ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — A report from a state agency says Anchorage Mayor Dan Sullivan broke state law when he issued a campaign-related press release through his city spokeswoman last month.
The Anchorage Daily News reports that a staff member with the Alaska Public Offices Commission is recommending a fine of $187.50.
Sullivan is a Republican candidate for lieutenant governor. His official mayoral spokeswoman issued an apologetic statement for comments he made at a candidate forum equated laws requiring union membership and payment of union dues to slavery.
According to the agency’s report, Sullivan said the news release did not advance his campaign and that it was responding to inquiries he had received from reporters in his official capacity.
But the agency noted that the release was “not non-partisan information.” It said the statement identified the mayor as a candidate for lieutenant governor, restated his position on labor laws and aligned him with the Republican Party.
