Borough ethics board details past conflict rulings, advises on recall-petition participation

Summary

At its March 30 meeting the Ketchikan Gateway Borough Board of Ethics reviewed a series of previously disclosed potential conflicts involving grants, contracts and familial ties, advised that school board members may sign recall petitions only in a personal capacity, and summarized which offices are considered incompatible under borough guidance.

The Ketchikan Gateway Borough Board of Ethics on March 30 reviewed its recent rulings on conflict-of-interest disclosures and offered guidance to elected officials on participation in recall petitions and compatibility of holding multiple offices.

The borough attorney presented a chronology of disclosures dating back to September 2025 involving grants, contracts and familial relationships. The attorney said the mayor ruled there was no conflict of interest for a Sept. 15 opioid-settlement grant to the Ketchikan Wellness Coalition even though an assembly member who later became mayor served on that nonprofit's board. The attorney also recounted October and February grant and contract matters involving an organization identified in the record as "Full Cycle" and said the presiding officer repeatedly ruled those disclosures did not amount to a disqualifying conflict.

The attorney told the board that in one instance, however, an assembly member who is an employee of…

Borough ethics board details past conflict rulings, advises on recall-petition participation

Summary

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