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Spending on Facebook Ads to Boost Education Agenda
Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy’s office spent nearly $10,000 in public funds on Facebook ads to rally support for his education agenda, according to records obtained by the Daily News. The ads, which ran between June and September, were designed to collect the names and email addresses of individuals backing the governor’s education proposals. Featuring AI-generated images and taglines like “Schools shouldn’t decide your child’s future” and “Stop Government Overreach in Schools,” the ads were part of an effort to gather support after a contentious legislative session where Dunleavy clashed with lawmakers over his education policies.
The ads promoted initiatives such as a teacher bonus plan and the expansion of charter schools through a state board appointed by the governor. According to data from the governor’s office, the ads garnered 2,256 signatures and reached over 20,000 views by the end of September. The governor’s spokesperson, Jessica Bowers, explained that the goal was to keep Alaskans informed about public education proposals and to gain support for Dunleavy’s education campaign for improving education in the state.
Controversy Over Public Funds and Ethics Concerns
Governor Dunleavy has faced criticism over the use of state money for political advertising in the past. In 2019, his administration spent over $35,000 on ads promoting various policy initiatives, which led to an ethics investigation. Although most of the 2019 ads complied with state law, Dunleavy’s education campaign agreed to pay a $2,800 settlement for referencing legislators running for reelection in some of the ads.
Alaska state law prohibits the use of public funds for partisan purposes, but an ethics review in 2020 determined that gathering constituent information was legal as long as it remained within state government. Dunleavy’s latest round of Facebook ads has again raised concerns about the appropriateness of using public resources to promote his political agenda. NEA-Alaska President Tom Klaameyer described the campaign as an attempt to divide Alaskans and undermine the state’s public education system, calling it “an ominous use of public funds for extreme partisan priorities.”
Political Context and Ongoing Education Reforms
The Facebook ad campaign follows Dunleavy’s veto of a widely supported bipartisan education bill earlier this year. The bill would have permanently increased Alaska’s school funding formula, but Dunleavy rejected it, arguing that it did not include his proposed teacher bonus plan or provisions for expanding charter schools. The governor, a former teacher himself, has repeatedly advocated for more charter schools in Alaska. His efforts have focused on shifting the authority to approve new charter schools from locally elected school boards to a state board appointed by him.
Dunleavy’s administration also sought signatures for a petition supporting education reform during the Alaska State Fair. However, details about the governor’s reform plans were reportedly limited. The governor has continued to criticize the National Education Association of Alaska (NEA-Alaska), accusing the union of resisting efforts to innovate outside traditional neighborhood schools. Despite his efforts, Dunleavy’s education campaign have faced resistance in the state legislature, and his future plans for reform remain unclear.
