JUNEAU, Alaska (KTUU) – The Legislature in a joint session Tuesday approved the governor's appointees to positions such as lieutenant governor, the Barbers and Cosmetologists Commission, and the Fisheries Commission.
Additionally, Bob Griffin's five-year term on the State Board of Education ended with a vote of 21-39.
Sen. Loki Tobin of Anchorage, chairman of the Senate Education Committee, told lawmakers in a joint session that Griffin last week supported Dunleavy's veto of the education bill earlier this session. He said he later told lawmakers he had lobbied them not to override the veto.
She also questioned Mr. Griffin's support for funding for correspondence schools, which a judge ruled unconstitutional.
“I have deep personal concerns. Over the past five years. I have heard Mr. Griffin misrepresent information on the state board. He has not provided an accurate assessment of student data. He calls himself a data walker, so this concerns me.
But Rep. Kevin McCabe (R-Big Lake) felt like opponents were politicizing Griffin's appointment.
“We have to have a balanced board. Do we want every board to say only what it wants to say? Now, what happens if we change it? Congress changes, and suddenly the board is against it? What happens then? Are we going to turn everything around? I think it's important to have a wide range of opinions, and I think Mr. Griffin will bring one of those opinions to the board,” McCabe said.
Since Mr. Griffin was not appointed, Governor Dunleavy can appoint someone to fill the seat until the Legislature approves that person at its next regular meeting.
In a near-unanimous vote, Maj. Gen. Torrance Sachs was approved as the successor to Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom, who is running for Congress against U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola, but the state Board of Education appointee An even more difficult road awaited him.
After a close vote, Barbara Tyndall was confirmed to the State Board of Education. Opponents of her appointment pointed out that most of her experience was in religious schools rather than public schools.
Supporters didn't see that as a problem.
The governor congratulated those appointed today but did not comment on Mr. Griffin.
Copyright 2024 KTUU. All rights reserved.