By CRAIG CAMPBELL
Elections have consequences. Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) created an election process designed to reduce political party influence, but it also has taken away the premise of “one person, one vote.” That was intentional, as RCV is intended to elect “consensus” candidates, not necessarily the voter majority preferred candidate.
In Alaska, Democrats have been slick at reducing the number of Democrats running against each other, while Republicans often have multiple Republicans in any race. That was clearly seen in yesterday’s elections. Even more challenging is having multiple Republicans in a race where one is actually favored and supported by Democrats.
Incumbents have a higher probability of winning re-election due to name recognition and support from special interest groups. Thus, for a challenger to beat an incumbent, there must be a unified campaign with a consistent message that informs the voters of the stark differences between the incumbent and the challenger. RCV also gives the incumbent a tremendous advantage when there are multiple challengers from the same political party.
Such is the case in Senate District L, where incumbent Kelly Merrick may face two other Republicans.
While registered as a Republican, Merrick has gained most of her support from labor unions, special interest groups, and Democrats. In her elected career, she has consistently joined coalitions with Democrats. She is one of eight Senate Republicans who organized with all nine Democrats this past 33rd legislative session to form a coalition despite the fact that the Senate had a Republican numerical majority of eleven.
In doing so, those eight Republicans turned their backs on three Republicans to give significant control of the Senate to Democrats. This is a pattern she learned while serving in the State House, where she joined Democrat controlled coalitions, despite telling voters she would not.
Senate District L is one of the most conservative districts in Anchorage. It should be represented by a Republican who will stand with Republicans to form Republican controlled majorities. If Eagle River/Chugiak wants to see a Republican Senate majority next year, we must elect an actual Republican to replace Merrick.
Based on yesterday’s preliminary results the only Republican who can defeat Merrick in November is Jared Goecker. But to do this, Ken McCarty must withdraw from the race and endorse Jared Goecker. I know Ken, he is a solid Republican who served our area well in the State House.
I also know Sharon Jackson, who is a proud military veteran and also served us well in the State House. If both Ken and Sharon join the Goecker team, Jared can beat Merrick in November. Jared is a solid Republican who is committed to only joining a Republican majority, led by Republicans. He will not coop his principles by joining with a coalition numerically controlled by Democrats, unlike our current senator.
Let’s take back control of the Senate. Let’s replace Merrick with Jared Goecker.
Ken, Sharon, this is the time for statesmanship and a consolidated effort to secure Senate District L with a Senator who represents our conservative political principles. Now is the time for them to withdraw and publicly endorse Jared. We can do this, but only with a united Republican campaign supporting the strongest challenger, and that candidate is Jared Goecker.
Craig E. Campbell served on the Anchorage Assembly between 1986 and 1995 and later as Alaska’s Tenth Lieutenant Governor. He was the previous Chief Executive Officer and President for Alaska Aerospace Corporation. He retired from the Alaska National Guard as Lieutenant General (AKNG) and holds the concurrent retired Federal rank of Major General (USAF).
I hope they do the right thing. Unlike Nancy…
Amen, Brother!
I wish I had known more about Jared but life has kept me too busy to research him and I voted for Sharon. Jared will getting our votes in November because Kelly Merrick isn’t who she says she is and is not a conservative or Republican.
Jared Goeker worked for the Muni in the Human Resources department and was responsible for vetting Joe Gerace before Gerace was selected as the Muni’s health director in 2021.
Goeker is not suited to responsible and trustworthy work and representation at the Alaska State Legislature. VOTE for anybody but him.
[Do not delete this comment, Suzanne.]
Actually I do not think Jared was working at muni at that time. Just because he was there does not mean he had anything to do with vetting.
He is a great candidate and would truly represent conservatives in his district not unions and special interest.
You are flat wrong. False information is being spread on here now!!!
If you had followed the issue of the Gerace hiring, you would know NOBODY vetted Gerace. They ran a simple background check and offered him the job. Blaming Jared is silly as he was not involved. Why did your libtard friends on the Assembly fail their charter duties and fail to VET the appointee? They are the true failures on this hiring. Every one of the assembly members that voted to approve (confirm) the hiring should have been recalled for breach of their duty.
Niki Tshibaka did in fact testify to the Assembly that HE had been pressured to rush that hiring. He departed almost immediately after that came out on the record.
This is a FACT, supported by actual record. Suzanne SHOULD delete this actual character besmirching of Mr. Goeker.
Goecker shows up as a new hire in the first quarter of 2022. You can find that in Assembly Information Memorandum 65-2022 dated April 26,2022. So the Gerace mess predated his hiring.
Nikki Tshibaka needed to own the Gerace hiring. Instead he showed who he really is. Made an excuse than quit. Anybody can listen to his testimony and listen to him sell Gerace to the assembly repeating complete lies.
Now to get Dahlstrom to do the same but her EGO is more domineering.
Couldn’t voters vote for Ken Or Sharon as first choice and Jared as second choice, and he would still win.
That doesnt work out if RINO Merrick gets 50% in the first round.
Rigged choice can be complicated and I may be wrong.
Knowing Jared is the top vote getter is better to rank him first.
Here here!
Go Goecker!
Sleeping with a rabid porcupine would be preferable to seeing Merrick. She should have been replaced immediately after turning her back on her constituents after being elected.
Well said. Ditto for the Federal House Seat.
I live in the district, and I knew Merrick was trouble when one of her canvassers informed me that she “works across the aisle.” In this state, that term means “votes like a Democrat.” I voted for Jackson, but I could live with Goecker over Merrick. McCarty sounds like a good guy, but alas, look at the numbers.
To be a true Republican in Alaska today you need to be unwilling to speak to a Democrat much less compromise in passing legislation. Don’t be a RINO!
Praying for Eagle River’s success to remove Kelly Merrick!
Get out now Nancy.
Now our former Lt Gov needs to address the current Lt Gov.
Nancy needs to go….you are the weakest link, GOODBYE
Campbell has opinions on a State Senate race, but silent on most important race in Alaska
I guess Jared is Craig’s boy. If he finishes second it will be interesting to see what he does. He is on record opposing ranked choice voting and supporting the repeal. I have nothing against the guy and he may be better than Merrick. His bio is very incomplete. He comes across as the second coming of Art Chance. He resigned his state job to take a $173,000 a year job with the municipality of Anchorage. I do not see that as a bad thing. He lived in Eagle River has a family and the job paid better. I do question the process. But the spoil system is part of politics. I just wish he would cut the stupid rhetoric. For a guy that the swamp has groomed to go around saying drain the swamp and talking about smaller government seems a little hypocritical to me. I give him credit on filing for office. He was smart enough to see his free ride with the Bronson administration coming to an end.
Jared Goeker’s muni job was in the Human Resources department paid him $170,000.00 per year. In exchange for that large amount of annual income, it was his job (along with Nikki Tsibaka) to vet Joe Gerace before he was given a high-level job for which he (Gerace) was completely unqualified at $130,000.00 per year. Jared Goeker did not bother to verify Gerace’s *fraudulent* military credentials, academic transcripts, medically-related certifications, and past employment. I appears that Goeker did not do anything that was required of him in this instance. Now I know that Goeker is not smart enough or hard-working enough or interested enough to represent anybody in the Alaska legislature. He only cares about himself and raking in as much money as the can. Craig Campbell should know this.
VOTE FOR SOMEBODY ELSE!