Assembly members seek to remove colleague, probe whether taxpayer-funded travel fueled private business

Assembly members seek to remove colleague, probe whether taxpayer-funded travel fueled private business

George Martinez said his municipal travel was approved for legitimate legislative work and that he believes he has complied with applicable reporting and disclosure rules.

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) - Two Anchorage Assembly members are seeking to remove a colleague from office, alleging a breach of the public trust.

Assembly Members Jared Goecker and Donald Handeland introduced AR 2026-192 on Thursday. The resolution would formally initiate removal proceedings against Assembly Member George Martinez under Anchorage Municipal Code Section 2.70.030. It is scheduled for its first reading before the full Assembly on July 7.

The resolution alleges Martinez used taxpayer-funded municipal travel to obtain or maintain elevated airline status or other personal travel rewards. It further alleges that travel may have coincided with or subsidized his private business activities. The document also raises questions about whether Martinez complied with financial disclosure requirements, specifically regarding his employment as an adjunct professor and his ownership interest in Consoach LLC.

Goecker and Handeland are requesting an independent investigation into the allegations outlined in the resolution, citing the need for “impartial fact-finding” to “preserve public trust.”

Martinez addressed the proceedings in an emailed statement Thursday night.

“The civil APOC matter has been adjudicated and resolved, and I’ve fully complied with the Commission’s order,” he wrote. “My Assembly travel was authorized and undertaken for legitimate legislative purposes, and, to the best of my knowledge, I am in compliance with all applicable reporting and disclosure requirements.”

What investigators would examine

The resolution also calls on the municipal attorney to hire outside counsel to conduct an independent investigation. If passed, that investigation would be directed to examine several specific questions.

Those questions include whether taxpayer-funded municipal travel materially contributed to Martinez obtaining or maintaining elevated airline status or other travel rewards. Investigators would also look at whether all taxpayer-funded travel during his tenure conformed to the code of ethics, municipal code, state statute, or other applicable law or regulation.

The probe would examine whether any taxpayer-funded travel coincided with or subsidized Martinez’s private business or commercial activities. Separately, investigators would look at whether Martinez complied with financial disclosure requirements, specifically concerning his employment as an adjunct professor and his ownership interest in Consoach LLC.

Additional questions include whether any travel requests, reimbursement requests, or supporting documentation were modified or supplemented after questions were raised during the approval process. Investigators would also determine whether approving officials had all material information needed to make informed decisions about the expenditure of taxpayer funds.

Finally, outside counsel would examine whether the evidence, taken collectively, demonstrates a broader pattern concerning the use of public office for private benefit.

Outside counsel would have full access to municipal records and personnel. If the facts support it, counsel could also prepare an amended accusation document for the Assembly to consider. Counsel would also represent the municipality at any subsequent administrative hearing.

Under Anchorage Municipal Code Section 2.70.030, removal proceedings against an assembly member can only begin after an accusation document is delivered to the municipal clerk. That step requires either a majority vote of the full Assembly or a referral from the municipal Board of Ethics.

The code lists actions that may constitute a breach of the public trust, including perjury, falsification of records, filing false reports, nepotism, making personal use of municipal property, and actual or attempted official misconduct as defined by state law, among others.

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