News from Patrick Flynn

Returning home last Wednesday afternoon (September 30) I listened to a message on my answering machine.  No name, no number – I even checked the caller identification – just a thank you for my vote the preceding evening.  This was odd, usually untraceable calls to my home result in messages calling me a fuzzy-headed so-and-so (actually, they’re generally less polite than that) and they often include a more specific hint as to the topic about which they’re calling.

Several minutes later I received another call, this time from Larry Partusch, owner of Partusch Plumbing & Heating.  He, too, thanked me for my vote the preceding evening, telling me he appreciated my standing up for what was right and that I could call him for support the next time I ran for office.  This was surprising on a several fronts as I’d only met Mr. Partusch a couple times, he’s active with the Anchorage Home Builders Association (housing their offices in his company’s building), which is not necessarily a natural political ally of mine, and he’s a sponsor of Dan Fagan’s talk show.  So, while I thanked Mr. Partusch for his kind words, I couldn’t help asking for what he was thanking me?

Turns out Mr. Partusch’s call, and likely the earlier message, were related to my vote against indefinite postponement (tabling) of AR 2009-241.  That’s a pretty minute detail for most folks to know about, let alone understand, so I couldn’t help inquiring where he’d heard about the issue?  That’s when I learned our mutual friend Mr. Fagan was singing my praises on his show, something not only hugely improbable but also something I would’ve never known otherwise as I only listen to the show when I’m about to appear on it – the last time he was drawing parallels between liberals and Islamic jihadists, always a nice lead-in.

A little about that resolution.  It seems some interpret it as part of a witch hunt meant to tarnish the reputation of our junior Senator, Mark Begich.  Others appear to think it provides a means to finally nail a slippery politician, also Mark Begich.  I see it as neither – here’s how the resolved section actually reads:

1. The Administration, through the Department of Law, is requested to review and analyze the Levesque report dated September 23, 2009, to include an examination of the facts and the law associated with both the report and the questions asked in AR 2009-77(S), and make a written report to the Assembly no later than November 13, 2009.
2. The Administration and bargaining units are encouraged to engage in open and constructive dialogue concerning labor agreements, to achieve the goal of a reduced city budget that reflects the need to hold the line on real property tax increases, stay within the tax cap, and at the same time, continue to provide essential city services.
3. To the extent that it is lawful and appropriate, the Assembly pledges its full cooperation to the Administration, municipal employees and labor unions to advance the public’s goals.

In other words, let’s look into what happened, find out what missteps might have been made and work together to correct them.  Seems sensible, no?  The Levesque report, by the way, asserts that at least two existing labor contracts are invalid.  A second legal opinion, offered by an attorney representing a union whose contract is not questioned by Mr. Levesque but is questioned by at least one Assembly member, refutes the findings of the first.  On at least one aspect of that refutation the Municipal Attorney, Dennis Wheeler, appears to agree.

While it’s dangerous to make predictions about results from any legal process, here’s my best guess at what we’ll see next.  The Municipal Attorney will produce a report suggesting that, while the process of approving the labor contracts fell short of the ideal it was not illegal.  And, while there may be some grounds to challenge the validity of those contracts that ground is rather shaky and, even if we did so, the ensuing legal battle would likely take nearly as long as the term of those contracts with no guarantee of either success or savings.  The best course of action going forward?  Working together to reduce costs and economically provide municipal services.

My predictions are usually worth the paper upon which they’re written, so take it for what you will.  As for Mr. Fagan, I told him his praise was likely hurting me more than helping, but I still downloaded some of his comments and burned them to a CD.  They might come in handy the next time he decides to unload on me, shouldn’t be long now!

Regards,

Patrick