JUNEAU, Alaska — Alaska House Speaker Louise Stutes said her coalition has 21 members, the bare minimum to hold a majority in the chamber.
Stutes, a Kodiak Republican, told reporters Thursday her organization is “21 strong” and that Rep. Geran Tarr, an Anchorage Democrat, is part of the coalition. Stutes called Tarr a valued and supportive member.
Tarr’s office did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.
Tarr supported Stutes’ election as speaker last month but later declined to join the coalition, leaving it with 20 of the House’s 40 members. The minority Republican caucus has 18 members. Rep. Sara Rasmussen, an Anchorage Republican, has declined to join a caucus.
Tarr, in a letter to Stutes on Feb. 17, said belonging to a group “whose critical leadership roles were extracted by threats to leave and join the Republican caucus, instead of careful consideration of what’s best for Alaskans, would violate my commitment to honourable public service.”
The Associated Press
