Alaska gubernatorial candidate Bill Walker welcomed a court ruling today confirming the validity of the Walker/Byron Mallott unity ticket.  Anchorage Superior Court Judge John Suddock’s decision upholds the actions of the lieutenant governor, who issued emergency regulations approving the merger of the two campaigns.

“Elections should be decided at the ballot boxes, not the courtrooms,” Walker said.  “We were careful to properly combine our campaigns, and have always been confident we moved correctly,” Walker said.  “We’re pleased the court agreed with us.”

The combined Walker/Mallott campaign is the fifth instance of a non-party Alaska gubernatorial candidate choosing a running mate, and the fourth time such an action was allowed on the authority of emergency regulations promulgated by Alaska’s lieutenant governor and the Alaska Division of Elections (Division).

“Clearly, the Division acted lawfully in placing the unity ticket on the ballot,” Walker/Mallott attorney Scott Kendall said. “Our position from the outset has been that this lawsuit is without merit.  This is nothing more than a desperation tactic, made in response to Alaskan voters who are electrified by the Walker/Mallott ticket.  Although we expected this outcome, we are grateful to Judge Suddock for rendering a wise, prompt and correct decision.”

Ruling from the bench immediately after oral arguments, Judge Suddock cited several factors in rendering his quick decision, including:

• the emergency regulation is valid;
• plaintiff’s attempt to treat party and no-party candidates differently is, in his words, “irrational”;
• the Division repeated a long-standing practice, acting on more than 30 years of precedent;
• multiple Attorneys’ General opinions over the years uphold the Division’s authority to act in such instances; and
• the past fifteen Alaska State Legislatures have chosen not to change or amend the lieutenant governor’s and the Division’s authority to issue emergency regulations.

Judge Suddock praised the work of the Division as “admirable” and said it acted with “integrity.”  He was highly complimentary to the two Alaska Assistant Attorneys General for the quality of their presentations.

“Plain and simple, this lawsuit was filed to try to distract voters in an attempt to stem the strong upward momentum of our campaign,” Walker said.  “Sean Parnell has failed to lead Alaska and has spent our state into an unsustainable $7 million per day deficit. He knows his record of big spending and failed leadership will cost him on November 4th.”

  Alaska, court decision, elections, mallott, parnell, walker