Alaska Attorney General Resigns. Hmm.
Alaska Attorney General John Burns has submitted his resignation which has been accepted today by Governor Sean “Captain Zero” Parnell.
“It is with reluctance that I accept General Burns’ resignation,” Parnell said. “General Burns is a capable leader and a true public servant dedicated to the people of Alaska. I appreciate his efforts over the past year at the Department of Law where he has led with dedication, professionalism, integrity and a commitment to the best interests of Alaska. I wish him all the best in his future endeavors.”
But why? What reason could the Attorney General possibly have to resign after being in the job less than a year?
Could it be because he’s tired of being on the losing end of lawsuits like the recent one regarding endangered beluga whales? Could it be because the Parnell administration is just a bit too dysfunctional for his taste? Did a better offer come along? Was Parnell actually not that “reluctant” to see him go? Will there be some breaking news in forthcoming days that may shed light? Or might it just be… that the man simply wants to spend more time with his family?
In a letter to Governor Parnell, Burns stated: “My resignation is based solely on personal reasons. Although I have come to realize that it is possible to live out of a suitcase, doing so is neither fair to family nor particularly conducive to one’s health. Family and balance in one’s life should always be one’s first priority and everything else secondary.”
Any of you who guessed the latter answer, give yourself a gold star. Extra credit goes to Mr. Burns for adding “balance” as a factor. He must be a very centered and grounded person.
Burns has served as Alaska’s attorney general only since December 2010. He’ll be fleeing on January 2, and adding his name to the list of ex-half Attorney Generals of the last five years – Talis Colberg, Wayne Anthony Ross, and Daniel Sullivan.
Mr. Burns… we hardly knew ye.
NEXT!!!
Well, here in NY, we do manage to hang on to our AGs. Ours is Eric Schneiderman (I’m proud to say the bf & I attended fundraisers to help get him elected), and he and Beau Biden of Delaware are investigating the bankers who stole our country’s future, who made off with 20% of the American economy and crashed the world. They and a few other AGs (Conway in KY, etc.) refused to give the banks immunity in order to get a settlement. What’s significant is that so many American corporations are headquartered in NY and/or incorporated in Delaware. Will keep you apprised.
Alaska, I hope your next AG looks out for the interests of Alaskans. Oil, gas, and coal companies have had their way with you for too long.
Did he ever think of moving to Juneau? I know it’s a radical idea but in the not too distant past all cabinet members lived in Juneau.
What makes me sad is that I knew two of our previous AGs in past years, and they were both outstanding at their jobs.
There was more in the letter of resignation. My comment was censored. He actually said some meaningful things that suggest it was more than just family stress. And perhaps he’s got more integrity than he’s getting credit for.
I don’t know. I don’t know the man.
“…Alaska can never hope to achieve any meaningful or lasting solutions to these challenges unless we as Alaskans begin to believe in one another …”
“Lasting progress and success can come only through statesmanship (not brinksmanship).”
Let’s give Burns the benefit of the doubt. I’d guess that the issue was simple. Burns probably got tired of not being able to get an appointment to see Parnell. The problem is that the Attorney General represents the people of Alaska, not the Governor – something Talis Colberg never did figure out. Parnell has never struck me as a guy overly concerned with interests of the people of Alaska except when those interests coincide with his idea of how the state should work. Assuming WC is correct and Mr. Burns did honestly care about the rule of law and his clients’ interests, this would necessarily mean that he placed those principles above the political interests of Mr. Parnell. This would make Burns sort of an “odd man out” in Parnell’s team. I’m guessing that Burns got tired of trying to remind Parnell that there are interests out there that are more important than the approval of the Boards of Directors of the major oil companies.
Another one bites the dust…
Hmmm. Mudflats when the tide is just barely in? The goo beneath the surface? Seems like MordacP is paying close attention to this thread, I happened only to notice the second post because it preceeded mine appearing.
I think 20 years of experience with a man in his professional capacity is perhaps a better guage of him than ‘knew him in college’.
“I think 20 years of experience with a man in his professional capacity is perhaps a better guage of him than ‘knew him in college’.”
I do too.
I don’t blame him – I wouldn’t entwine my fate or career with that bunch, either.
Just curious but isn’t the AG tied up in the delays of the FOIA requests for Palin’s emails?
Considering the fact that the “software” excuse is about as lame as a pig on ice maybe this AG is fed up with stonewalling on behalf of the ex-half-governor’s mini-me?
.
If the email portion of the $PayMe debacle is true, I wish, at some point, he would come clean so the
State could finally clear out that abscess so it could heal. It’s not like we don’t know the truth.
“he has never bailed out on a client who hadn’t bailed on him”
Money and power has always been a strong motivator of John’s. Looks like he got more than he asked for in at least one of those.
I’ve received several emails from former classmates all saying the same thing. No surprise he bailed.
Hmmm, indeed.
“…Although I have come to realize that it is possible to live out of a suitcase, doing so is neither fair to family nor particularly conducive to one’s health.”
Well sure. When one takes a job with a duty station elsewhere, one usually MOVES there with one’s family. When are all these people who accept jobs in Juneau going to realize that the job is IN Juneau?
And he’s a Bristol Bay fisherman, surprise! It’s difficult to manage taking the summer off from a real job, for the commercial salmon season. One has to be pretty non-essential. Like the governor.
The rest of the letter: “Unfortunately one does not often realize the complexities of the issues facing Alaska nor recognize that there are no easy solutions until one is fully immersed …. This past year provided me that immersion as well the realization that Alaska can never hope to achieve any meaningful or lasting solutions to these challenges unless we as Alaskans begin to believe in one another . . . ”
“Lasting progress and success can come only through statesmanship (not brinksmanship).”
Wayne Anthony Ross: “It’s very strange. It’s a desirable job and a person that takes the job knows the responsibilities that are required. Apparently, the people who get the job don’t want it and the people who want the job don’t get it.”
I knew Burns personally in college at UofA Fairbanks.
This is typical of him. When things got rough, he’d find an exit strategy and leave a mess someone else had to clean up.
WC has litigated and negotiated with and against John Burns for more than 20 years. MordacP’s comment is harsh and untrue. To WC’s personal knowledge and experience, he has never bailed out on a client who hadn’t bailed on him. Burns has stayed with clients long past the point WC would have fired them.
Burns has terrific economic judgment, a very sound knowledge of the law and a great attitude. He does have low tolerance for folks who irrationally cling to “the way things have always been done,” but WC regards that as an asset, not a liability.
You can criticize him for taking the job in the first place, but not for deciding that the burden on his wife and daughters was greater than expected and unacceptable.
/WC
The rest of the letter:
“Unfortunately one does not often realize the complexities of the issues facing Alaska nor recognize that there are no easy solutions until one is fully immersed …. This past year provided me that immersion as well the realization that Alaska can never hope to achieve any meaningful or lasting solutions to these challenges unless we as Alaskans begin to believe in one another . . . ”
“Lasting progress and success can come only through statesmanship (not brinksmanship).”
That was quick. Maybe he was tired of being ordered to file frivolous law suits?
.
That was my guess.
Something about balancing what Gov Parnell wants and ethical concerns.
Holy Moley.
We’ve sure burnt through a pile o AGs in the last few years.