Ellen Lockyer, KSKA – Anchorage
Republican U.S. Senate candidate Joe Miller’s personnel records have been made public as of 4:00 p.m. Tuesday afternoon.
Miller said Tuesday morning that he would not appeal a judge’s ruling regarding the release of his confidential personnel files from the Fairbanks North Star Borough.
Miller spoke with Steve Heimel on APRN’s Talk of Alaska.
Miller said it is unfortunate that somebody’s medical or other information can be released simply because he is running for office.
The Republican candidate for U.S. Senate said he had remained mum on the content of the records due to a confidentiality agreement with the Fairbanks North Star Borough.
Several media organizations sued the Fairbanks North Star Borough under the Freedom of Information Act to gain access to Miller’s personnel file. Miller had worked part time for the Borough and was disciplined by his employer for having used borough computers for political purposes, violating the borough’s ethics policy. Miller has fought the release of the records since mid-summer, but recently admitted that he had been put on a three-day leave and docked pay for his gaff.
The personnel records are now online on the Anchorage Daily News website
On memo from Borough attorney Rene Broker, dated March 26, 2008, notifies Miller of an investigation and possible disciplinary action for being, “dishonest about your conduct and about the reasons for your conduct.” Broker refers to Miller’s use of borough computers. Broker then tells Miller she realizes that he is under stress, which could be the reason for his lapse in judgment.
Other records contain internal Borough emails regarding Broker’s worry about email correspondence regarding TAPS litigation. Others mention Miller’s health. Reached by phone a few minutes ago, Broker said she “felt sad” about the release of the records.
“Joe worked here for seven years,” Broker said. “We were friends. It’s sad.”
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