Alaska Republican Party Application Process to Fill Alaska Legislature Senate Seat M Vacancy, and for Appointment Consideration
Senator Chris Birch, (R) State Senate Seat M passed away unexpectedly on August 7. The Alaska Republican Party sincerely mourns the loss of a fine public servant.
Governor Michael J Dunleavy is required to fill the vacancy in State Senate Seat M on, or before, September 7, 2019. Pursuant to Alaska Republican Party Rules, Chairman Glenn Clary is requesting Republican residents of District 25 and District 26, who are interested in being considered for the State Senate Seat M appointment by the Governor, to submit an Application for consideration before 5:00 pm on Sunday, August 18, 2019. The interview and selection process by legislative district committees 25 and 26 will take place at the Alaska Republican Party Headquarters (1000 O’Malley Road, Suite 108) on Wednesday, August 21, 2019, at 7PM ADT. The meeting is not open to the public.
The following Alaska Statutes apply to this process:
Sec. 15.40.320. Condition and time for filling vacancy by appointment. When a vacancy occurs in the state legislature, the governor, within 30 days, shall appoint a qualified person to fill the vacancy. However, if the remainder of the term of the predecessor in office will expire or if a vacancy in the state senate will be filled by a special election before the legislature will next meet, convene, or reconvene, the governor may not fill the vacancy.
Sec. 15.40.330. Qualification and confirmation of appointee.
(a) The appointee shall meet the qualifications of a member of the legislature as prescribed in art. II, sec. 2, Constitution of the State of Alaska, shall be a member of the same political party as that which nominated the predecessor in office, and shall be subject to confirmation by a majority of the members of the legislature who are members of the same political party which nominated the predecessor in office and of the same house as was the predecessor in office. If the predecessor in office was not nominated by a political party or if no other member of the predecessor’s political party is a member of the predecessor’s house of the legislature, the governor may appoint any qualified person. If the appointee is not a member of a political party, the appointment is not subject to confirmation. If the appointee is a member of a political party, the appointment is subject to confirmation as provided by this section for the confirmation of political party appointees.
(b) A member of a political party is a person who supports the political program of a party. The filing for office of a candidate as an independent or no-party candidate does not preclude a candidate from being a member of a political party. Recognition of an independent or no-party candidate as a member of a party caucus of members of the legislature at the legislative session following the election of the independent or no-party candidate is recognition of that person’s party membership at the time filings were made by party candidates for the preceding general election.
Sec. 15.40.380. Conditions for part-term senate appointment and special election. If the vacancy is for an unexpired senate term of more than two years and five full calendar months, the governor shall call a special election by proclamation and the appointment shall expire on the date the state senate first convenes or reconvenes following the certification of the results of the special election by the director.
Sec. 15.40.390. Date of special election. The special election to fill a vacancy in the state senate shall be held on the date of the first general election held more than three full calendar months after the senate vacancy occurs.
Sec. 15.40.410. Term of elected senator. At the special election a state senator shall be elected to fill the remainder of the unexpired term and shall take office on the date the state senate first convenes or reconvenes following the certification of the results of the special election by the director.
Other Alaska Statutes and laws may apply to the special election. Applicants are encouraged to familiarize themselves with all statutory and legal requirements.
All applicants will submit completed State of Alaska forms with respect to filing for office and financial disclosure, as well as a cover letter and CV, electronically to admin@alaskagop.net, no later than Sunday, August 18, 2019, 5PM ADT. All applications submitted after that time will be disregarded.
Clarification on required forms:
Here are the required forms/documents for the ARP application process for the Senate Seat M vacancy. All applicants should email copies of these documents to admin@alaskagop.net.
1. Cover Letter
2. CV/Resume
3. State of Alaska Declaration of Candidacy (no fee required at this stage)
4. State of Alaska Public Officials Financial Disclosure
5. State of Alaska Candidate Registration Form
6. State of Alaska Letter of Intent
