APOC staff say former Anchorage Assembly member Dan Coffey failed to register as a lobbyist for the Municipality of Anchorage and then made illegal campaign contributions to legislative candidates outside his own district. The commission held a hearing Wednesday to discuss the consent agreement. Commission member Joan Mize explains what he did wrong.

“Mr. Coffey basically held himself out to be a lobbyist and did not register as a lobbyist. And the public has the right to know who’s influencing legislation and Mr. Coffey lobbied for the Municipality of Anchorage, for the Port of Anchorage Project and received actual funds for that project which he was lobbying for.”

Under the agreement, Coffey admits he violated the law and the staff recommends a reduction of the maximum possible fine from $36,500 to nearly $12,000. Coffey says he thought he didn’t have to be registered if he limited his hours of lobbying activities. Coffey’s job was to try to get the Legislature to pay for the cost over-runs at the Port of Anchorage. Coffey has 30 days to pay the fines or to appeal. Coffey and Anchorage Mayor Dan Sullivan were contacted for this story but did not return calls by deadline.

• Dan Coffey Consent Agreement (PDF)

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