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Assembly Member Travel Investigation

At a glance

  • What: Resolution AR 2026-192 began as a proposal by Goecker and Handeland to file an accusation to start removal proceedings (Anchorage Municipal Code 2.70.030) against Assembly Member Martinez over his official travel, as set out in Assembly Information Memorandum 96-2026, with outside counsel hired. Competing versions would instead order an investigation.
  • Where it stands: on August 4 the version favored by Silvers, AR 2026-192(S-2) (an independent investigation by the Municipal Attorney with findings reported to the Assembly), failed 5-6. A motion for immediate reconsideration failed 3-8. The minutes record no further action on the original or on the S and S-1 versions.
  • Martinez: recused from every vote (the Chair ruled a potential conflict of interest); he spoke on July 21.
  • Related: the separate censure of Martinez over campaign finance findings is on Censure of Assembly Member Martinez.

The versions

  • Original, AR 2026-192 (Goecker, Handeland): submit an accusation document to the Municipal Clerk to start removal proceedings and direct the Municipal Attorney to retain outside counsel to investigate and represent the Municipality.
  • S (Silvers): drop the accusation; direct the Municipal Attorney to arrange an independent investigation of the allegations in Information Memorandum 96-2026 and report factual findings and recommendations.
  • S-1 (Goecker, Handeland and Johnson): direct the Municipal Attorney to investigate Assembly Member travel, publish a report and, if warranted, a draft accusation for removal.
  • S-2 (Silvers): the independent investigation version, the one voted on.

July 21, 2026 (2026-07-21 - Assembly Regular)

  • Carried over from July 7. Martinez spoke. Silvers moved approval of S-2 (Volland seconded), but it did not come to a vote that night.
  • Handeland moved to substitute the S-1 version for S-2; failed 4-7 (aye: Handeland, Goecker, McCormick, Johnson).
  • Baldwin Day's amendment to replace "recommendations" with "internal changes to Assembly Policy and Procedures" passed 11-0.
  • Perez-Verdia moved to replace "Martinez" with "Assembly Members" throughout; it died for lack of a second.
  • Several calls for the question failed (Volland's 4-7, Handeland's 5-6) before Scout's passed 11-0; the meeting was extended repeatedly to midnight. The item was carried over to August 4.

August 4, 2026 (2026-08-04 - Assembly Regular)

  • AIM 118-2026 (documents from the July 17 Assembly worksession on the removal procedure in code section 2.70.030 and on other ways to express disapproval of a member's conduct) was filed on the agenda.
  • Silvers Amendment 1 (the Municipal Attorney first makes a preliminary review of whether the allegations are complete and accurate enough to justify a full investigation; if so, a report or request for more time is due within 60 days of the effective date) passed 11-0.
  • Volland's amendment to that amendment (the Assembly would decide by resolution whether a full investigation is justified) was recorded as failed 6-5; the minutes do not state the threshold.
  • Perez-Verdia's Amendment 2 (new findings about the completeness of information presented in AIM 96-2026 and in Handeland's public statements, whether travel served Martinez's private business, and a request that Handeland preserve his records) was withdrawn. The Chair determined that Handeland had a conflict of interest on that amendment.
  • Baldwin Day's amendment to strike most of the resolution (page 2 onward) was recorded as failed 6-5.
  • Points of order: the Chair ruled that McCormick was out of order, and that members should not speak to motive.
  • Counsel Busa (Deputy Municipal Attorney), Hurt (Legislative Counsel) and Gates (Assembly Counsel) spoke after a five-minute recess.
  • Vote on AR 2026-192(S-2), as amended: failed 5-6. (As recorded, the mover Silvers and seconder Volland are listed among the nays; the minutes give no explanation.) Aye: Handeland, Goecker, Brawley, McCormick, Johnson. Nay: Silvers, Perez-Verdia, Volland, Baldwin Day, Scout, Park. Martinez recused.
  • Perez-Verdia moved immediate reconsideration; failed 3-8.
  • AIM 127-2026, submitted by Baldwin Day and reproducing the original AR 2026-192, was laid on the table.

Gaps

  • Minutes after August 18 for this item are not yet posted. Whether the original AR 2026-192 stays pending is not stated in the minutes read.

Sources

Log

2026-08-04 - Assembly Regular

S-2 amended (Silvers Amendment 1, 11-0) and then failed 5-6; reconsideration failed 3-8; Martinez recused.

2026-07-21 - Assembly Regular

Four versions before the Assembly; substitution of S-1 failed 4-7; Baldwin Day amendment passed 11-0; carried over to August 4.