Alaska Employment Law

Records released pursuant to MSNBC’s Public Records Act request for Todd Palin e-mails reveal his interest in the candidates to fill a Kenai Superior Court seat, and in wage claims against Great Bear Ford, a Soldotna dealership.

The finalists for the Kenai seat vacated by Harold Brown were Carl Bauman, Peter F. Mysing, Robert P. Owens, and Chris Provost.  On June 23, 2007, Todd Palin contacted Ivy Frye, the Governor’s Director of Boards and Commissions, and said:

I’m getting calls from Soldotna about the next judge appointment.  Is [redacted][ on the list, I’m getting calls from folks hoping he’s not selected.  Let me know whats happening so I can put to rest some of the rumors. 

Frye responded minutes later with

[Redacted] was nominated alond [sic] with 3 other guys-just received the names last wk. I’ve heard the same feedback as you. Gov has 45 days to make appt. We’ll interview in about 2-3 wks.

Governor Palin appointed Carl Bauman on August 3, 2007.

In the same e-mail, Frye passed on to Todd Palin information from Labor Standards Director Grey Mitchell about wage claims against Great Bear Ford.  Great Bear’s owner was Bob Favretto, described in a cover e-mail to Palin as somebody “who served on your Disaster Cabinet.”  Mitchell wrote:

The Wage and Hour Section currently has 16 claims filed against Great Bear Ford, LLC for a total mount in unpaid wages of $33,978.57. The Investigator (Kim Aure) has been in contact with the company’s attorney (Greg Oczkus) since the first wage claim was filed on March 28, 2007. On May 31, Mr. Oczkus communicated that the company was $5 million in debt and there would not be enough assets to pay the wage claims. Mr. Oczkus has not yet provided a written response, so a subpoena may become necessary. Investigator Aure is currently collecting evidence to determine whether the owner, Robert Favretto, may be individually liable for the wages due employees of the company.

Let me know if you need more information.

H/T: Andrew Sullivan