Calista Regional Native Corporation has endorsed Republican Mike Dunleavy’s bid for governor, and his support for the proposed Donlin gold mine was key to earning the corporation’s backing.
The Calista Public Advocacy and Engagement Committee had initially endorsed Independent Gov. Bill Walker for re-election. On Friday, Gov. Walker announced that he was dropping out of the competition to prevent a three-way race and to keep Republican Mike Dunleavy from power. Walker fears that Dunleavy will overturn many of Walker’s key projects, including eliminating Medicaid expansion, defunding the Alaska LNG pipeline, and undoing the state’s fiscal plan. Walker told the Alaska Federation of Natives Convention that he was endorsing Democrat Mark Begich for governor because “Alaskans deserve a choice other than Mike Dunleavy.”
The next day, the Calista committee switched its endorsement to Dunleavy. The committee largely based its decision on the candidate’s opposition to Ballot Measure 1 and his support for developing the proposed Donlin gold mine. Calista owns the subsurface rights to the Donlin mine site and has a vested interest in its development. Meanwhile, Donlin Gold is one of the main funders opposing Ballot Measure 1, which could complicate the mine’s permitting process.
The other political candidates endorsed by the Calista Committee also support developing the proposed Donlin gold mine and oppose Ballot Measure 1. Those endorsed candidates are: Republican Don Young for U.S. House of Representatives, Democrat Lyman Hoffman for Alaska District S, Republican Darren Deacon for Alaska House District 38, and Democrat Neal Foster for Alaska House District 39.
The members of the Calista Public Advocacy and Engagement Committee are Dora C. Moore, Fred Phillip, Robert Beans, Willie Kasayulie, Earl Samuelson, Johnny Evan, Andrew Guy, and Thom Leonard.
