The governor is tasked with replacing independent Rep. Josiah Patkotak, who was sworn in Tuesday as North Slope Borough mayor.
Rep. Josiah Patkotak, I-Utqiagvik, on the first day of the Alaska legislative sesssion on Jan. 17, 2023. Patkotak, 29, won the mayoral race after serving in the Legislature since 2021. Patkotak is Iñupiaq from Utqiaġvik.
Gov. Mike Dunleavy, a Republican, said Tuesday that he is seeking applicants to fill the seat, and invited any resident of the district to apply by Oct. 31. He will then have 10 days to appoint a lawmaker. The vote revealed deep divisions within the majority, raising questions about whether it could withstand another session. Whomever replaces Patkotak, and their willingness to work with a mostly Republican caucus whose members disagree on the size of the Permanent Fund dividend, education funding and other key issues, could prove a deciding factor in the majority’s longevity.
Saddler said his interpretation of the statute was that the majority is the “political group” with which Patkotak was affiliated. But Saddler said the question is still up for legal interpretation, and it remains unclear if a confirmation vote would be needed. House Minority Leader Calvin Schrage, an Anchorage independent, said he too thought the law was ambiguous.
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