Alaska governor appointee faces questions about background

Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy is standing behind one of his Cabinet members accused of lying about his business background after the nominee on Thursday clarified information he gave at a state Senate hearing. (File Photo By Alaska Senate Majority/Wikimedia commons, CC BY-SA 2.0)

JUNEAU, Alaska — Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy is standing behind one of his Cabinet members accused of lying about his business background after the nominee on Thursday clarified information he gave at a state Senate hearing.

Dunleavy spokesman Matt Shuckerow said by email that the administration looks forward to legislative confirmation of Administration Commissioner Jonathan Quick.

Quick said he misspoke during a hearing Tuesday when asked when he sold his interest in a Seattle-area coffee and frozen yogurt businesses, Anthem Coffee and Tea and Elements Frozen Yogurt. Quick had said he believed it was in 2014.

But in a letter to senators Thursday, he said he should have clarified that he parted ways with the company, rather than selling an ownership stake, and that it happened in 2012.

“I sincerely apologize for stating this incorrect information and thank you for the opportunity to respond,” he wrote. An initial letter that was released spelled Quick’s first name as Johnathan. A corrected version was sent later, spelling it Jonathan.

Quick on his resume said he developed business and brand and marketing plans, hired and trained staff and helped recruit investors and capital for the businesses.

During the confirmation hearing, Quick said he connected with a friend from high school, and they opened a cafe/restaurant and a frozen yogurt shop.

He later was asked by Democratic Sen. Bill Wielechowski when he sold his ownership interest and who his co-investors were. Quick said he believed it was in 2014 and the other party was a private party, “a friend from high school.”

In a letter to senators dated Wednesday, Janie Reynolds said she and her husband have been the only owners of Anthem Coffee and Tea and Elements Frozen Yogurt. She said no one beside her and her husband has had any percentage of ownership.

“The ‘private party’ he speaks of is fictitious,” she wrote.

She said Quick may have offered suggestions but did not conceptualize the business plan. She labeled as false the resume language about recruiting investors and capital.

“No one invested in our company,” she wrote. “All capital sources were applied for and secured by me.”

Quick was hired in 2011 to organize their family business but was fired after a year, she wrote. Quick hoped to be part of the ownership “and would verbalize it as his reality,” she wrote, adding that she declined his requests to put him into part ownership.

In his letter Thursday, Quick said he verbally entered into an “equity-stake business venture” with the Reynolds family in 2011. As the businesses grew, he said it became clear the verbal agreement would not lead to a written one and after negotiations, “we parted ways.”

During a news conference before Quick’s letter was released to reporters, Democratic Sen. Bill Wielechowski said he expected a truthful answer from Quick when he asked his question.

He said if Quick were any other state employee, “he would probably be terminated for that action.” A message seeking comment after Quick’s letter was released was left with Wielechowski’s office.

Sen. Tom Begich, the Alaska Senate’s Democratic leader, said he doesn’t think Quick should be confirmed but said it’s Dunleavy’s decision whether to let Quick continue through the confirmation process.

The Department of Administration provides centralized administrative services to state agencies dealing with things such as labour relations, leasing of space and retirement and benefits programs. The public defender agency and Division of Motor Vehicles are among the agencies that fall under the department.

Meanwhile, Art Chance, a new hire in the department, faced scrutiny for Facebook comments about minorities and women, including Democratic presidential hopeful California Sen. Kamala Harris. Posts from Chance were first highlighted by The Alaska Landmine political blog.

A message seeking comment was left for Chance.

Chance posted on Facebook Tuesday that he had accepted a policy post within the Department of Administration. The state online employee directory didn’t list Chance Thursday.

Shuckerow said by email that the administration, as a matter of policy, doesn’t comment on personnel matters. “However, given the seriousness of these posts, I will share that a thorough review is being conducted,” he said.

Begich said Chance’s online comments are unacceptable and disqualifying. He said he was encouraged that a review was taking place.