Alaska governor cites Trump as he faces recall campaign

A fight is brewing over wher Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy should be recalled from office, with his critics saying he’s incompetent and has recklessly tried to cut spending while supporters see a politically motivated attempt to undo last election. Dunleavy, a Republican, has drawn parallels between himself and President Donald Trump, casting himself as a chief executive trying to implement an nda of smaller government and resource development while facing attacks from left.

Trump, subject of an impeachment inquiry, has defended Dunleavy on Twitter.

A state elections official could decide as early as Monday wher first serious attempt to recall an Alaska goverr since early 1990s should vance to second phase of signature-garing. decision could be challenged in court.

battle comes as Alaska, long reliant on oil to help pay for government expenses, is facing budget deficits. Alaska doesn’t have a personal income or statewide sales tax.

Two goverrs — Gray Davis in California in 2003 and Lynn Frazier in rth Dakota in 1921 — have been recalled by voters, according to National Conference of State Legislatures. In 2012, n-Gov. Scott Walker survived a recall election in Wisconsin.

Dunleavy, elected last fall with 51% of vote, has h a rocky year marked by lawsuits, fights with lawmakers and unions, and public outcry over budget vetoes that helped fuel recall push.

Dunleavy “lacks a basic understanding of his own constituents and what we care about: respect for separation of powers, responsible planning for ecomic stability and competent decision-making that makes Alaska a great place to live,” according to a statement from 15 leers of recall group, including a union official, coal company chairman and a delegate to Alaska Constitutional Convention.

Dunleavy spokesman Jeff Turner, in response to interview requests by Associated Press dating to early October, said time for “as complete an interview as possible” likely wouldn’t be available until later in vember.

At an October political event and in interviews with conservative outlets, Dunleavy said he is following through on his nda of cutting government spending while his foes want to undo election.

“I think I induce stress in ors, to be honest with you,” former state senator from Sarah Palin’s hometown of Wasilla told a GOP audience, sharing with m a website run by a group called Stand Tall with Mike that’s taking donations to oppose recall.

It’s unclear who is funding campaigns for and against Dunleavy because that information generally does t have to be me public yet.

Claire Pywell, who mans recall campaign, said recall push is bipartisan. Lindsay Williams, listed as chair of recall opposition group, declined to comment.

Recall Dunleavy said as part of an initial phase it h gared 49,006 signatures within weeks when 28,501 signatures were needed.

Dunleavy won office in a race in which his predecessor, independent Bill Walker, stopped campaigning weeks before election after his lieutenant goverr resigned over what Walker described as an inappropriate overture to a woman. race included Democrat Mark Begich. Walker h been elected in 2014 with support from Democrats.

largest bloc of registered voters in Alaska is politically unaffiliated.

Former Walker aides Scott Kendall and Jahna Lindemuth are legal visers to recall campaign. Craig Richards, who preceded Lindemuth as Walker’s attorney general, is representing Stand Tall with Mike.

In an opinion piece, Richards called recall effort “a misguided distraction from hard work of governance necessary to right our fiscal ship.”

Among its claims, pro-recall group says Dunleavy violated law by t appointing a judge within a required time frame, misused state funds for partisan online s and mailers, and improperly used his veto authority to “attack judiciary.”

Dunleavy cut from court budget and amount ministration said was commensurate to state funding for abortions. This happened after Alaska Supreme Court struck down as unconstitutional a state law and regulation seeking to define what constitutes medically necessary abortions for Medicaid funding.

state is being sued over issue. Attorney General Kevin Clarkson has said Dunleavy acted within his authority.

Dunleavy has defended widespre cuts he proposed as goverr, which went beyond those he promoted as a candidate, as a response to oil prices that weakened after campaign and fiscal situation.

He has ted that Walker failed to win support for new or higher taxes amid deficit debate, and Walker faced backlash for cutting size of check residents get from state’s oil-wealth fund.

Dunleavy said his vetoes forced Alaskans to talk about what y value and said he listened to comments. He eventually backed off a $135 million cut in state support to University of Alaska system, which system president said would have been devastating, and agreed to a $70 million cut over three years.

Dunleavy also agreed to reverse cuts to certain early childhood learning and senior programs. But he cut Medicaid, and his ministration is eyeing changes to alrey depleted ferry system that serves many coastal communities.

Tuckerman Babcock, a former state GOP chair who was Dunleavy’s chief of staff until this summer, said messaging around Dunleavy’s cuts could have been stronger but said recall effort is political.

Dunleavy recently told Fox News he was confident situation would die down “as people realize decisions that we’ve me are actually going to improve situation for Alaska.” Pywell said Alaskans remain upset. “People are t cooling off. y don’t trust him,” she said.