I’m sure you’ve seen the video: Gov. Mike Dunleavy frantically waving away the camera as he stands maskless in a group at a Hillside mixer. The woman next to him quickly sidesteps as if she’s been caught with her hand in the cookie jar. The din of a cocktail party echoes through the house. It’s not a good look.
The footage appeared in juxtaposition to the governor’s own communication from just hours earlier, in which he emphasized the importance of “wearing a mask when you’re in a setting with others.” He suggested “we take all the protections necessary to prevent ourselves from getting the virus.”
The governor clearly wasn’t following his own advice, or our state health guidelines. It was poor judgment, and he owes Alaskans an apology for spending down our collective caution.
You see, every good decision we make during this pandemic adds up. When we wear masks or give elders a little more space, we’re contributing to that savings. When people go out dancing or host indoor sing-alongs, they’re spending down our collective caution. And it’s selfish to make an unnecessary draw on that community investment.
Gov. Dunleavy says that “none of us should be terrified, none of us should be scared,” as if Alaskans are living in fear. But people observing medical guidelines and taking appropriate precautions aren’t living in fear, they’re just looking out for their neighbors. Because that’s what we do in Alaska — we look out for each other.
It’s particularly frustrating because this wasn’t a one-off. The governor and other state leaders have been hosting dangerous indoor events over and over throughout the pandemic. Though framed as expressions of individual freedom, these childish rebellions are more what I would expect from surly teens than from our state leaders.
The icing on the cake is that Gov. Dunleavy has been dodging journalists since Sept. 1. He’s elusive and reclusive, refusing to answer questions about a growing list of scandals related to suspicious contracts, an amorous attorney general and errands he ran for the Pebble Mine.
Alaska’s press isn’t particularly adversarial. Sure, there are people on the fringes, but the core population of journalists in Alaska are straight shooters, people we know and trust, people we see at the grocery store.
The questions they’re asking, those are our questions. And they deserve answers.
Don’t live in fear, Gov. Dunleavy.
Pat Race
Juneau
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