Local Coverage of Dan Sullivan Empty Town Hall

 

Sullivan, without Sullivan

KUAC | By Robyne

Published March 20, 2025 at 10:56 AM AKDT

Fairbanks residents gathered Monday to pepper Alaska's junior U.S. senator with questions about the Trump administration's actions — although he was absent.

There was an overflow crowd at the Noel Wien Public Library’s auditorium Monday night, as about 175 people tried to squeeze in. A life-size portrait of U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan was printed on cardboard and set up in the center of the room, which acted as a stand-in for him.

Constituents lined up at two microphones to address their grievances.

“Today the Republican administration crossed yet another line, a particularly terrifying one. They have now openly defied a legal ruling by the courts. This was in regard to deportations, and I want to know, Senator Sullivan, what are you going to do?” asked Sarah Garland....

Continue to read on Alaska Public Media:

https://alaskapublic.org/news/politics/washington-d-c/2025-03-20/sullivan-skips-fairbanks-town-hall-as-constituents-air-complaints-and-questions 

160 residents host Fairbanks town hall without Sen. Dan Sullivan

• Haley Lehman
 
• Mar 18, 2025
 

Fairbanks Daily News Miner

Fairbanks residents hosted a town hall for Alaska’s Sen. Dan Sullivan Monday night. Sullivan’s seat was empty.

The Concerned Citizens of Interior Alaska, an informal group of Interior residents, started calling Sullivan’s offices earlier this month, asking him to host a town hall in Fairbanks while the Senate had a recess. Shortly afterward, the group reserved the auditorium at Noel Wien Public Library in case Sullivan was available. Sullivan’s staff declined the invitation during a phone call on March 11....

Read on the Fairbanks Daily News Miner:

https://www.newsminer.com/news/politics/160-residents-host-fairbanks-town-hall-without-sen-dan-sullivan/article_163950f8-0390-11f0-ba8b-6b6fbb115855.html 

The Alaska Current:

Alaskans turn to empty-chair town halls as Sullivan, Begich duck outrage over Trump

ByMatt Acuña Buxton

March 18, 2025

The first two months of the second Trump administration have brought practically nothing but bad news to Alaska, a state that is more reliant on the federal government than most. Mass firings have put hundreds of Alaskans out of work and thrown key parts of the state’s economy – particularly tourism reliant on the national parks – into chaos. The trade war with Canada threatens to escalate costs for many goods in Alaska, and tens of millions of dollars of already approved infrastructure money is in limbo.

And that’s not to mention the president’s general disregard for the rule of law or Republicans’ plans to slash Medicaid spending.

While U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski has been willing to stand up for Alaska and buck her party at times, the same can’t be said for U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan and U.S. Rep. Nick Begich. They’ve offered approval of Trump’s actions or, more often than not, outright silence.

Continue to read article on the Alaska Current:

https://thealaskacurrent.com/2025/03/18/alaskans-turn-to-empty-chair-town-halls-as-sullivan-begich-duck-outrage-over-trump/ 

Dan Sullivan Empty Town Hall, March 17th, Fairbanks AK

 

At 6 pm on March 17, 2025, local Fairbanks residents put on an Empty Chair Town Hall at the Noel Wien Library, with a printed photo of Dan Sullivan and invited people to come share comments with "Dan Sullivan" (who had been informed, but refused to appear). 

At least 175 people were in attendance, spilling out of the auditorium into the hall. There may have been as many as 225 people there. And everyone had something to say to Dan Sullivan.

For an hour and a half, residents filed up to microphones to make statements and sometimes to read letters they had written for Dan Sullivan. Many were very poignant and well thought out. None were positive.

A lot of people mentioned writing numerous letters to Senator Sullivan. Or mentioned leaving daily voicemails for him. Many people asked what Senator Sullivan considered to be his "red line" the line that he would not allow Donald Trump to cross over. A question a lot of us in Alaska would like answered. 

There were many people worried about cuts in Social Security or to Medicaid and other programs. Some were worried about ICE raids and immigrants. 

Some were worried about Trump's seeming disregard for the Constitution and existing laws, and questioned whether we are sliding into an authoritarian dictatorship, and when Dan Sullivan was going to speak out.

I took this footage, you are welcome to use it.

Video footage:

https://youtu.be/HCpCsiL3wes