Government in Alaska must be of the people, by the people, and for the people. That means every public official from Juneau to your local courthouse has a clear duty to act with honesty, ethics, morality, and total transparency.
The Grand Jury is one of the strongest tools the Alaska Constitution gives ordinary citizens. It’s our direct line for redress when government agents fall short, act shady, or cross into corruption or even the appearance of it. Right now, that tool is badly weakened. A previous Alaska Supreme Court decision has made it much harder for regular Alaskans to use the Grand Jury process. Add in the growing concerns and perceptions of impropriety by those who enforce and run it, and public trust has taken a real hit. We have a chance to fix this right now.
The Alaska Supreme Court is accepting public comments and testimony on reforming the Grand Jury system. The deadline is April 6 and I strongly encourage every concerned Alaskan to step up, submit your comments, share your story, and demand a clear, open, and effective Grand Jury that actually works for the people.
Furthermore, I support Attorney General Stephen Cox. He gets it, shares our concerns and is committed to restoring the trust in this vital constitutional right. As your Governor, I will fight to make the Grand Jury strong, accessible, and independent again. The people must have the power to hold their government accountable. That’s common sense and real accountability, the Alaska way.
I’m Matt Heilala, running for Governor.