Dunleavy’s town hall meetings suspended so he can monitor coronavirus

Gov. Mike Dunleavy announces to a lunchtime audience at the Chugiak-Eagle River Senior Center in Chugiak that he will restore funds for the Senior Benefits Payment Program.
Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks at the Chugiak-Eagle River Senior Center, Aug. 12, 2019. On Monday, the governor’s office suspended three public town hall meetings planned for this week. (Photo by Zachariah Hughes/Alaska Public Media)

Gov. Mike Dunleavy has suspended three public town hall meetings he was planning to hold this week.

According to the governor’s office, the reason is to allow Dunleavy to “remain closely connected to federal and local partners” while the coronavirus situation continues to evolve.

The governor said in December that he planned to visit communities to talk with Alaskans about the future of the state’s budget. He held one meeting, in Chugiak, last week. His office canceled meetings in Petersburg and Wrangell in February, citing poor weather.

The newly canceled events were scheduled for Kenai on March 9, Seward on March 10 and Homer on March 11.

Dunleavy says his administration will communicate with local governments, school districts, businesses, tribes and nonprofits by telephone and Facebook town halls, until he can resume travel to communities.

See all of KTOO’s Alaska coronavirus coverage.

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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