The Alaska Senate Finance Committee on March 30 forwarded Sam Laffey, the governor’s nominee to the State Assessment Review Board, to a joint session of the Legislature after a brief interview and no objections from committee members.

Sam Laffey, the governor’s nominee and an attorney in the Office of Public Advocacy in Anchorage, told the committee he has an MBA and a law degree from the University of Wyoming and has practiced law for about five years. "I am honored to be the nominee for the State Assessment Review Board," Laffey said, adding that he has read statutes and case law relevant to property and pipeline valuation.

The committee chair, Senator Bert Stedman, conducted a short on-the-record interview asking Laffey to summarize his education, work history and understanding of the board’s duties. Laffey described the board’s role as hearing initial appeals over oil- and pipeline-related property tax assessments determined by the Department of Revenue and as a “finder of fact” that reviews factual records before decisions that may be reviewed in superior court and, ultimately, by the Alaska Supreme Court.

Senator Tom Kiehl asked about Laffey’s experience with real estate valuation. Laffey said he had taken property-law courses in law school, has informal experience assessing residential and commercial properties, and has spent the past four years practicing law for the state. When asked about pipelines, production and equipment valuation, Laffey said he had studied relevant Alaska Supreme Court decisions and believed his legal training would help him interpret case law and advise the board.

The committee opened and closed public testimony after confirming there were no speakers in the room or online. Senator Shelley Merrick moved that the committee forward Laffey’s nomination to a joint session; there were no objections and the nomination was forwarded.

The committee record states the committee’s motion did not reflect any intent by members to vote for or against confirmation in the joint session.

No formal confirmation vote occurred at the Finance Committee meeting; the nomination will proceed to the joint session for further consideration.