Alaska News

APOC won't vote to fast-track complaint against state Sen. Hollis French

The Alaska Public Offices Commission refused to fast-track a complaint against Democrat incumbent Sen. Hollis French submitted by Republican activist Bernadette Wilson. The complaint will now be taken up by the commission well after the election.

Less than two weeks before Election Day, Wilson filed the urgent complaint with APOC, the state agency that monitors financial and disclosure compliance of groups and candidates during elections. She alleged she'd uncovered proof that French's campaign and an independent election group, Putting Alaskans First, have been working together in violation of the state's campaign laws.

French is a member of the state's bipartisan coalition who's battling to keep his seat against well-funded Republican challenger Bob Bell.

Wilson asked that until the issue gets resolved, all ads placed by French and the Putting Alaskans First committee be "pulled immediately." She said that APOC has the power to do so if it sees fit.

The commission, however, voted unanimously not to hear the complaint before the election.

Read the full story about the complaint 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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