Former Fairbanks Assemblyman Aaron Lojewski, who has been a budget hawk and champion of preventing higher taxes in Fairbanks, has dropped his bid for mayor of the Fairbanks North Star Borough, which gives fellow conservative John Coghill a stronger shot at winning against leftist hardliner Grier Hopkins, son of former Mayor Luke Hopkins.
Lojewski has been a champion of the tax cap.
Coghill is the former state senator from Fairbanks, while Hopkins is a former representative.
Lojewki’s departure from the race means that Coghill still has to contend with Hopkins and Robert Shields, who is a member of the Green Party of Alaska. Shields may drain votes from Hopkins, however.
Mayor Bryce Ward has served three terms as borough mayor and has to sit this one out.
Also on the borough ballot are three Assembly seats: Assembly Seat A, with Miguel Ramirez and incumbent David Guttenberg as current candidates; Assembly Seat F, with Garrett Armstrong and Tammie Wilson the current candidates; Assembly Seat G, with no declared candidates (Kristan Kelly, incumbent); School Board seats A (no declared candidate yet) and B (declared candidates are April Smith and Morgan Dulian); and two seats on the Interior Natural Gas Utility Board.
Filing for elected office in Fairbanks closes on Monday, July 29 at 5 p.m., and candidates who wish to withdraw have until Aug. 5 to do so.
Voters participating in the election will be asked to consider Proposition 1, an ordinance relating to the renewal of the current tax cap, which the Assembly liberal majority wants to blow through. The tax cap must be renewed every two years or the politicians can increase the cap. The wording on the proposition is:
Shall Sections 8.04.290 And 8.04.300 Of The Fairbanks North Star Borough Code Of Ordinances Be Enacted As Follows? These Sections Will Provide For Limitations On The Maximum Allowable Tax Revenues For The Fairbanks North Star Borough. Under Section 8.04.290 The Borough Will Be Able To Levy Or Impose Only The Same Amount Of Taxes For One Fiscal Year As The Borough Levied Or Imposed For The Preceding Year, Except That The Borough Can Increase The Amount Of Taxes Levied Or Imposed (A) To Adjust For Inflation: (B) To Take Into Account New Buildings And Land Coming Onto The Tax Rolls; (C) Make New Payments On Bonds; (D) Pay For Services Approved By Voters; (E) Pay For New Legal Judgements Entered Against The Borough; And To Pay For Expenses In Emergencies. Section 8.04.300 Provides A Formula And Definitions For The Limitations Of Section 8.04.290.
A “YES” vote means that the current “tax cap” will remain in effect. This “tax cap” will be enacted in borough code, and be unable to be modified or negated for a period of two years.
A “NO” vote means that the current “tax cap” will be able to be modified or negated by action of the Borough Assembly.
The borough and City of Fairbanks elections end Oct. 1, with early voting starting Sept. 16.
John Coghill needs to pound sand. FNSB will go to. Greer. John knew hecwas playing the spoiler. Dont blame Aaron for getting out .now there will be only one to blame for the Rwpublicans They will never learn. I see your house race is shaping up the aame way.
I was all in for Aaron. Now, it’s John Coghill, who should be able to handily give Grier Hopkins his second election defeat. Hopkins is the brother in law of Scott Kendall, the known Democrat operative, election cheater, architect of rank choice voting in Alaska, and perpetual litigator of frivolous suits.
Go Coghill!
Votes and money coming at you.