Alaska News

Recall application against Ketchikan Rep. Johansen rejected

According to Ketchikan's KRBD-FM, Alaska Division of Elections director Gail Fenumiai said on Monday denied an application filed in August to recall state Rep. Kyle Johansen on the basis that it presented insufficient legal grounds to certify a recall.

Recall sponsors collected 60 more signatures than was required to make the application.

The recall effort was initiated by anger over Johansen abandoning a legislative leadership position in protest after, in KRBD's paraphrase, a "close, personal friend" of his, Anchorage state Rep. Charisse Millett, was passed over during the committee selection process.

Pundits started calling Johansen and Millett "the Love Caucus" because of a rumored, and subsequently denied, romantic relationship between the two.

Although the recall application was denied, the decision can be appealed by sponsors, who will soon meet to discuss the way forward.

Rep. Johansen declined to comment for the report, but in a written statement said he was thankful for the application's denial and acknowledged he has work to do in his district.

Listen to much more, here.

Craig Medred

Craig Medred is a former writer for the Anchorage Daily News, Alaska Dispatch and Alaska Dispatch News. He left the ADN in 2015.

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