The first big snowfall hit Anchorage and Southcentral this week. While the snowplowing in Anchorage has been ok, there are still a lot of unplowed or under plowed side streets and sidewalks. Things ate starting to get loose between Republican gubernatorial candidates Crooked Adam Crum and Treg Taylor, both former cabinet officials in the Dunleavy administration. And the Resource Development Council and Anchorage Economic Development Corporation are looking for new leaders. 

A friendly message and reminder to all our readers. The Landmine is made possible by myself and a team of awesome Alaskans. I have been covering the legislative session in Juneau for the last seven years and returned from Juneau in May. I will be heading back this January. If you enjoy the content we provide, please consider making a one time or recurring monthly donation. You can click here to donate. We have a system that makes it super easy. We would really appreciate it. And thanks to everyone who has been supportive. 

Apologizes for the abbreviated column this Sunday. I spent the better part of the week working on this investigative story on the Anchorage Police Department (APD). It’s fairly complicated and involved a lot of leaked documents and records. It raises serious questions about how the mental health “professional” in the story was hired by APD in the first place. This is the second story I have done based on leaked APD Internal Affairs records. APD recently launched a criminal investigation into the source of the leaks. First, I will never divulge the source or sources for any story I write under any circumstances. Period. Second, I am in possession of more Internal Affairs records that cast APD leadership in a negative light. And I intent to publish them.

Week in Review

The 2026 August primary is more than nine months away, but the attacks in the crowded field for governor are already starting. It involves two of the 12 Republicans in the race, Crooked Adam Crum and Treg Taylor. Crum served as Health and Revenue commissioner in the Dunleavy administration. Taylor served as attorney general.

It started this week when Crooked Adam Crum sent out a bizarre press release “demanding” that Taylor cancel a fundraiser with Jeff Sessions and Bill Barr. This Landmine story provides more details. But the gist of it is they are both trying really hard to please Donald Trump and get his endorsement. 

Taylor responded by trolling Crum. Taylor was in D.C. this week. He posted a photo standing in the same place Crum was standing in front of the White House when he posted a photo a few weeks ago. When Crum was in D.C. claiming to have meetings with Trump’s people, Trump and his crew were in Asia. Taylor made sure to include his Eisenhower Executive Office Building (EEOB) badge in the photo he posted. Very loose. But what’s super loose is they are both wearing a red tie. That is just a weird level of simping for Trump. 

The Resource Development Council (RDC) is looking for a new executive director. Leila Kimbrell, who had served in the role since 2022, recently resigned, effective October 30. RDC is hosting their annual conference this coming at the Dena’ina Center on November 12-13.  

The Anchorage Economic Development Corporation is looking for a new president/CEO. Jenna Wright stepped down due to a health matter. I am a big fan of Jenna. I wish her all the best! 

The Alaska Cabaret, Hotel, Restaurant and Retailers Association (CHARR) will soon be looking for a new president/CEO after Sarah Oates Harlow left the role last month. With Steve Wackowski recently being chosen as the new president/CEO of the Alaska Oil & Gas Association, the faces of many of the leaders of Alaska trade groups are changing. 

Never forget this ad from when Tasha Hotch ran for the Anchorage Assembly in 2022.

This Week’s Loose Unit 

This week’s designee is short and sweet. This week’s Loose Unit is the Anchorage Police Department command staff, namely Chief Sean Case. Rather than looking at their own leadership problems, they launch a criminal investigation into the source of the leaks instead of looking at what they can do to improve morale among the rank and file. Classic Loose Unit behavior.

If you have a nomination for this week’s Loose Unit, or if you have any political news, stories or gossip (or any old pics of politicians or public officials) please email me at jeff@alaskalandmine.com.