April 30, 2009

Republican Dan Sullivan involved in drunk driving scandal?

A scandal is brewing a week before Anchorage goes to the polls to elect its next Mayor.

Former assemblyman Allan E. Tesche has issued a statement:

Statement issued on April 29, 2009

From court documents we learned today that a cocktail waitress employed by McGinley's Pub was convicted on January 11, 2008 of drunk driving after consuming a "shift beverage" provided by her supervisors in the bar. After leaving, she reportedly turned from 9th Ave. on to L St heading south toward Benson where she collided with another driver at Westchester lagoon. Anybody who lives downtown knows L st. is a one way street going north.

Dan Sullivan is a part owner and managing partner of McGinleys. He is probably I the "Dan" identified in court records who allowed McGinleys' employees to enjoy "shift beverages" and even shared a pitcher of beer with her before she drove away. As a part owner of McGinleys, Sullivan is responsible for the management practices of his bar and the actions of his employees,

I call on Dan Sullivan to explain the management practices of his bar that apparently enabled one of his employees to leave work unable to drive safely, endangering her life and those of other drivers on the road. Can he justify this management practice? Can McGinleys reward good employees without serving them alcohol before they leave the bar and get into their cars?

Has the ABC Board investigated this incident, and if not, why not?

Just as we outlawed happy hours and "2 Xl" drinks, do we need to ban the practice of so called "shift beverages" to prevent this same conduct in the future. I'd ask the Assembly's Public Safety Committee to look into to these management practices and consider remedial legislation.

My wife and I live on G Street, approximately 200 yards from McGinleys.

Allan Tesche

Editor's note

Here's what you will find in the documents:

On a night in early October of 2006, a waitress at McGinley's Pub by the name of Jacqueline LaFrance ended her shift and proceeded to share a pitcher (or pitchers?) of Guinness with someone named Jennifer, and her boss, someone named Dan. She is 23 years old at the time. She testifies that she, Dan, and Jennifer leave the bar together at 4 AM, hug each other, and part ways.

Sometime shortly thereafter, Jacqueline proceeds to drunkenly drive the wrong way down the Minnesota corridor around Westchester Lagoon (which seems pretty hard to do...), and eventually causes a head on accident with a man, who was not injured. She flees the scene, and is arrested at her apartment 2 hours later by the APD, who later testified that she smelled of alcohol and was visibly drunk.

She is found guilty of this crime 14 months later, on January 11th, 2008 (which is a few weeks after Sullivan declared his candidacy, oddly enough).

Copy of Allen Tesche statement (PDF)

Court document 1 (PDF)

Court document 2 (PDF)

Court document 3 (PDF)