A new group, calling itself Veterans for Political Innovation, is set to launch its Alaska chapter in Eagle River, with an agenda that has raised concerns among the local conservatives in the community.
With a significant population of active military personnel and veterans residing in the area, the group’s choice of location has drawn attention to its potential motives.
The launch meeting is scheduled to take place at Odd Man Brewing Company in Eagle River on Thursday, starting at 4:30 pm. The event is promoted as a happy hour.
A look into the hidden agenda behind Veterans for Political Innovation reveals a connection to a larger cause and Democrat groups. Veterans for Political Innovation acts as a protection racket for the open primaries and ranked choice voting. The group’s main financial backing comes from the Institute for Political Innovation, founded by Katherine Gehl, a far-left businesswoman known for her donations exclusively to Democratic candidates, as documented by OpenSecrets.org.
Among the principals of the Institute for Political Innovation is Scott Kendall, a well-known Alaska lawyer and political activist who serves as a senior advisor to the group. Kendall was instrumental in bringing Alaska’s open primaries and ranked choice voting to the state through his involvement with Alaskans for Better Elections and the successful push to get Ballot Measure 2 approved in 2020.
Surprisingly, the sole representative listed for Veterans for Political Innovation in Alaska is Michael Flint, an LGBTQ activist who identifies as a veteran. He is an employee of the State of Alaska.
Flint, who is the president of “Pride at Work Alaska,” was recently seen lobbying for the passage of an LGBTQ bill in the Capitol in Juneau. Reports indicate that Flint refused to engage with lawmakers who are not gay, raising questions about impartiality and the motives behind his involvement with Veterans for Political Innovation.
Critics argue that that the open primary and ranked choice voting general election system in Alaska guaranteed a Democrat victory in the Alaska U.S. House seat, as it pitted Republicans against each other and left the field open for Rep. Mary Peltola to win.
Leading the staff of Veterans for Political Innovation are notable figures, including Eric Bronner, the chief operating officer, and an heir to the Dr. Bronner soap company. The Bronner Family Foundation is one of the main funders of Veterans for Political Innovation. CEO and co-founder Todd Connor, along with Dan Biga, chief of staff, and Jamison Aweau, director of brand, complete the top leadership team of this group that is a surrogate for the mother ship, Institute for Political Innovation.
The group’s tax filings do not yet appear at the IRS database; the group was formed in 2021, and the IRS is far behind in updating its public-facing database.
Connor and Bronner say they present at the launch event in Eagle River, and most certainly will be coordinating with Alaskans for Better Elections staff while in the state. Alaskans for Better Elections is funded by Outside dark money from far-left groups such as Unite America.
