<\/a>State Sen. Jesse Kiehl, D-Juneau, explains during a joint Legislative session Tuesday why his previous experience working with Bethany Marcum is why he opposes her nomination to the University of Alaska’s Board of Regents. (Mark Sabbatini \/ Juneau Empire)<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
According to Kiehl, Marcum expressed distress because “children are trapped in Alaska’s education system,” and claimed she was simply a mother advocating for a policy without understanding clearly how the Legislature works. But she had previously worked as an aide for the legislator sponsoring the proposal.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t
“If you cannot trust the people you work with you cannot work with them,” Kiehl said. “The university has policies on academic integrity. We don’t let students dissemble, plagiarize, misrepresent. Mr. President, we cannot, we must not appoint a regent who does.”<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t
Kiehl’s comments set off a debate about whether Marcum was being subject to unfair accusations — not just during the confirmation vote, but during the overall nominating process.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t
“What I cannot do is at this exact moment, when I’m about to vote, I can’t talk with the person whose character is under assault,” said Rep. David Eastman, a Wasilla Republican who ultimately voted in favor of Marcum. “I can’t ask for more perspective because the committee process is already complete.”<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t
Marcum has an extensive Alaska policy background, including education issues, and political stances that might be contrary to those most popular within the university system shouldn’t be disqualifying, said House Majority Leader Dan Saddler, an Eagle River Republican.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t
“I watched her confirmation hearing in the House Education Committee, and I saw her being as tremendously respectful of the process and of the individuals involved in that process even as they assailed her — sometimes fairly, but sometimes I believe unfairly — and she always maintained respect and decorum.”<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t
Also, being a university regent who simply believes more funding can resolve issues isn’t practical or reflective of the state’s fiscal realities, Saddler said.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t
“I think that good management does not always mean more, more degrees, more staff more money,” he said. “In the horticultural world sometimes if you want a stronger tree you have to cut back the branches occasionally so they grow stronger in the future. That may be what she’s has been trying to do.”<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t
<\/a><\/div>\n\t\t\t\tJuneau Democratic Reps. Sara Hannan and Andi Story were among those who voted against Marcum’s nomination. Story, a member of the House Education Committee who questioned Marcum’s desire to support education during a confirmation hearing, said during floor debate the nominee seems unwilling to be open-minded to different viewpoints.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t
“I’ve had the experience of talking about research, our own University of Alaska (Institute of Social and Economic Research), and it being dismissed,” Story said. “And that gives me great pause because we must must look at all the information before us. And sometimes we have to adjust our thinking and unlearn what we have learned.”<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t
Some of the opposition to Marcum was also based on her role as a member of the state redistricting board, which a judge ruled last year attempted illegal gerrymandering in secret that violated open meetings laws. Rep. Andrew Gray, an Anchorage Democrat, said Marcum wasn’t just one of the votes in favor of such action — she was its driving force.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t
“This nominee drove what has been a partisan gerrymander that would have disenfranchised the voters of east Anchorage and she did it twice,” he said. “I do not believe we can trust somebody who went against the Alaska Constitution twice as ruled by the Alaska Supreme Court.”<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t
Marcum, who was reportedly out of state during the joint session, told the conservative news site Must Read Alaska<\/a> the vote went about as she expected.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t Dunleavy, whose office sent out a news release immediately after all five of his department commissioners were confirmed, did not respond to questions about Marcum’s rejection. Jeff Turner, a spokesperson for the governor, also declined to respond to questions about a new nominee, including the possibility of a recess appointment, aside from stating “the governor’s office will make an announcement when a new appointee to the board of regents is made.”<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t Marcum had to resign from the redistricting board when she was nominated as a regent and the position has been open ever since. The redistricting board is scheduled to meet Monday when one of the agenda items<\/a> is “new member swearing in, pending appointment.” Dunleavy’s office did not respond to a question about whether he is considering reappointing Marcum to the board.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t All other nominees confirmed<\/strong><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t Several other nominees received a significant number of opposing votes, but only a few faced especially narrow votes.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t Besides Marcum, the most opposition was to Brett Huber Sr.’s nomination to the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission. Huber, a political operative who successfully managed Dunleavy’s 2018 campaign and was targeted by two watchdog groups for alleged improprieties during the governor’s 2022 reelection campaign, was confirmed by a 34-26 vote after Hannan raised the official objection to his confirmation.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t