The APOC Hearing Has A Part Deux: The Deliberation
A week ago Friday, I testified at the hearing for my first APOC complaint–Kellen vs. Thomas et al. It seemed to go very well…better than I’d hoped. I wasn’t planning on writing another post about it until there was a decision (I didn’t want to irritate the Commission until after they decided) but I also expected there would be one by now. To my surprise, we are still awaiting the “verdict” from the Commission. This is amazing, as today was the end of their 10 days.
I actually believe that this is a very good sign…they wouldn’t need this amount of time if they were just going to accept the Staff Report. However, something weird happened today. I sent an email late in the afternoon to APOC to make sure they had the correct one to notify me of a decision. Just an hour or so later, I received an email from a friend of mine who is on the APOC Notification List, which I have so far been able to get on. The email read:
ALASKA PUBLIC OFFICES COMMISSION
There will be a special teleconference hearing of the Alaska Public Offices Commission on November 30, 2010. The purpose of the hearing will be DELIBERATION ONLY in the following cases and other business as determined by the Commission
—————————–
Consolidated Cases:
10-19-CD- Kellen v. Rep. Bill Thomas
10-20-CD- Kellen v. Joyce Thomas
10-21-CD- Kellen v. Doug Olerud
10-22-CD- Kellen v. James Studley
10-23-CD-Kellen v. Gregg Richmond
The hearing will begin at 11:15 a.m.
Teleconference number: 1-800-315-6338, Code 4176#1
—————————
APOC Anchorage Office
2221 E. Northern Lights, Room 128
Anchorage, Alaska
—————————–
APOC Juneau Office
240 Main Street, Room 500
Juneau, Alaska
————————–
Questions regarding the hearing may be directed to the Commission’s staff at 907-276-4176.
Any individual with a disability who may need special accommodations in order to attend this hearing should call the number above to ensure access
I DID NOT receive one from APOC nor did they post anything on their website about it. I sent a grumpy but civil email since, after all, my friend did notify me. However, I wanted to be sure they were aware of their error.
*************UPDATE**************
It is now 3:32 am. Less than one hour after I sent that email complaining about not being notified and that there was nothing on the website, something suddenly popped up on the website. (Play music from “Twilight Zone” in the background.)
*********************************
And yes, I’m doing everything in my power to keep from going to “the conspiracy theory place.” I will be watching to see if they stick to “deliberation only” or if the staff tries to stick some testimony in there from the complainants. None of the Thomas Campaign attended the first hearing (not even via teleconference) and that was supposed to be their opportunity to speak.
So, what do YOU think the verdict will be?
For those of you who may not have been following, HERE is the story up to the point of the hearing. That is where you can also find my testimony. I should be picking up the CDs of the first hearing tomorrow so I can let you know how the whole thing went. I wonder if we’ll have a decision by the end of tomorrow’s deliberations?
Here it is the first of the month and I am not seeing any news. I MIGHT not be looking in the right places but have to guess there has been none.
Did they accept more testimony, I wonder.
As a resident of a borough (that has the Pebble Mine located in it) that filed a APOC complaint concerning our local borough assembly election I am disheartened to even THINK that there is less than up front dealings by this group.
I will refrain from saying what I am really thinking and continue to hope this works out to be above reproach!
I would not venture a guess as to what this could mean -except to say that your *conspiracy theory* inclinations are not outrageous. Call it by another name and maybe it won’t sound so over the top. My instincts tell me that APOC is arriving at a conclusion that they know to be dangerous and they’re making an attempt to find a way to subvert their own findings up to this point.
Looks like they are actually taking this seriously, good for them, but even better for you Linda! Brava Linda, great job.
Sigh. it’s sad to learn that APOC is not really an entity to be trusted.
You are someone very special, and I hope your fellow Alaskans appreciate your dedication!
Fellow Alaskans do appreciate you, Linda! Very much!
We do!
Yes indeed! Thank you Linda!!
Don’t hold your hopes too high. The APOC has proven itself over and over again. It’s a toothless tiger.
Go Linda, Go! Thanks for doing this.
I’m at your shoulder today Linda.
Small town politics here are very tough… they are too often too personal and need the eye of neighbors around the state.
Thanks for the update! I sincerely hope the Commission does not accept any comments or testimony from Rep. Thomas or anyone connected or supportive to his campaign. If they didn’t consider the hearing important enough to attend by telephone, then they have already made their opinion known. Does anyone know that Rep. Thomas, as new Co-Chair of the House Finance Committee, holds the proverbial purse strings for APOC? Their funding depends on the actions of this committee – which way will the Commission decide…..indeed.