JUNEAU -- State Sen. Johnny Ellis took to the Senate floor Monday morning to recognize the behind-the-scenes work of a former state legislative aide who died last year.
Dee Hubbard became a confidential source to the FBI back in 2003 as it began to investigate influence peddling in the state Legislature. Most people think of the federal corruption investigation in Alaska as a probe of bribery associated with oil taxes, but it began as "Operation Polar Pen" -- a private prison investigation. And Hubbard was a crusader against private prisons.
"She is the person who very quietly with no fanfare remained anonymous throughout the FBI investigation, the Veco scandal, the private prison scandal," said Ellis, an Anchorage Democrat. She explained how the legislative process worked to FBI agents and told them "who's who," Ellis said.
"She was just a person there who was interested in, as she always said, 'cleaning up Alaska politics,'" Ellis said. "She was motivated by the right kinds of factors."
If prosecutors later made mistakes in pursuing cases, "it wasn't because of Dee," Ellis said. She gave impeccable advice, he said.
Hubbard was diagnosed with liver and kidney failure in March and died in August. Her husband, Charlie, and two grown sons are still struggling to cope with her death, Ellis said.
Her contributions may not be fully revealed for years, the senator said.
-- Anchorage Daily News/adn.com
Lawmaker to propose legislation on personnel board changes
JUNEAU -- An Alaska lawmaker plans to file legislation that would change how members of the state personnel board are chosen.
The board looks into ethics complaints against executive branch employees. Governors appoint the members. But Rep. Bob Lynn, R-Anchorage, said that leaves the board open to criticism that it's too much a creature of the governor.
He wants a governor choose from nominees submitted by the chief justice of the state Supreme Court.
He also wants to increase the number of board members from three to five and have the governor ensure the board has at least one member from the two parties that received the most votes in a recent election.
-- The Associated Press
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