Assemblywoman Accuses Video Center of "Unfair and Biased" Coverage

"Are you the one who 'overseas' camera views? Here's my concern..." began the email sent by Eagle River Assemblywoman Jamie Allard on January 14 to an employee in the Video Center. The Video Center is responsible for recording Anchorage Assembly Meetings.

The emails came to light as the result of a public records request filed by the Recall Jamie Allard group. Public records requests have been a hot commodity this past year, and the Recall Jamie Allard group is poring through their recently obtained trove of documents.

In her email, which Allard copied only to Assemblywoman Crystal Kennedy, a fellow Conservative, Allard wrote she was shared information leading her to believe that when she's speaking at Anchorage Assembly meetings, half the time, the camera isn't on her and only shows the backside of her head.

According to the email chain, Allard claimed that when members call in, the video equipment recording the Anchorage Assembly meeting is quickly turned to other members' seats but not hers.

Allard also wrote in her email that there were many examples of this behavior but noted one specific instance related to her line of questioning about the League of Women Voters and made a stunning allegation that televised coverage of her was "unfair and biased."

The Video Center employee was having none of Allard's accusations and shot back an email to Allard in which he copied the entire Anchorage Assembly defending his team, writing:

"Ms. Allard... There is no bias that is practiced or initiated from the Anchorage Fire Department Video Center and I take personal offense at your suggestion. The camera shots are chosen by my independent contractors who are operating the equipment in a fluid environment and are seasoned technical directors. I will not entertain this conversation and expect to hear no more on the subject."

Allard, who sometimes has a propensity to double-down on the wrong side of an argument, responded to the Municipal employee, writing that she never meant to offend him and wanted to work on equitable coverage. Allard's doubling down came when she also wrote she was looking forward to having this issue corrected, thanking the employee for their service.

Wild.