A matter the Anchorage Assembly declared closed still draws a request for five minutes

The Anchorage Assembly censured Assembly Member George Martinez and voted down an independent investigation of him by a single vote. A resident is still asking for time to talk about it.

Pastor Leon D. May is asking for five minutes at the Aug. 18 meeting, two minutes beyond the three that municipal code allows. He says public comment ran out before he could speak at the last two meetings. He filed with the Municipal Clerk's Office on Aug. 12 and signed as president and pastor of IMA & MLK. The Assembly has scheduled him. He is listed among Tuesday's appearance requests, though not a set length. His stated topic is the two resolutions the Assembly decided concerning Martinez.

One was censuring Martinez over Alaska Public Offices Commission findings that he made campaign expenditures that personally benefited him. It passed 8-3 on July 21, with Martinez recused for a potential conflict. The Assembly first amended it 10-0 to acknowledge his compliance and completion of the repayment the commission directed. The resolution calls the censure a "complete and proportionate response to this matter" and says that once he fully complies, the Assembly considers the matter closed and contemplates no further action.

The other, directing an independent investigation into alleged breaches of public trust, failed 5-6 on Aug. 4, and immediate reconsideration failed 3-8. Its proponents, including members Jared Goecker and Donald Handeland, have argued Martinez's conduct amounts to a breach of public trust warranting resignation or removal proceedings under Anchorage Municipal Code 2.70.030 rather than censure alone. Martinez, recused from both votes, spoke on the investigation resolution in July.