I can’t believe Thanksgiving is just over a month away! Governor Mike Dunleavy (R – Alaska) announced late Friday afternoon that Natural Resources Commissioner John Boyle is out, and that he appointed Deputy Commissioner John Crowther as acting commissioner. Anchorage Mayor Suzanne LaFrance held a press conference to discuss the evacuees from Western Alaska and how the city is dealing with them. Senator Cathy Giessel (R – Anchorage) picked up an opponent. And the Alaska Travel Industry Association held their annual conference in Anchorage this week

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Boyle is Out

On Friday at 5:15 pm, Governor Dunleavy sent out a short press release saying he appointed Deputy Commissioner John Crowther as acting DNR commissioner, effective immediately. The press release did not say much about now-former Commissioner John Boyle other than, “I also want to thank John Boyle for his years of service to the department, and the people of Alaska, and wish him the best in his future endeavors.”

This announcement not only came as news to me, but also several senior people at DNR and many legislators I spoke with. Many called me asking what happened. 

In the case of former Revenue Commissioner Crooked Adam Crum and former Attorney General Treg Taylor, it was known months in advance that they were going to resign to run for governor. In both cases, Dunleavy’s press releases included glowing remarks (I bet Dunleavy is regretting those remarks on Crooked Crum after the $50 million CBR debacle) and also included statements from each of them. Boyle’s press release had none of that. 

Boyle has been a good soldier for Dunleavy. He worked very hard pushing Dunleavy’s carbon agenda, which the Legislature ultimately passed. And he’s worked hard on promoting Dunleavy’s proposed department of agriculture. It’s not clear why Boyle was let go, but it is clear it was an abrupt decision and not his. One source in Dunleavy’s orbit said it was due to “chronic insubordination,” but did not give any examples. 

Boyle is smart and a hard worker, so finding a new job won’t be hard for him. But there has also been talk he could jump into the already crowded governor’s race. Another one! He also lives in Senator Cathy Giessel’s (R – Anchorage) district. Giessel is up for re-election next year. 

Lower oil prices could have big budget impact

The following is an excerpt from this week’s edition of the Alaska Political Report. You can click here for more information about the Political Report. A subscription is $1,299/year per organization. Discounted pricing is available for non-profits and government entities. Our coverage of the budget starts with the governor’s proposed budget, and we track everything in detail through the entire process. If you have any questions or would like to subscribe, please email jeff@akpoliticalreport.com.

In our Sept. 25 edition we included a write-up about an interim oil forecast released by the Dept. of Revenue. Since that report, oil prices have continued to move, both up and down. However, recent reporting, and releases by analysts at Bank of America, have warned of supply surpluses that could drive prices down below $50 per barrel.

Each dollar in the price of oil impacts state revenue by about $30 to $40 million. With an FY2026 budget that balances at $67 per barrel, a drop to $50, if sustained for the rest of the year, could create an FY2026 shortfall of over half a billion dollars. The constitutional budget reserve (CBR) currently holds a bit under $3 billion.

Looking forward to FY2027, $50 per barrel oil would present a significant challenge. The FY2027 budget will start at a base of at least $100 million higher than the current FY2026 budget; it’s unlikely policymakers would want to short-fund fire suppression and highway construction a second year in a row.

Even with a $4 billion percent of market value (POMV) draw, a status quo operating budget, and a meager capital budget, $50 oil would result in either no Permanent Fund Dividend or one entirely paid for through a deficit draw from savings. And all of this will be exacerbated as next year is an election year.  

Neil Steininger, Budget Correspondent

Giessel’s got an opponent

Leo Schafer, a registered Nonpartisan who works as a paralegal, filed to run against Senator Cathy Giessel this week. I spoke with him about who he is and why he is challenging Giessel.

He told me he decided to run to get a fresh perspective on things in Juneau. “We have the same ten problems every year and we have the same ten people who don’t solve them. And many have been there for more than ten years,” he told me. He also said he doesn’t want to be a state senator but doesn’t see anyone else stepping up. 

Leo told me he moved to Alaska in the spring of 2023 to chase the Alaska dream. He said he grew up in Maryland and went to school in Ohio. He also said he turns 25 next year, making him just eligible as senators in Alaska need to be 25.

He also just barely qualifies for the three year residency requirement if he became a resident in spring 2023. The Alaska Constitution states “A member of the legislature shall be a qualified voter who has been a resident of Alaska for at least three years and of the district from which elected for at least one year, immediately preceding his filing for office.”

He described himself as a moderate conservative whose political heroes are Wally Hickel, Dwight Eisenhower, and Teddy Roosevelt. 

A welcoming city…

Mayor Suzanne LaFrance held a press conference on Tuesday (10/21/2025) about the evacuees from Western Alaska. She was joined by Representative Nellie Jimmie (D – Tooksok Bay), former Representative Tiffany Zulkosky, who is now the VP of communications at the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, Anchorage School District Superintendent Jharrett Bryantt, and others.

LaFrance said several times that we are a welcoming city. I asked her how we can be a welcoming city if the people from Western Alaska staying at the Egan Center have to deal with all the mentally ill people and vagrants downtown. I also pointed out how a crazed man attacked a KTUU cameraman and reporter and threatened to kill them as they were interviewing a couple from Western Alaska about how dangerous downtown is. Poetic. 

LaFrance gave her standard nonsensical answer about sheltering and camp abatement. She also said homelessness and emergency response are separate issues, which they clearly aren’t. I really wonder if LaFrance thinks things are fine in Anchorage or realizes how bad they are, and with no plan, just keeps repeating her standards talking points about homelessness and vagrancy. Either way, it’s a real mess. And winter is almost here. 

Other Happenings

There’s been a lot of chatter that President Donald Trump will announce nominees for the two vacant federal judge spots in Alaska in the next few weeks. Maybe Senator Lisa Murkowski (R – Alaska) and Senator Dan Sullivan (R – Alaska) finally figured it out their differences! Or maybe Trump is just sick of the delays. It’s been nearly four years since Judge Timothy Burgess went to senior status and more than a year since former Judge Josh Kindred resigned. Alaska only has three federal judges.  

Maybe former Republican State Senator Lesil McGuire will be the next Republican to get into the governor’s race! 

This one made me laugh out loud. 

Check out this strongly worded letter from former Representative Ralph Samuels to Judge Jack McKenna on the reduction of the sentence of convicted murdered Winona Fletcher, who was released from prison last month. Samuels’ brother Duane Samuels was murdered in 1989, and he has been a victims advocate since. The end of the letter is brutal:

This could get really interesting. The party could be coming to an end. 

This one could get fun. 

This Week’s Loose Unit 

This week’s designee was super easy. This week’s Loose Unit is the Department of Natural Resources, specifically the Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation.

On Thursday (10/23/2025), the Alaska State Parks folks made a super loose post to their Facebook page about a baby swan. The post said a baby swan approached a state park ranger and was being friendly. After not being able to find a place for it, the ranger took it to the Department of Fish and Game, where the baby swan was dispatched! That alone is loose, but we are just getting started.  

The comments on the post were brutal. The consensus was basically that they needed to kill it to save it! Several people sent me the Facebook post. I did this Landmine story, “Alaska Fish & Game and DNR executed baby swan for being friendly to state park ranger.” Not long after, their Facebook post was taken down! Maximum loose.

Whatever genius at DNR decided it was a good idea to post photos of an adorable baby swan and say it was killed is one Loose fucking Unit. And in the same post where they say to give wild animals space if they approach you, they also say the ranger decided to take possession of the baby swan. Very loose. This may be one of the loosest Facebook posts from the State of Alaska I have ever seen. 

The day after my story, Fish and Game sent me this statement about swangate. It’s wild they partially blamed this on the federal shutdown. Who knew you needed a federal permit to move a swan?! The whole situation is loose, but the loose Facebook post by DNR is maximum loose. 

On October 23, Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) staff were contacted by a Department of Natural Resources State Parks Ranger regarding a swan that appeared habituated to humans. ADF&G’s highly trained wildlife veterinarian and biologist staff conducted a physical examination and determined that the swan was not a domestic breed, was significantly emaciated, and had imprinted on humans.

ADF&G staff explored placement options by contacting multiple bird rehabilitation and wildlife facilities. Unfortunately, due to concerns about potential disease transmission and the inability to obtain the required U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service permit because of the federal government shutdown, placement was not an option. With no alternative available, ADF&G staff humanely euthanized the bird. A subsequent necropsy revealed the bird had a fractured sternum and would never be able to fly or migrate south. Given the severity of its condition, the bird was in extreme pain, and euthanasia was the most humane option

This situation serves as an important reminder that when animals become habituated, their ability to survive in the wild is compromised. Alaska law prohibits intentionally or negligently feeding wildlife as well as taking in wild animals without a permit. Feeding and habituation increase the risk of human-wildlife conflicts, can lead to injury or death of animals or people, and can increase the risk of spreading diseases to either wild or domestic animals or humans.

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.