The Fairbanks North Star Borough Assembly voted 5-4 on May 16, 2025, to impose a civil fine of $3 and an official censure on former assembly member Savannah Fletcher after the Assembly Board of Ethics found she violated FNSBC 6.12.0102 on three occasions for radio advertisements aired in 2023.

The ethics board unanimously adopted findings of fact and conclusions of law that the radio spots constituted three violations, the board’s chair, Matt Cooper, told the assembly. “The board did find that the respondents violated the code on the 3 occasions set forth in the conclusions,” Cooper said during his staff report.

The matter prompted prolonged debate about conflicts of interest after several assembly members disclosed relationships or prior involvement with the radio ads and signaled they could not be impartial. Borough attorney Brent Erickson advised the assembly that the rule of necessity could require participation by members who had declared conflicts if recusals would leave the assembly unable to act. “If disqualification . . . would prevent the body from acting, then no one is disqualified and all members are required to participate despite their conflicts,” Erickson said.

Complainant Rita Trometer urged a stronger penalty, telling the assembly, “When a lawyer violates the rule of law or the ethics code, there must be consequences.” Fletcher, who addressed the assembly with her attorney present, said she did not intend to violate the code and asked for parity with a prior matter, recommending a $1 fine per violation. “I never intended to violate any ethics code,” she said.

During debate, Assemblymember Wilson offered an amendment to add an official censure to a motion to impose the $3 fine. The amendment was seconded and, after additional amendments and discussion about precedent, passed. On the final roll call the assembly recorded five votes in favor — Ms. Haynie, Mr. Roderman, Mr. Guttenberg, Ms. Rhys Ramos and Ms. Wilson — and four opposed — Mr. Leginas, Ms. Kelly, Mr. Crass and Ms. O’Neil.

Borough legal staff reminded the assembly of the statutory penalty options under borough code: public censure, a fine up to $1,000 per violation (with an aggregate civil penalty cap noted in the code), or removal from office where applicable. Erickson and the clerk noted removal from office was not available because the respondent no longer held the seat. The board of ethics had recommended no penalty but asked the assembly to consider code revisions to address minor or technical violations.

The assembly recorded the outcome and the clerk advised the parties that an appeal of the findings and the penalty may be taken to the Alaska Superior Court under the Alaska Rules of Appellate Procedure within 30 days. The meeting adjourned at 7:44 p.m.

Key factual points: the Board of Ethics hearing occurred Feb. 18, 2025; the board adopted the findings March 10, 2025; the disputed radio spots ran in 2023 and the borough clerk’s email noted to the respondent that a spot had "given pause" on June 16, 2023; the board found three separate violations under FNSBC 6.12.0102 and the assembly imposed a $3 civil penalty plus a censure.