Recently, newspaper articles have reported about the sole-source contract negotiated by Rep. Mike Hawker to upgrade the Anchorage Legislative Information Office. These reports drew much public criticism. Some say Hawker's deal doesn't pass the smell test. Thus, Taj MaHawker Gate.
The smell test is a common term used in some circles to describe an action that is not necessarily illegal, but might be embarrassing if all the facts were out in the open.
Politicians are usually very sensitive to, and distance themselves from, anything that may not pass the smell test. This contract is considered by many, including me, to be a sweet deal -- a very, very, very sweet deal. Pfeffer Development is the sole-source recipient of this contract negotiated with Rep. Hawker on behalf of the state, under the oversight and authority of the House Legislative Council.
If I think an official action emits a foul smell, I first look at campaign contributions as one indicator for something amiss. I did that in this case and found:
Pfeffer Development and a few of its employees were quite generous with campaign contributions to state lawmakers during the years 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014. Skeptics, including myself, might consider this trend a fishing expedition. In this time period, of 60 current legislative members, only 19 did not receive or accept contributions -- 18 representatives and one senator (Reps. Adam Wool, Andrew Josephson, Benjamin Nageak, Bob Lynn, Dan Saddler, Daniel Ortiz, David Talerico, Geran Tarr, Jim Colver, Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins, Les Gara, Liz Vazquez, Lori Reinbold, Matt Claman, Paul Seaton, Sam Kito III, Scott Kawasaki, Wes Keller and Sen. Jack Coghill).
Contributions range from very low to almost $3,000 in sum, and generally run down party lines. Of course, the majority reaped the most benefit from Pfeffer's generosity in these years.
I decided to search for only those contributions that exceeded $1,000 in total from the same time period and include current lawmakers from the 29th Legislature. This group includes: Anna MacKinnon, Bob Herron, Gabrielle LeDoux, Mike Chenault, Craig Johnson, Kevin Meyer, Kurt Olson, Lesil McGuire, Lyman Hoffman, Mia Costello, Mike Hawker and Shelley Hughes. Top recipients are: (1st) House Speaker Chenault, (2nd) Rep. Hughes and (3rd) Senate President Meyer.
Then I looked at lawmakers who have received more than $1,000 in Pfeffer campaign contributions and who sat on the powerful House Legislative Council during the first session of the 28th Legislature (2013). There are five in this subset: Chenault, Hawker (committee chair), Meyer, Johnson and McGuire. In this dual category, the top recipients are: (1st) House Speaker Chenault, (2nd) Sen. Meyer and (3rd) Rep. Mike Hawker, chair of the House Legislative Council.
It is worth noting that only two of the 14 current committee members on the House Legislative Council show no Pfeffer contributions: Sen. Coghill and Rep. Kito.
Do you smell a smell? Or, do you consider it legislative business as usual? It is subjective. You be the judge.
I think it is business as usual and that's what stinks. Election 2016 can't get here quick enough for me.
Tara Jollie is the former director of the Alaska Department of Commerce, Division of Community and Regional Affairs. After working 20 years for state government, she is now retired and blogs on rural affairs under the nickname "LeadDog" at leaddogalaska.net, where a version of this commentary first appeared.
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