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Ombudsman Investigates Public Guardian

In Front Page News, News by kate-omb

Concerned family members made a complaint about the guardianship of a man who died while a ward of the Public Guardian and the Office of Public Advocacy. The Ombudsman investigated whether the Public Guardian visited with the man, as required by state law, and whether they spent his limited resources in a way to provide him with safe and consistent housing. Based on the evidence, they had not. The Ombudsman also investigated how the Public Guardian managed his finances after his death.

Read the summary of the investigation, and the recommendations we made to the Office of Public Advocacy:

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Intake phones will be closed the week of Oct. 26

In Front Page News, News by Ben Hohenstatt

Our office’s intake phones will be closed the week of October 26, 2026, while our team participates in its annual training meeting.

During this closure, complaints can be made by emailing ombudsman@akleg.gov or online via the confidential and secure portal available through our website. Intake staff will begin responding to complaints, including voice mails received while our phones are closed, the week of November 2, 2026.

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An outage is affecting our Juneau phones

In Front Page News, News by Ben Hohenstatt

Our office’s Juneau phone number, (907) 465-4970, is unexpectedly out of order while we migrate phone systems.

If you need to make a phone call to our office, please use our Anchorage number, (907) 269-5290. Complaints to the Ombudsman can also be made by emailing ombudsman@akleg.gov or via our confidential and secure complaint portal.

This post will be updated when the temporary outage is over.

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Winter 2025 Newsletter

In Front Page News, News, Newsletters by Ben Hohenstatt

The end of the year was filled with snow flurries and a flurry of activity for the office of the Alaska State Ombudsman.

Continuing education, community service, resolving complaints and a small move kept our staff busy. Read about it in our Winter 2025 Newsletter.

If you would like to receive news from our office as an email, use the form below to sign up for our newsletter.

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Summer 2025 Newsletter

In Front Page News, News, Newsletters by Ben Hohenstatt

It’s been a busy summer for the Office of the Alaska State Ombudsman.

Catch up on the latest from our office, including the beginning of Ombudsman Jacob Carbaugh’s term, recently resolved complaints and soggy outreach efforts, with our Summer 2025 newsletter.

If you would like to receive news from our office as an email, use the form below to sign up for our newsletter.

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Spring 2025 Newsletter

In Front Page News, News, Newsletters by Ben Hohenstatt

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Office of the Alaska State Ombudsman, and it’s off to a busy start.

Catch up on how we’ve observed the milestone year, recent leadership changes within the office, outreach efforts, and more in the Alaska State Ombudsman Spring 2025 Newsletter.

If you would like to receive news from our office as an email, use the form below to sign up for our newsletter.

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Ombudsman Burkhart Announces Resignation

In Front Page News, News by kate-omb

Ombudsman Kate Burkhart has announced her resignation, effective April 1, 2025. Assistant Ombudsman Jacob Carbaugh will serve as Acting Ombudsman until the Alaska Legislature appoints a new ombudsman. Burkhart was appointed Ombudsman by the Alaska Legislature in 2017 and unanimously reconfirmed in 2022. “I leave this organization proud of the work our team has accomplished together over the years,” Burkhart said.

Jacob Carbaugh joined the Ombudsman’s office in 2020. Born in Alaska and a graduate of the University of Alaska, Carbaugh has spent 17 serving his community. He worked with the Alaska Court System and Office of Public Advocacy prior to becoming an Assistant Ombudsman. Carbaugh has led complex and systemic ombudsman investigations and, since 2023, served as Acting Ombudsman on multiple occasions.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to continue the invaluable work of the Alaska State Ombudsman to promote fair and efficient state government operations,” Carbaugh said. “Our office remains committed to impartially investigating citizen complaints about the administrative acts of state agencies consistent with our core values and working with agencies to develop solutions through objective and meaningful recommendations for improvement.”

Read the full Press Release.