The Alaskan Independence Party said Saturday afternoon that Don Wright remains its candidate for governor, seemingly ruling out rumors that it might nominate Bill Walker, who was defeated in the Republican primary.
Party officials say they determined that Wright remained the AIP's gubernatorial pick after a five-hour meeting Friday night. Wright says he is not withdrawing from the race, and will run on the AIP ticket.
"(By) no stretch of the imagination do we want him to go anywhere," said AIP Chair Lynette Clark.
The Division of Elections has not received paperwork from the AIP requesting a change in its candidate, which would have to be submitted by Sept. 15.
Reached for comment Saturday, Walker said that while he hasn't been rejected by the AIP as reported by some media outlets, he isn't an option as long as Wright remains the AIP candidate. Walker planned to speak with Channel 2 in greater detail about the AIP's decision Saturday evening.
Like many Alaskans, Democratic candidate for governor Ethan Berkowitz wonders what's next for Walker after he was defeated by Gov. Sean Parnell in his quest for the Republican nomination. Will Walker stay in the race?
“I don't know whether it helps me or hurts me, but what I do know is it makes it a better race for Alaska, and I think that's really the most important issues,” Berkowitz said.
On Saturday, Walker waited to see if the AIP would pick him to represent the party on the November ticket.
“(We’re) curious to see what happens tonight as well, and whatever the AIP decides is just another -- it’s another option we're going to have to consider as Bill continues to make his decision,” said Taylor Bickford, Walker’s campaign manager.
Walker’s campaign says he had already decided that the AIP's decision wouldn't affect his decision to continue on.
“If they decide they want to offer Bill a spot on the ticket, then that's something he's going to have to decide and I know he'll be very seriously considering it,” Bickford said. “But we're sort of taking it one step at a time, and we'll wait and see what they decide tonight.”
Berkowitz says Walker’s attempts to stay in the race highlights the difference between the three candidates.
“I welcome Bill’s entry into the race,” Berkowitz said. “It really makes it clear we have three candidates now, three different approaches to a gas line. Sean Parnell thinks an all-Alaska line goes through Canada; Bill Walker’s got an all-Alaska line proposal; I've got one. But mine insists Alaskans have a right to own a piece of the pipe.”
The Parnell campaign declined to comment until after a decision is made by the AIP.
Contact Rebecca Palsha at rpalsha@ktuu.com
