Anchorage progressives get desperate

In what can only be described as a transparent attempt to salvage a crumbling campaign to elect the most liberal mayor in the history of Anchorage, the local assembly voted just two weeks out from the runoff election to repeal the emergency order that has locked down Anchorage for more than a year.

On May 11, Anchorage voters will decide if the city is to continue down the road to self-destruction or turn back the West Coast advancement of urban destruction by liberal politicians. The choice could not be more stark. Forrest Dunbar is the most liberal candidate ever to advance to the final ballot for mayor. He is opposed by a fresh new face in politics, Dave Bronson, a more conservative candidate who has a clear plan for the economic recovery of Anchorage and establishing budget discipline for the local government.

The Anchorage mayor’s race has been continuous. Dunbar is the sweetheart of the local unions and progressive organizations. He has been heavily funded by out-of-state organizations that see Anchorage ripe for becoming the new progressive star of the north, in the image of such failed cities as Portland and Seattle. Bronson, on the other hand, stands for rebuilding the private sector, empowering individuals to make responsible decisions in their lives, confronting violent crime in Anchorage, and making Anchorage once again a vibrant center of economic activity for the state. Bronson’s message is resonating with a community tired of the yearlong restrictions, useless mask mandates and constant government intrusion into every aspect of life.

Knowing that a significant majority of Anchorage voters are sick and tired of the unnecessary local COVID-19 mandates, the liberal Anchorage Assembly blatantly executed a political bait-and-switch designed to mislead voters into thinking Forrest Dunbar was opposed to the emergency mandates that he has consistently championed for the past year. It was such a childish and transparent trick. The Assembly has had ample opportunity to roll back the draconian mandates for months, but instead they waited until the last minute to make it a political “win” for Dunbar. So here’s how I believe they intend the game to play out.

On April 27, the Anchorage Assembly voted to repeal all requirements of Emergency Order 20, or EO-20, except for the wearing of masks. Restaurants and bars can go back to full capacity. Public gathering with food and beverage have no limits. All restrictions on organized sports and fitness are repealed. Basically, it’s back to normal, with masks. After voting to support every emergency order this past year, including the extension vote just a few weeks ago, Forrest Dunbar suddenly supported repealing EO-20. The repeal is effective May 3. Everybody celebrates and Dunbar makes a big deal in his campaign that he has voted to repeal the extremely unpopular emergency order.

This is nothing but political theater. Two weeks before the mayoral run-off, when it became clear Dunbar was falling behind Bronson, Dunbar supported repealing EO-20. But will that vote actually result in the repeal? Acting Mayor Austin Quinn-Davidson signed the latest EO version just two weeks ago, proclaiming that Anchorage was not yet near the herd immunity threshold necessary to remove the restrictions.

This charade will play out in one of two ways. Acting Mayor Quinn-Davidson has seven days from passage in which she may veto the repeal action, which would keep EO-20 in place. If vetoed, the action goes back to the Assembly for override consideration. The Assembly has up to 21 days to consider a veto override from the time they receive a mayor’s veto. In that case, the Assembly doesn’t have to take any action until after the mayoral runoff, at which time the Assembly simply will not override the veto, thereby causing EO-20 to remain in effect. That is exactly what I believe Dunbar is expecting.

If the Acting Mayor does not veto the resolution by May 3, it goes into effect. The Assembly can take action on May 12 to reinstate EO-20 by a simple majority vote. Whether Dunbar or Bronson wins, you can bet this scenario is actively being considered.

So, voters must not be fooled by the bogus vote to repeal EO-20. That vote was a set-up, orchestrated by progressives to make Forrest Dunbar appear to be supporting the repeal of the repressive emergency order that he has always supported.

When a magician performs a sleight-of-hand trick, we are easily fooled, because we are concentrating on the distraction while the real trick is being played out of view. So it is with the crafty game played by the Assembly to make it appear Forrest Dunbar supports the re-opening of Anchorage, while never really intending to re-open Anchorage.

The mystical illusion being puffed by the liberals should never convince anybody that Forrest Dunbar is ready to relinquish control over our lives. It’s all been a sham, which shows just how low progressive politics has been played to mislead voters into supporting Dunbar and installing the most liberal government in the history of this great municipality.

Craig Campbell is a a conservative community activist and retired president and CEO of Alaska Aerospace Corp., as well as a former lieutenant governor of Alaska. He also formerly served as the adjutant general of the Alaska National Guard and was elected to multiple terms on the Anchorage Assembly.

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