The state’s campaign finance regulator has fined an Anchorage Assembly member more than $5,000 for allegedly violating campaign disclosure laws.
Anchorage resident Vickie Clay filed a complaint with the Alaska Public Offices Commission against Assembly Member George Martinez in February alleging that Martinez had improperly listed campaign expenses. The expenses included an Alaska Airlines flight Martinez took to Fort Lauderdale, Florida and a $1,000 donation he made to Chooose Inc., a company that works in offsetting carbon emissions from air travel. The combined expenses totaled over $2,200.
In a hearing with APOC commissioners in early June, Martinez claimed he used the flight time as a campaign planning session, “where he could devote all his time and effort to the campaign while in the air and waiting to board,” according to the order. The flight was Dec. 30, 2025, and Martinez flew back to Anchorage about an hour after arriving in Florida, according to records he submitted. He said the donation to Chooose Inc. was part of his campaign’s commitment to offset carbon emissions from air travel…