Anchorage Daily Planet

Bill Walker is thinking about continuing his campaign for governor after finishing as runner-up in the GOP gubernatorial primary by winning about a third of the votes in the six-way race .

He should quickly finish reviewing his options and come to the same conclusion we did: He must continue his race, perhaps as a third-party candidate. The Associated Press, for instance, reported Don Wright of Fairbanks, the Alaskan Independence Party pick, has withdrawn from the race.

Republicans should welcome a continued effort from Walker. Gov. Sean Parnell, the Republican candidate, may have a tough time getting their support against a determined Ethan Berkowitz, the Democrats’ candidate.

Parnell, no fiscal conservative or small-government advocate, has been irresponsible with the state constitution by skirting its hiring requirements – perhaps making him impeachable in the next Legislature – and he has refused to tell Alaskans the details known to the state about the recent open season for a gas pipeline.

Many conservatives are toying with the notion of voting for Berkowitz as a protest. Berkowitz also appears to them to be the better choice – so far – to get Alaska’s economy up and running.

Walker could espouse true conservative principles if he were to continue, and he should do just that – for the good of the state.