The plaintiff in a lawsuit challenging the merged campaigns of two Alaska gubernatorial candidates will not appeal a judge’s ruling that an emergency order allowing the ticket was valid, he said Monday. Plaintiff Steve Strait said, however, that state lawmakers should enact a permanent regulation to address a legal “train wreck” — the label used by Superior Court Judge John Suddock in describing a gap in Alaska election statutes. Suddock sided with the state on Friday.
The Sept. 2 emergency order was issued by Lt. Gov. Mead Treadwell, who was named in the lawsuit along with elections director Gail Fenumiai. The order paved the way for Democratic gubernatorial nominee Byron Mallott to join campaigns with independent gubernatorial candidate Bill Walker and run as Walker’s lieutenant governor after their lieutenant governor candidates withdrew from their races.
The new ticket is deemed a stronger challenge to Republican incumbent Gov. Sean Parnell, who is seeking his second full term in office. Anchorage Mayor Dan Sullivan is Parnell’s running mate.
Full Article: Plaintiff says they won’t appeal ballot lawsuit ruling | Juneau Empire – Alaska’s Capital City Online Newspaper.