Bernadette Wilson amends disclosure to list Denali Disposal after APOC staff finds violation

Republican candidate for governor Bernadette Wilson amended her state financial disclosure Monday to list her ownership of Denali Disposal Inc., one week after Alaska Public Offices Commission staff found she broke state law by leaving the company off.

The commissioners themselves haven't ruled yet. A hearing on the complaint is due on or before Oct. 8.

The amended disclosure adds a single entry naming Wilson as a stockholder, owner and director of the Anchorage company. Nothing else on the form changed. It doesn't list her as the company's president or say how much of it she owns, two details raised in the original complaint.

That complaint, filed by Joel Borgquist of Eagle River and served Sept. 8, cited state corporation records listing Wilson as Denali Disposal's president, shareholder and director with a 75 percent stake. Wilson's original disclosure, filed May 29, listed the company only as her employer. She is its full-time general manager and was paid $100,000 to $200,000 in 2025.

In a Sept. 21 report to commissioners, staff found that by not listing the company as a business interest, Wilson violated state disclosure law. Staff calculated a maximum penalty of $1,020, at $10 a day for 102 days, but recommended waiving it. The report found no evidence Wilson meant to hide the company, noting that her ownership was already public in state corporate records and that this was her first disclosure. Staff recommended she be directed to amend her statement "to fully disclose her ownership interest."

Staff also recommended dismissing a second claim, that Wilson had to list the company's customers who paid it more than $1,000. Staff concluded that requirement didn't apply, citing Wilson's sworn statement that her role at the company is "strictly back office support."

Commissioners declined earlier this month to fast-track the complaint. In that order, they said recommending against certifying her as a nominee was no longer an option because an Aug. 31 deadline had passed, but that failing to comply with disclosure law could still keep a candidate from taking office.

Early voting opens Oct. 19.