Alaska Gov. Dunleavy sworn in for second term

Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy was sworn in for a second time period on Monday, saying his aim is to “work with everyone to create an Alaska for the subsequent 50 years.”

The Republican final month turned the primary Alaska governor since Democrat Tony Knowles in 1998 to win back-to-back phrases. Dunleavy gained the ranked vote governor’s election with greater than 50% of first-choice votes. His challengers have been Democrat Les Gara, a former state lawmaker; impartial former Gov. Invoice Walker; and Republican Charlie Pierce, a former borough mayor who was sued in October by a lady who stated he sexually harassed her.

The swearing-in ceremony for Dunleavy and Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom was held on the Alaska Airways Middle in Anchorage. Kevin Meyer, a Republican, was lieutenant governor throughout Dunleavy’s first time period however didn’t run this 12 months. Dahlstrom, a former state lawmaker, oversaw the state corrections system throughout most of Dunleavy’s first time period, earlier than turning into his working mate earlier this 12 months.

There was a lot much less drama round Monday’s swearing in than there was in 2018, when Dunleavy first took workplace. 4 years in the past, he was sworn into workplace in a faculty gymnasium within the western metropolis of Kotzebue after poor climate pressured a change in plans the morning of the ceremony; he had deliberate to be sworn in within the tiny neighborhood of Noorvik, the place his spouse, Rose, is from. He went to Noorvik later that day for a celebration.

He additionally took workplace in 2018 days after a magnitude 7.1 earthquake rocked Anchorage and components of south-central Alaska.

“There’s been some moments the previous 4 years that I’m positive that some folks have been saying to themselves, ‘What’s subsequent? Locusts, volcanoes?’” Dunleavy stated, including later: “Together with your assist over the previous 4 years, we’ve gotten by way of some troublesome instances.”

His first time period in workplace was at instances tumultuous, marked early on by tensions with lawmakers and a recall effort fueled by public anger over vetoes and proposed funds cuts. Supporters of the recall effort deserted their push final 12 months, with the gubernatorial election looming.

Dunleavy additionally presided over the state’s COVID-19 pandemic response.

Throughout his speech Monday, he didn’t delve into specifics about his agenda for his new time period however sounded a constructive tone.

“I’m going to work with everyone and anyone. I’ll be working throughout the aisle with people,” Dunleavy stated.

He is because of ship a proposed funds by mid-month. The subsequent legislative session begins in January.

One of many large unresolved points that may face lawmakers can be how one can tackle the yearly dividend paid to residents from Alaska’s oil-wealth fund, the Alaska Everlasting Fund. A longstanding components for dividends was final utilized in 2015, and policymakers haven’t settled on a brand new one, as a substitute setting the quantity every year. That strategy has contributed to at-times drawn-out or divisive classes.

Residents this 12 months obtained funds of $3,284, a mix of a dividend and one-time vitality reduction fee that lawmakers authorized when oil costs have been within the $115-per-barrel vary. North Slope oil costs extra just lately have been beneath $90 a barrel.

Beneath the state structure, a governor’s time period begins at midday on the primary Monday in December after the election. Jeff Turner, a Dunleavy spokesperson, stated scheduling points prevented Monday’s ceremony from starting at midday; it began as a substitute at 1 p.m. Turner stated the oaths of workplace have been signed round 11:30 a.m.

There was a ceremonial signing of oaths through the occasion, he stated.