![A man in a grey suit speaking at a podium.](https://media.alaskapublic.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/10122022_EaganDebate_Faubion_5-scaled.jpg)
The Alaska Public Offices Commission will act before the election to hear a campaign finance complaint against incumbent Gov. Mike Dunleavy and backers of his re-election bid, the commission ruled Wednesday.
In a hearing that begins at 1 p.m. Friday, the state’s campaign finance regulator will hear evidence for and against the complaint, which alleges Dunleavy’s campaign illegally coordinated with a third-party group called A Stronger Alaska by having Brett Huber simultaneously serve in both Dunleavy’s campaign and A Stronger Alaska.
“The public at large has a compelling need to know whether coordination occurs or continues to occur related to A Stronger Alaska and its forthcoming expenditures,” said Anne Helzer, chair of the commission.
![Alaska Public Offices Commission remote meeting](https://media.alaskapublic.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/221012-APOC-hearing-1024x412-1.jpg)
Helzer spoke after the five members of the commission heard arguments for and against expedited consideration of the complaint. Had they decided against a speedy hearing, it would not have been considered until after the election.
It was not immediately clear on Wednesday when the commission will rule on the merits of the complaint.
A Stronger Alaska is funded by the national Republican Governors Association, which has already allocated at least $3 million to support Dunleavy’s re-election. State law prohibits third-party groups from coordinating with campaigns.
A ruling in favor of the RGA and Dunleavy’s campaign would clear the way for A Stronger Alaska to spend its money on the election in the last month before Alaskans vote on Nov. 8.
If commissioners rule against the groups, they could force A Stronger Alaska to pause its spending until it takes additional action, such as disbanding the group, refunding contributions and then re-forming the group.
That process could be done quickly enough to allow spending before the election, but it would require the Republican Governors Association to disclose the donors behind the $3 million it gave to A Stronger Alaska.
Currently, those donors are hidden because the RGA gave to A Stronger Alaska before Ballot Measure 2 took effect in February 2021. That measure requires third-party groups to disclose the true source of money behind their income.
In an extreme case, A Stronger Alaska could dissolve permanently. That was the result in September, when a complaint was filed against a third-party group backing Anchorage Democratic Rep. Harriet Drummond. Drummond’s husband was listed as a deputy treasurer for the group. After the complaint was filed, the group dissolved, donors were refunded, and the group has not been re-created.
The complaint against A Stronger Alaska was filed in September by the Alaska Public Interest Research Group and the 907 Initiative, a pair of nonprofits.
At the heart of their complaint is the role of Brett Huber, a former Dunleavy adviser.
On May 31, the Anchorage Daily News published an article revealing that Huber had been awarded a no-bid contract by the governor’s office while simultaneously serving as a deputy treasurer of Dunleavy’s re-election campaign and the third-party group A Stronger Alaska.
Huber said at the time that he had not done any work for the governor’s campaign since being hired by the third-party group.
Attorney Richard Moses, representing A Stronger Alaska, said on Wednesday that Huber’s listing as a deputy treasurer for the governor’s campaign was “an oversight on some paperwork.”
“It was completely unintentional and completely unknowing,” Moses said.
Asked whether a law can be violated by mistake, Moses said, “It depends on the law.”
Attorney Tom Amodio, representing the Dunleavy campaign, said on Wednesday that in order for there to be a violation of the law, there has to be cooperation and coordination in the expenditure of funds and that the complainants haven’t demonstrated that.
![Scott Kendall](https://media.alaskapublic.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/221012-APOC-hearing-2-300x172.jpg)
Scott Kendall is the attorney representing the complainants and said after Wednesday’s hearing that he intends to demonstrate that on Friday.
“The public at large has a compelling need to know,” he said.
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