The Recall Dunleavy campaign has planned drive-thru signature gathering events for Anchorage and Fairbanks this weekend, but so far none have been planned for Juneau or elsewhere in Southeast Alaska.
“That doesn’t mean we wouldn’t consider doing that in the future,” said Claire Pywell, campaign manager for Recall Dunleavy. “We’re trying these out. We try to defer to folks on the ground.”
Pywell said signature gathering events were put on by local volunteers and as yet, no volunteers in Southeasts Alaska had reached out about setting up a drive-through.
Pat Race, owner of the Alaska Robotics Gallery and sometimes volunteers with local organizers, said he hadn’t heard of any efforts. Though echoing Pywell’s comments, he added that didn’t mean he could rule out the possibility.
Alaska Supreme Court: Recall effort can proceed
As of May 4, the Recall Dunleavy campaign has 34,802 signatures, 49% of the 71,252 needed to have a vote placed on the next statewide ballot. Pywell previously told the Empire the campaign needs to submit the required signatures by July 3, in order to get the vote on the general election ballot in November.
But signatures for the campaign must be signed in person, which meant the campaign has had to switch tactics in the face of COVID-19.
In April, the campaign announced a mail-in signature-gathering campaign and Pywell said she hoped volunteers in other parts of the state will use the Anchorage and Fairbanks events as a template for their own.
Jeff Turner, spokesperson for Gov. Mike Dunleavy has previously told the Empire the governor’s administration does not comment on the recall effort.
