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JUNEAU, Alaska – The governor of Alaska, Byron Mallott, resigned Tuesday due to inappropriate unspecified comments, complicating an already difficult struggle for the re-election of Governor Bill Walker.
Mr. Mallott, in his resignation letter, stated that his decision was "forced by inappropriate comments that I made that put a person whom I respect and reverence in a position of vulnerability".
He apologized and acknowledged that his actions had compromised Mr. Walker's ability to lead the state.
The nature of the comments remained uncertain.
Mr. Mallott did not immediately return a phone message asking for details, and Mr. Walker did not respond to questions at a press conference with Mallott's successor, Valerie Davidson. Until Tuesday, she had been health commissioner.
Mr. Walker's office also provided little detail. In a statement, the governor said he learned on Monday night that Mallott had made inappropriate comments for his office.
"As leaders, we must uphold the highest standards of conduct," Walker said.
The resignation was announced shortly after Walker took part in an often difficult debate in Anchorage with his two main rivals, Democrat Mark Begich and Republican Mike Dunleavy.
Mrs. Davidson said she was "deeply saddened" by Mallott's resignation and "deeply disappointed by her conduct".
"Respect for women and the dignity of all Alaskans is our responsibility," she said in a statement.
In a separate statement, Walker said it was too late for Mallott to remove his name from the ballot, but that Mr. Mallott would not accept the position of lieutenant governor if elected. He said that Ms. Davidson would assume the role of her vice-chair.
Mr. Mallott and Mr. Walker have built close ties since joining a unity struggle in 2014. That year, they both ran for governorship and considered their best chance of winning. defeat Republican Governor Sean Parnell.
As part of this deal, backed by state democrats, Walker changed his membership in a Republican party and became undeclared and Mallott, a Democrat, abandoned his ambitions as governor as vice-presidential candidate. Walker's presidency. They narrowly won.
-Copyright 2018, The Associated Press
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