FAIRBANKS - Alaska Lt. Gov. Byron Mallott resigned abruptly Tuesday after acknowledging he had made "inappropriate comments" to a woman. His resignation adds uncertainty to an already complicated re-election bid for Gov. Bill Walker.
Mallott made "inappropriate comments that do not reflect the sterling level of behavior required in his role as lieutenant governor," Walker said in a statement. "Byron has taken full responsibility for his actions and has resigned. As leaders, we must hold ourselves to the highest standards of conduct."
In his resignation letter, Mallott said his decision was "compelled by inappropriate comments I made that placed a person whom I respect and revere in a position of vulnerability. I take full responsibility for this action and apologize to, and seek healing for, the person I hurt. I also seek healing for my family and for my staff, my friends and all those who have placed their faith in me and have been let down by my behavior."
Mallott said his actions compromised Walker's ability to govern.
The nature of the comments were not immediately known, but Walker spokesman Austin Baird told The Associated Press the governor described them as an "inappropriate overture to a woman." He said the woman did not wish to be publicly identified.
Valerie Nurr'araaluk Davidson, commissioner of the Department of Health and Social Services, was sworn in as lieutenant governor during a private ceremony in Walker's office. Jay Butler was appointed commissioner of the Department of Health and Social Services to replace Davidson.
"Alaskans deserve the highest standards of conduct by their elected officials," Davidson said in a statement. "While I am deeply saddened by the resignation of Lt. Gov. Byron Mallott, I am profoundly disappointed by his conduct. Respect for women, and the dignity of all Alaskans, is our responsibility."
Mallott's resignation came three weeks before the Nov. 6 election in which he and Walker were seeking a second term as a team. In what is generally billed as a three-way race for the office among heavyweights, Walker, an independent, is running against Democrat Mark Begich and Republican Mike Dunleavy. Libertarian Billy Toien also is running.
Mallott and Walker have been close, forming a self-proclaimed "unity ticket" not long after the 2014 primary. Mallott had won the Democratic primary for governor and was to be paired with state Sen. Hollis French of Anchorage, who won the Democratic primary for lieutenant governor. The two original lieutenant governor candidates — French and Fleener — agreed to drop out to make way for the Walker-Mallott ticket.
Walker and Mallott went on to defeat then-Gov. Sean Parnell, a Republican who ascended to the governor's mansion in 2009 when Sarah Palin quit before her term was completed. Parnell then won election on his own in 2010.
Mallott is a Tlingit who was born in in Yakutat and once served as mayor there before going to work for then-Gov. Bill Egan as an aide on local government issues. He also briefly served as mayor of Juneau and is a former executive director of the Alaska Permanent Fund Corp. His resume also includes time as president of the Alaska Federation of Natives and as chairman of Sealaska Corp. Until recently, he served on Sealaska's board of directors.
Walker said the resignation, only three weeks before the gubernatorial election, affects the campaign.
"Though he cannot remove his name from the ballot, he will not accept the position of lieutenant governor if elected," Walker said in a statement. "Val Davidson will be sworn in as lieutenant governor and will also assume this role on the campaign. We hold everyone on our team to a high standard in all of their words and actions. This campaign and the stakes of this election are greater than any one person."
According to the Alaska Division of Elections, a vote for a gubernatorial candidate is automatically considered to be a vote for the paired lieutenant governor candidate.
"Accordingly, if Governor Walker is re-elected, Byron Mallott will technically be elected along with him," according to the statement. However, given Mallott’s resignation, "Walker would be able to appoint a lieutenant governor successor consistent with state statute."
Walker campaign manager John-Henry Heckendorn said the campaign has been in conversations with Begich's campaign for several days about a "path forward for Alaska." He declined to go into details, but he said the conversations were prompted by concerns about Dunleavy and the dynamics of a three-way race. The talks so far have been "inconclusive" but will continue, Heckendorn said.
In a statement, Dunleavy said, "As we, like all Alaskans, await details surrounding the resignation of the lieutenant governor, our campaign remains focused on restoring trust in state government.
“We need safe neighborhoods, a healthy economy and full permanent fund dividends. This campaign has always been about the people of Alaska, not politicians," he said.
Rep. Adam Wool, D-Fairbanks, said he learned of the resignation via text message Tuesday afternoon. Wool is unsure what Mallott's resignation means for the governor's race.
"The race was a little uncertain to begin with. … I have no idea what's going on in the back room," he said.
Wool said he has known Davidson since they both attended the University of Alaska Fairbanks. "I think she's a very upstanding, very hard-working, very confident person," he said.
Rep. Dave Talerico, Republican who represents a sprawling eastern Interior House district that includes a part of the Fairbanks North Star Borough and the Denali area, said he was jolted by the resignation but that more information is necesary before understanding the full ramifications.
Rep. Steve Thompson, R-Fairbanks, said he was "totally shocked" by the resignation, which he learned about through Walker's news release.
Thompson suspects the resignation will be a detriment to Walker in the upcoming election. The big question for Thompson will be the status of the election, as the lieutenant governor oversees the Alaska Division of Elections.
Alaska Senate Democratic leader Sen. Berta Gardner of Anchorage said she was disappointed to hear of the incident. "As elected public officials, we must maintain public trust and uphold integrity. I send my condolences to the victim of this event and the family members of Lt. Gov. Mallott who are impacted."
Staff writer Robin Wood and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
