats and independents voting against her. However, four Republican senators — Click Bishop of Fairbanks, Mike Shower of Wasilla, Senate Majority Leader Mia Costello of Anchorage and Senate President Cathy Giessel of Anchorage — voted no. Bethel Democratic Sen. Lyman Hoffman, Juneau Democratic Rep. Andi Story and Anchorage Democratic Rep. Geran Tarr voted yes. Dunleavy is a Republican.

Every Republican except for Kodiak Rep. Louise Stutes voted to confirm Crum, while every Democrat and independent voted against him. Big Lake Republican Rep. Mark Neuman was absent.

The only other relatively close cabinet vote was for Jason Brune as commissioner of environmental conservation. He was confirmed by a 35-24 vote.

Then commissioner-designee for Alaska Department of Public Safety, Amanda Price, at table second from left, defends her controversial selection at a press conference held in Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s cabinet room in the Capitol on Tuesday. The meeting was held one day before she was confirmed in a joint session of the Legislature on the governor’s appointments. Accompanying Price, and speaking in her favor, was a team of subordinates and a DPS employee association representative. Shown at the table from left to right: Public Safety Employees Association Secretary/Treasurer Scott Carson; Price; DPS Deputy Commissioner Michael Duxbury; State Fire Marshal Richard Boothby; and State Trooper Col. Barry Wilson. Also at the table but not shown was Alaska State Trooper Col. Doug Massie. Dunleavy’s press secretary, Matt Shuckerow, is standing in the rear. (Photo by Skip Gray/360 North)

Andrew Kitchenman

State Government Reporter, Alaska Public Media & KTOO

State government plays an outsized role in the life of Alaskans. As the state continues to go through the painful process of deciding what its priorities are, I bring Alaskans to the scene of a government in transition.

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