Letter to the Editor
Moving on
Published Sunday, July 27, 2008
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To the editor:
All the rhetoric I see written about the dismissal of Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan begs a simple line of thought. Administrative appointments are done at the will of the administration. There is no requirement to justify to the Legislature, (or the rest of the world), why the decision to appoint was made. The appointee serves totally by the will of the appointer. The administration can bring you in and it can take you out.
When an appointment is offered to you, it is your duty to weigh every aspect of the position. What you will give up, what you will gain and what positive or negative consequences you might inherit. It is life in the big fast lane. You could be dismissed because you wear the wrong cologne. Legislators should not be involved.
There are too many more important issues our legislators need to deal with. The most we can say to Monegan is “we hate what happened to you, but you didn’t look at both sides of the coin prior to accepting the position.”
If we think administrators are unjustly using their position, we can fix that at the ballot box. We should remember that family is of utmost importance to every one of us. Would we lean toward protection of our family? Perhaps any public servant that cannot handle family affairs without losing control of emotions, should not be a public servant. Who knows? We need to quit whining like little kids and end this story. Truths generally come out. Until then, let’s get on with the business that the entire state depends on.
Community Discussion
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Thank you Chuck, very well said, but this will not sell newspapers.
Without all the real facts, we may never know exactly what went on here. IF, our governor "fired" because her orders (based on a personal feud)were not followed, then she didn't act in the best interst of our State. All she had to do was release him from his position and move on. Case over. I, for one, would like to know exactly why she chose to change leadership mid-stream and what direction SHE thinks is superior to what was working. Now, another appointee has fallen under suspect. Just what is going on?
Listen mommy you don't get the right to know, the advisors serve at the pleasure of the govenor not you. Even so the govenor has given a reason for the dismissal you just choose not to believe it, if after 4 years you don't like the current leadership then VOTE FOR SOMEONE ELSE
Exactly! Finally someone with some sense has commented on this topic. I am personally ashamed of the way the media and the people of our state have reacted to this issue. We elected the Gov, and if we are going to question her judgment the instant she does something that people don't like we are never going to get anywhere.
If it is felt there is enough evidence to support a claim of abuse of power, it will be investigated, and we will be informed. Jumping to conclusions is not going to get anyone anywhere good.
If you want to see the issue investigated further, contact your local representative and tell them that. Following the proper channels is going to get people a lot further than a mob with pitchforks and torches is going to.
MarieBarr,
See you sound rational and just in this comment here. So, why are you so crazy in your other postings for abortion and gays? Are you a closet liberal, or a closet conservative, ... who is the real MarieBarr?
Inquiring minds want to know...
What does it matter if I'm liberal or conservative? As long as I'm not a lemming I would think it wouldn't matter. As far as inquiring minds, I think their efforts would be better spent inquiring elsewhere, like science textbooks and legal databases.
There are 3 Alaska State Laws that Gov. Palin would be guilty of violating if she attempted to have a trooper fired because he went through a nasty divorce with her sister. If Monegan was dismissed for refusing to follow illegal "orders" from Gov. Palin, that becomes a civil court thing.
Alaska is an "at will" work state, we all work at the pleasure of our bosses and can be let go at any time with no reason given. If Monegan can prove why he thinks he was let go, take her to court.
If the legislature finds Gov. Palin broke 3 laws dealing public officials and abuse of power, then send it to the DA and let her have her day in court.
If the gov can truly dismiss somebody for any reason why doesn't she just tell us she fired Monegan because of Wooten. End of story, right?
Come on folks....Monegan was fired for supporting the Alaska Peace Officers Union's vision of the Department of Public Safety and not the Governors'.
Sure, Commissioners are at-will employees. Not a single person is questioning this. What needs to be questioned are Palin's motives in firing Monegan. This is an act of revenge at its finest.
"If the gov can truly dismiss somebody for any reason why doesn't she just tell us she fired Monegan because of Wooten. End of story, right?"
"At will" workers are still protected by Federal Law. You can't fire someone for being black, a woman, gay, whatever. It is typically why reasons aren't given, ever, in terminations.
If Monegan refused to punish Trooper Wooten (illegally and in violation of the union contract) and was fired by Gov. Palin for that reason, she has broken the law.
Her whole point of giving the "new direction" excuse was to avoid giving a reason. Too bad for her, it appears to have come out anyways.
We'll just have to wait and see what the investigation brings. I am guessing that it means a new governor, either before her term expires or in the next election.
She fired him because she is the boss.
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