By Bob Shavelson

Dear Mr. Chair: 

Please accept this response to the Ethics Committee’s recent decision finding probable cause Representative Sarah Vance violated the State of Alaska Legislative Ethics Act.

A. THE COMMITTEE FAILED TO ADDRESS ALLEGATIONS RAISED 

The Ethics Committee received allegations Representative Vance violated her oath of office and her duty to uphold the Alaska and United States Constitutions when she publicly threatened a media outlet and a journalist on letterhead and social media accounts bearing the official seal of the Alaska State Legislature. Those threats had the desired effect: the newspaper caved to the pressure and changed the story, and the journalist resigned.

As we all learned in school, protecting the media’s free speech rights is essential for protecting our democracy from government overreach, especially the type of heavy-handed overreach displayed in this case by Representative Vance. 

The record in this matter is clear: Representative Vance trampled on the constitutional rights of a local newspaper, its readers and a journalist by using the power and authority of her public office to promote her own personal and political biases; there was simply no legislative purpose behind her actions. Yet the Ethics Committee failed to even acknowledge, let alone address, these violations.

B. THE COMMITTEE’S DECISION HAS HAD ZERO EFFECT ON REP. VANCE 

In a demonstration she still does not understand or care to defend the rights of a free press, on Saturday, July 4, in a social media post Representative Vance thumbed her nose at the Ethics Committee’s decision. After noting she disagreed with the decision, she wrote: 

“I designed my own legislative letterhead. I created and maintain the social media pages of Representative Sarah Vance. Those platforms were not issued, created, or operated by the Legislature. They are my means of communicating directly with the people I represent and are expressions of my own speech and convictions.”

Representative Vance either doesn’t understand the authority vested through the official use of the State of Alaska Legislature seal or she doesn’t believe the rules apply to her. In either case, it’s clear the Ethic Committee’s decision — and the Committee’s refusal to issue any sanctions — will not deter Representative Vance from abusing her public office in the future.

C. REPRESENTATIVE VANCE HAS A HISTORY OF USING HER PUBLIC OFFICE TO PROMOTE DANGEROUS IDEAS THAT UNDERMINE OUR DEMOCRACY 

In September 2022, Representative Vance promoted on her social media page — emblazoned with the official State of Alaska Legislature seal — a debunked 2020 election interference film produced by a convicted felon. When I wrote to her twice with evidence the film was untrue and intended to foment a phony narrative about the 2020 election (see below), Representative Vance never responded. When the issue later arose on social media, she took zero responsibility for using the authority of her office to spread documented lies in our community. These lies and misinformation contribute to a toxic storyline that is dividing Alaskans and undermining faith in our election process. I add this anecdote only to show Rep. Vance has demonstrated a pattern for using the color of her office to promote ideas and activities outside her official duties. 

D. CONCLUSION 

The Ethics Committee’s refusal to address allegations raised against Representative Vance, and its decision to let her escape any real accountability for her ethical abuses only reinforces the public’s distrust in our government. Representative Vance’s unethical behavior has a corrosive effect on our democracy. When elected officials can use the power of their office to intimidate newspapers and journalists, or to spread lies about our elections, with no sanctions or accountability, Alaskans lose trust in their government. And without trust in our government, our society, our families and our kids will suffer. 

I appreciate the time and effort you put into your work on the Ethics Committee, and I know you take it seriously. I therefore respectfully ask you to add language to your decision stressing the importance of free speech and a free press, and educating Rep. Vance about using the official state seal on social media or elsewhere to promote political or personal opinions outside her official duties.

ADDENDUM: UNANSWERED EMAIL TO REPRESENTATIVE SARAH VANCE, FEB. 20, 2024

Bob Shavelson is a Homer resident.