Alaska Native lawmaker apologizes for ethics violation
Alaska Sen. Albert Kookesh (D) said he will issue a written apology to the city council in Craig over remarks he made in connection with a land swap for the Sealaska Corp., an Alaska Native regional corporation.

Kookesh violated state ethics policies by suggesting the city's stance on the swap could affect its funding, the Alaska Legislature's Ethics Committee ruled. The committee said he used a "a poor choice of worlds" when speaking to the council in January.

Kookesh is a shareholder of the Alaska Native regional corporation and serves as chairman of the board of directors. He said he never meant his words as a threat to the city.

Get the Story:
Legislature: Kookesh violated ethics rules (The Juneau Empire 3/3)
Legislative panel reprimands lawmaker for comments (The Anchorage Daily News 3/4)

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