Alaska Independence Party denies Bill Walker

Bill Walker won't be running for governor on the Alaskan Independence Party ticket.

Don Wright of Wasilla has decided to keep his spot as the party's gubernatorial candidate, party chairwoman Lynette Clark said Saturday.

"No more of this rent-a-party crap for the AIP," she said.

The AIP's board of directors met for several hours on Friday night and Clark said they did talk about a possible Bill Walker candidacy, although never a Lisa Murkowski bid as some bloggers had reported earlier.

But Wright decided he wanted the spot. "He has not succumbed to the pressure that was applied to him, and he says she's sticking with it," Clark said.

The board also chose Norm Olson of Kenai as the lieutenant governor candidate.

The AIP has seen a steady rise in membership over the past few years, after falling when founder and leader Joe Vogler was killed. Clark said the membership stands at about 14,500 now.

Walker lost in the GOP primary to Gov. Sean Parnell.

She said the group has asked Walker to join the party and work with it on getting the all-Alaska gas line built, which is Walker's signature issue.

Walker spokesman Taylor Bickford said Saturday that Walker is still trying to decide whether he wants to stay in the race for governor and looking at his options, which appear to be either a bid as a Libertarian if that party were to give him the spot or as a write-in candidate.

"We respect the decision that the AIP made and we're continue to move forward," Bickford said.