Alaska governor marks 1st year in office amid turmoil
by BECKY BOHRER, Associated PressFILE - In this May 29, 2019 file photo, Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks to reporters in his office at the state Capitol in Juneau, Alaska. Dunleavy said he hopes to move past the rancor of his first year in office, amid an unsettled dispute with lawmakers over state spending and threat of a recall effort looming large. The Republican will mark a full year in office Tuesday, Dec. 3. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer, File)Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.FILE - In this March 26, 2019, file photo, protestors unfurl a "Recall Dunleavy" banner as Gov. Mike Dunleavy, upper left, speaks during a roadshow with Americans for Prosperity in 49th State Brewing Company in Anchorage, Alaska. Dunleavy said he hopes to move past the rancor of his first year in office, amid an unsettled dispute with lawmakers over state spending and threat of a recall effort looming large. The Republican will mark a full year in office Tuesday, Dec. 3. (Bill Roth/Anchorage Daily News via AP, File)Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.FILE - In this Aug. 13, 2019 file photo, Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks at a news conference in Anchorage, Alaska. Dunleavy said he hopes to move past the rancor of his first year in office, amid an unsettled dispute with lawmakers over state spending and threat of a recall effort looming large. The Republican will mark a full year in office Tuesday, Dec. 3. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen, File)Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) - Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy says he hopes to move past the rancor of his first year in office, amid an unsettled dispute with lawmakers over state spending and threat of a recall effort.
Whether he can repair strained relationships with legislators and calm the public anger over cuts that fueled the recall push will be telling. Courts will decide whether the recall advances.
Legislative leaders have called interactions with Dunleavy's new chief of staff productive and saw a recent meeting with Dunleavy as a good start.
Dunleavy says the question is what Alaskans are willing to accept to resolve the deficit, such as further cuts, changes to the annual check they get from the state's oil-wealth fund or other revenue measures. His budget proposal is due by mid-December.
