Gov. Calls on Fleener to Set Record Straight

Press Release

Governor Sean Parnell today called on Craig Fleener to publically correct inaccurate statements he made in an op-ed published by the Anchorage Daily News.

Fleener accused the governor of being a "no-show" at the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) conference last week in Anchorage. Fleener wrote that the governor was "caught in traffic," leaving the conference organizers scrambling.

"Had Fleener checked, he would have learned that nothing could be further from the truth," said Sharon Leighow, the governor's press secretary. "The governor did indeed receive an invitation through his state office. In fact, the governor was out of state, having regretted the NCAI invitation about a month earlier due to a family celebration of First Lady Sandy Parnell's parents' 60th wedding anniversary. Further, the governor informed the Alaska Federation of Natives Board of Directors of his absence when they met with the governor in early May."

"Why Craig went to such great lengths to make up a tall tale is troubling," Governor Parnell said. "To deliberately spread falsehoods to disparage someone in this way is certainly beneath him. He is better than that, and Alaskans deserve a correction."

Source