It's not just Democrats. Under Republican Sean Parnell, top government officials made a killing and pocketed huge raises in pay. The worst offender was his chief of staff Mike Nizich who finagled himself one huge salary bump after another huge one after another huge one... (Anch city manager Mike Abbott learned the ropes from Nizich when he worked under him in Knowles' gov office.)

Then there's Bill Walker (GOP? Dem? X?) He promised to restrain huge state government salaries when he campaigned for gov back in 2014. After the votes were tallied he immediately hired new folks and doled out even higher salaries than the Parnell appointees they replaced!

Most legislators went along on the ride an signed off on these huge salary increases.

There are many other small local governments in Alaska where high ranking public officials pocket more than is warranted or needed...and sometimes may even be illegal...like in Seldovia. 

The culture of corruption continues...unabated.