By Suzanne Downing 
RAISES NEW ETHICAL CONCERNS ABOUT FORMER ATTORNEY GENERAL
Former Alaska Attorney General Treg Taylor raised eyebrows this week when he posted a campaign-trail photo of himself enjoying a gooey dessert at a Fairbanks café, while wearing a conspicuously official State of Alaska Department of Law Criminal Division jacket.
Taylor, who is running for governor, left office in September. Yet the campaign photo shows him wearing a state-issued garment embroidered with the official state seal and the name of the Department of Law’s criminal division – the unit he oversaw before being appointed attorney general.
The image immediately drew scrutiny from legal observers and former state employees who sent it to The Alaska Story, pointing out that that Alaska’s Executive Branch Ethics Act bars current and former officials from using official insignia, uniforms, or state-issued property in any political activity. The rules are designed to prevent candidates from implying government endorsement or authority. Even passive use, such as wearing a state-logo jacket in a campaign photo, is typically prohibited.
The concerns fall into several categories: misuse of official position or state resources, implied state authority, and improper use of official insignia that could mislead the public.
Wearing apparel bearing a state seal or division logo during campaign activity can be considered a use of government property for political purposes. Even though Taylor is no longer attorney general, posing in a Criminal Division jacket suggests an ongoing connection to the department, something the ethics act explicitly aims to prevent because it creates the appearance of government endorsement or misrepresents a candidate as still holding official authority.
Taylor has already faced ethics concerns this year. While serving as attorney general, he traveled the state creating and attending private events and speaking with groups in what many saw as pre-campaign activities, all before filing any declaration of candidacy.
The new photo appears to continue that pattern of blurring the ethical line: Taylor blending campaign promotion with symbols of public office.
Because Taylor is no longer in state service, options for formal enforcement may be limited. Former officials are still covered by certain provisions, but consequences are typically weaker and investigations rarer.
Still, the image reveals an ethical conflict: A former attorney general who was also the former head of the criminal division, now running for governor while using visual cues that imply he still holds those roles.
Criminal Division??? I’m seeing a pattern here. Is there no law that prohibits this blatant abuse of public property? I will call my representative and propose one ASAP.
He like the other candidates except Bernadette should have just quietly gone into private but get involved on his community council
his neighbors could use his leadership experience serving in their neighborhood council
The councils need more Right sided neighbors present and active at their meetings
Same thing with Crum
If he went into private keeping a lower profile by changing his work environment to work on his council, then he can escape Downing’s magnifying glass as long as he keeps himself out of the spotlight
Insignia misuse is a small thing really, but it says a hell of a lot about his willingness to break any norm or law to advance him to Mordor.
I wore my HS letter jacket for a month after I graduated.
Suzanne says: “Still, the image reveals an ethical conflict: A former attorney general who was also the former head of the criminal division, now running for governor while using visual cues that imply he still holds those roles.”
I get the outrage and agree that Taylor’s stillborn campaign needs something to jump start it, but would be careful traveling this road. We wear a lot of symbology in our lives, most of it sports related. Does that imply we hold actual roles with those teams? How about those who wear military gear? It’s not so bad for the retirees who used to serve, but the question is the same.
My concern with Taylor starts and ends with his abject refusal to stand up to the feral judiciary in this state, a judiciary that he will have to deal with if elected. Either the elected politicians run this state or the judges do. Today, the judges, led by the Alaska Supremes believe they are in charge. Sooner or later, someone will have to disabuse them of that notion. If he didn’t push back against their overreach while Attorney General, there is no reason he will do anything different if elected. As such, I find him unqualified. Cheers –
Maybe(?) … it was prescribed clothing to be worn for imagery – status, as directed by Jodi???
Why am I not surprised?
The man did little in his position to support the letter of the law in Alaska, much less the intent. He hobnobbed & rubbed elbows to advance his own aspirations. Yawn.