Anchorage Assembly to consider investigation that could lead to removal of George Martinez

By SUZANNE DOWNING

July 3, 2026 – The Anchorage Assembly will decide Tuesday whether to open a formal investigation into Assembly Member George Martinez, after two of his colleagues introduced a resolution that could begin the process of removing him from office.

Assembly Members Jared Goecker and Donald Handeland introduced AR 2026-192, asking the Assembly to initiate removal proceedings against Martinez under Anchorage Municipal Code Section 2.70.030. The resolution also directs the Municipal Attorney to retain outside legal counsel to investigate allegations laid out in an accompanying accusation document.

The measure is scheduled for consideration at the Assembly’s July 7 regular meeting. Other members plan to counter that move with a motion to censure the hip-hop member from New York City.

The proposal comes after the Alaska Public Offices Commission found Martinez, who was active in the Occupy Wall Street movement in New York City, had improperly used campaign funds for personal benefit and determined that portions of his sworn testimony before the commission were not credible.

Those findings are only part of a broader pattern that now warrants an independent investigation.

“If these facts don’t warrant an investigation, it’s hard to imagine what would. An elected official was found by APOC to have illegally used campaign funds for personal benefit and gave testimony the Commission found not credible, under oath,” Goecker said in a joint statement released with the resolution.

He added that additional questions have since emerged involving taxpayer-funded travel to Puerto Rico and what he described as an apparent undisclosed business interest.

“The public deserves answers, not assumptions, not excuses, but answers,” Goecker said. “A vote for this resolution is not a declaration of guilt. It’s a declaration that no elected official is above scrutiny when public trust is on the line.”

Handeland said the Assembly should examine whether Martinez’s municipal travel complied with ethics rules and whether additional financial disclosure questions need to be addressed.

“Mr. Martinez has already shown serious judgment problems when it comes to travel paid for by others. After giving sworn testimony about travel that the facts do not support, similar concerns involving taxpayer-funded Assembly travel cannot be brushed aside,” Handeland said.

“Anchorage residents deserve to know whether this was legitimate municipal business or another example of travel abuse. When you combine that with additional questions about undisclosed business interests, this is no longer one isolated issue. It is a broader pattern that demands a serious investigation and a clear answer for the public.”

The proposed resolution does not remove Martinez from office. Instead, it would authorize an outside investigation into the allegations and begin the formal process outlined in municipal code for considering whether removal is warranted.

The Assembly is expected to debate the measure during its July 7 meeting. If approved, outside counsel would be retained to investigate the accusations before any further action on removal could be considered.

The resolution and supporting documents are posted as Item 12.B. on the July 7 Anchorage Assembly agenda. As the Assembly is dominated by Democrats, it’s unlikely to be successful.

Members of the public wishing to comment on the proposal may email the Assembly at assembly@anchorageak.govbefore the meeting.