Taylor Bickford, Campaign Manager

Anchorage – Last week, Bill Walker and Sean Parnell exchanged blows at a Republican gubernatorial debate in Juneau. Walker’s Campaign Manager, Taylor Bickford, expects more of the same at today’s Resource Development Council debate in Anchorage.

“There is no question that the race for Alaska governor has emerged as a two-man battle between Bill Walker and Sean Parnell,” commented Bickford.

“Months of tireless campaigning have paid off and our momentum is peaking as we head into the final stretch. Bill Walker is leading the competition in every category that matters and Sean Parnell has adjusted his strategy and focus accordingly. We have more money in the bank, media buys, major endorsements, field offices and staff than the rest of our competitors combined.”

According to Bickford, Parnell is focusing on Bill in debates, interviews and his campaign has begun issuing press releases and statements that are aimed at Bill directly.

“Parnell and his campaign have recently gone on the attack against Bill Walker and are now ignoring other candidates who simply do not have the message, momentum or resources to challenge a sitting incumbent,” said Bickford.

Today’s debate at the Hotel Captain Cook will start at noon and comes just one day after Walker’s filing a second public records request on Parnell for all documents submitted to TransCanada by bidders in the AGIA open season that closed on Friday.

Under the new request, instead of releasing the full cache of TransCanada documents, Parnell has been given the option to instead respond generically with the following pieces of basic information:

1. The total volume of gas nominated for the Canadian route;
2. The total volume of gas nominated for the Valdez route;
3. A list of all conditions accompanying the gas nominations.

Yesterday, Patti Epler of Alaska Dispatch reported that “neither Parnell nor his staff responded to a request for comment.” According to Walker, Parnell will not have that luxury when they take the stage together at noon today for a gubernatorial debate hosted by the Resource Development Council.

“Of the fifteen or so candidate forums so far, today will be only the fifth time Parnell has shown up,” commented Walker.

“Parnell does not want to face the tough questions about the secrecy of the open season or his $20 billion giveaway to the producers. My message to Parnell is Sean, you can run, but you cannot hide. Stop cowering under the cover of incumbency. Debate me.’”