In May, John Moller abruptly left his role as a special advisor to Governor Mike Dunleavy (R – Alaska). No announcement was made and no explanation was given when the Landmine inquired about why he left. We initially broke the story with a tweet, and then published a story on May 12.
Sources confirm John Moller is no longer working for @GovDunleavy. Moller was a co-chair for Dunleavy’s campaign for governor, and has been working as an advisor for Dunleavy since he was elected in 2018. Currently looking into why he left. #akleg
— The Alaska Landmine (@alaskalandmine) May 11, 2021
On May 14, we submitted a public records to the Governor’s Office asking for emails between Moller and Dunleavy’s Chief of Staff Randy Ruaro, as well as emails between Ruaro and Deputy Chief of Staff Vasilios Gialopsos. We finally got a response on October 7 – more than five months later.
While the emails are heavily redacted, they reveal that Moller resigned right before a scheduled meeting with Director of Personnel and Labor Relations Kate Sheehan and Ruaro. On May 4, Ruaro wrote to Moller about a “Formal written follow up on previous actions.” Gialopsos and Sheehan were copied. AS 39.28 is cited in the redaction. This statue is titled “Equal Employment Opportunity Program” and refers to Section 60(c), employment Discrimination Complaints:
The director of personnel may not make public the records of a complaint or investigation under this chapter.
This indicates that some kind of personnel investigation involving Moller took place. The redacted attachment is likely the result of the investigation.
Two days later, on May 6, Moller emailed Ruaro his resignation and copied Sheehan. His resignation was was signed at 1:25 pm. The email was sent 13 minutes later and stated, “The 2:15 meeting today with yourself and Ms. Sheehan is no longer necessary.”
In our initial inquiry, Dunleavy’s office said they do not comment on personnel matters. Moller was a co-chair for Dunleavy’s 2018 gubernatorial campaign. After winning the election, he became part of Dunleavy’s transition team. Dunleavy then appointed Moller as a special advisor on rural affairs when he became governor. At the time of his resignation, Moller was one of the few remaining key staffers that were part of Dunleavy’s original team.
Moller did not respond to a phone call for comment.
Great reporting, just want to issue a quick correction. At the end of this article, it states “In our initially inquiry,”, when I believe you mean to say “In our initial inquiry”. Doesn’t detract from your reporting, but does need to be corrected.
Thanks!
Find out what happened then … this is the beginning of a story not the end.
Absent criminal charges this just appears to be another Dunleavy attempt to pound a “square peg into a round hole”. Political loyalty is hardly any indicator of ability. Bronson seems to be having the same problem
Absent any understanding of John Moller’s qualifications as an Alaska Native, a subsistence and commercial fisherman, and government experience as a rural affairs and commercial fishing advisor in two administrations, your comment is racist, partisan and off base, but otherwise “mostly peaceful”.