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Brena, Democrats to the ‘text rescue’ for Dunbar, as truckers take to roads for Bronson

Suzanne Downing
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17
Brena, Democrats to the ‘text rescue’ for Dunbar, as truckers take to roads for Bronson

Robin Brena, the architect and funder behind the failed oil-tax hike in 2020 known as Ballot Measure 1, poured $4,000 into the Alaska Democratic Party in the final days of the Anchorage mayoral runoff.

The funds will be used to “get out the vote” in in the election that will decide if Forrest Dunbar, a Democrat, or Dave Bronson, a Republican, will become mayor of Anchorage.

Brena, a business partner and transition team oil-tax adviser to former Gov. Bill Walker, put over $400,000 into Ballot Measure One, in addition to paying signature gatherers to get people to sign the ballot initiative. It failed with voters 58-42 in November.

A regular Democrat supporter, Brena had already given the maximum allowed by law to the Dunbar campaign in early January. Must Read Alaska has learned the $4,000 to the Alaska Democrats will be used for text messages to Democrats in Anchorage who haven’t yet voted.

The Anchorage Municipality has also announced free bus service on People Mover on Election Day, ostensibly to help the Democrat vote.

The Alaska Republican Party appears to be working on its own get-out-the-vote strategy, and has reported $21,535 in its seven-day report to be used for the municipal election. This, too, appears to be focused on getting voters to find their ballots in their stack of mail and to vote them. The Republican Party typically stays out of local races as a policy but will work on getting out the vote in some races.

A private group, Conservatives for Bronson, has dump trucks adorned with Bronson signs focused on the Eagle River area, where conservatives have been reported to be hanging onto their ballots. A number of conservatives express continued mistrust of the municipality’s vote-by-mail security and the Bronson campaign has put a focus on that area, including a massive rally on Thursday.

Read: Over 500 turn out for rally in Eagle River

The amount logged in as a contribution to the Conservatives for Bronson account is over $91,000, most of it coming from McKenna Bros. as a non-monetary contribution of the trucks and their drivers.

Secure drop boxes for ballots are located at:

  • Anchorage School District Education Center – 5530 East Northern Lights Boulevard: Location Picture 
  • Bartlett High School – 1101 Golden Bear Drive: Location Picture 
  • Begich Middle School – 7440 Creekside Center Drive: Location Picture
  • City Hall – 632 West 6th Avenue, Parking Lot
  • Clark Middle School – 150 Bragaw Street: Location Picture 
  • Dimond High School – 2909 West 88th Avenue: Location Picture
  • Eagle River Town Center – 12001 Business Boulevard (in Eagle River): Location Picture
  • Election Center – 619 East Ship Creek Avenue: Location Picture
  • Fairview Community Recreation Center – 1121 East 10th Avenue: Location Picture 
  • Girdwood Community Center – 250 Egloff Drive (in Girdwood): Location Picture
  • Loussac Library – 3600 Denali Street: Location Picture
  • O’Malley’s on the Green – 3651 O’Malley Road: Location Picture
  • New! Planning and Development Center (MOA Permit Center) – 4700 Elmore Road: Location Picture
  • Service High School – 5577 Abbott Road: Location Picture
  • South Anchorage High School – 13400 Elmore Road: Location Picture
  • Spenard Community Recreation Center – 2020 West 48th Avenue: Location Picture 
  • UAA Alaska Airlines Center – 3550 Providence Drive: Location Picture
  • West Anchorage High School – 1700 Hillcrest Drive: Location Picture

For those needing to vote in person for any reason, you can vote at If you need assistance voting, or if you need to replace a lost or damaged ballot, or if you didn’t receive a ballot, please protect our community in the public health crisis and call 243-VOTE (8683).

If the April 6 election is any indication, lines could be long at the three in-person voting centers on Tuesday.

Locations:

City Hall
632 West 6th Avenue, Room #155
Weekdays, May 5 – 10, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Saturday, May 8, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Sunday, May 9, noon – 5 p.m.Election Day, May 11, 7 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Eagle River Town Center 
12001 Business Boulevard, Community Room #170
(same building as the library)
Weekdays, May 5 – 10, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Saturday, May 8, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Sunday, May 9, noon – 5 p.m.
Election Day, May 11, 7 a.m. – 8 p.m. 
Only Chugiak-Eagle River ballots will be available at this location. 

Loussac Library3600 Denali Street, First Floor, Assembly Chambers
Weekdays, May 5 – 10, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Saturday, May 8, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Sunday, May 9, noon – 5 p.m.
Election Day, May 11, 7 a.m. – 8 p.m.

At Anchorage Vote Centers services: Voters can vote in person, return a mailed ballot, replace a lost or damaged ballot, receive a ballot package if they didn’t receive one in the mail, receive voting assistance, or get help with other voter questions. Voters who are voting in-person or requesting a replacement ballot will be required to show identification. 

For voters who wish to vote at home and didn’t received a mailed ballot, please call the Voter Hotline at (907) 243-VOTE (8683) for a replacement ballot.  Replacement ballot requests must be received no later than 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 4, 2021, to allow sufficient time for mailing. 

Voted ballots being returned by U.S. Postal Service mail must be postmarked no later than Election Day, May 11, 2021, and received by noon May 21, 2021. If mailing during the last 48 hours of the election, ask a postal official to hand-cancel/ hand-stamp the envelope with a postmark.

Gunning for your guns: Wool, Thompson want you to lock guns up at home, or else

Suzanne Downing
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93
Gunning for your guns: Wool, Thompson want you to lock guns up at home, or else

You can leave keys in the snow machine. You can leave your keys in the truck. But with a proposed bill by two Fairbanks lawmakers, it would be a crime to leave a gun unlocked in your home if something terrible happened with that gun. House Bill 203 has been offered by Rep. Adam Wool and Rep. Steve Thompson, and once again, puts the personal safety of Alaskans in the crosshairs.

HB 203 is intended to prevent firearm accidents. Law enforcement officials would be able to issue a citation of up to $1,000 if there’s a death or even an injury with a firearm, if police can determine a firearm that was unlocked.

Many women, but also men who keep guns in their homes might be ill-served by government telling them they must keep those firearm in a locked case.

Referred to House State Affairs and Judiciary committee, the bill is sure to be controversial. It’s likely that the NRA will oppose the legislation, as it has done in other states. It would be surprising to see the legislation pass in Alaska, and even more surprising to see this governor sign it.

“This bill has bipartisan support as it should since all are affected when a child dies or is injured by an unsecured firearm,” said Wool, a Democrat from Massachusetts who represents Fairbanks. “If this bill prevents one accident or suicide then we’ve accomplished a great thing.”  

“Representative Wool and I are both parents of young children, and we care deeply about their safety. House Bill 203 is all about promoting safety,” said Rep. Steve Thompson, the Republican co-sponsor of the bill. “This bill is not an infringement of Second Amendment rights, and it’s not about taking guns away from anyone. It’s about preventing tragic accidents and only gets acted upon if such a tragedy occurs.”

Since 2019, the Seattle has a “Responsible Storage ” that requires gun owners to keep their guns in a locked container when not being carried by them or under their control, and imposes fines for crimes committed with an unlocked stored gun.

HB 203 will be heard by the State Affairs Committee and Judiciary Committee. Rep. Andy Josephson of Anchorage has signed on as a cosponsor.

500 show for Bronson rally in Eagle River

Suzanne Downing
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31
500 show for Bronson rally in Eagle River

Crowds could even not get inside the Bronson for Mayor rally in Eagle River at the Lions Club on Thursday night, where Sen. Dan Sullivan, Gov. Mike Dunleavy, Assemblywoman Jamie Allard and even candidate for U.S. Senate Kelly Tshibaka drew in people from all over Anchorage to bring home the vote for their candidate.

A convoy of cars and trucks decorated with Bronson for Mayor signs left the Cabela’s parking lot in South Anchorage at about 4 pm for the 5 pm rally.

Conservatives for Anchorage, an independent group started by business leaders, had over 20 industrial McKenna Brothers dump trucks leading the convoy, each one without a speck of dust on it. Dozens of cars and trucks followed.

McKenna Brothers trucks head to Cabela’s to line up for the convoy.

The message from Assemblywoman Allard was a request that everyone in the room sign a pledge to commit to making sure that five friends or family members vote. Over 300 people signed the pledge on a slip of paper. Each of the speakers reinforced the message.

Justin Matheson, campaign consultant to the Bronson for Mayor campaign, said “you could just feel the momentum. For me it’s reassuring to see so many people being involved, and a lot of people being involved for the first time. They want their city back.”

The mayoral runoff ends at 8 pm on May 11.

Secure drop boxes for ballots are located at:

  • Anchorage School District Education Center – 5530 East Northern Lights Boulevard: Location Picture 
  • Bartlett High School – 1101 Golden Bear Drive: Location Picture 
  • Begich Middle School – 7440 Creekside Center Drive: Location Picture
  • City Hall – 632 West 6th Avenue, Parking Lot
  • Clark Middle School – 150 Bragaw Street: Location Picture 
  • Dimond High School – 2909 West 88th Avenue: Location Picture
  • Eagle River Town Center – 12001 Business Boulevard (in Eagle River): Location Picture
  • Election Center – 619 East Ship Creek Avenue: Location Picture
  • Fairview Community Recreation Center – 1121 East 10th Avenue: Location Picture 
  • Girdwood Community Center – 250 Egloff Drive (in Girdwood): Location Picture
  • Loussac Library – 3600 Denali Street: Location Picture
  • O’Malley’s on the Green – 3651 O’Malley Road: Location Picture
  • New! Planning and Development Center (MOA Permit Center) – 4700 Elmore Road: Location Picture
  • Service High School – 5577 Abbott Road: Location Picture
  • South Anchorage High School – 13400 Elmore Road: Location Picture
  • Spenard Community Recreation Center – 2020 West 48th Avenue: Location Picture 
  • UAA Alaska Airlines Center – 3550 Providence Drive: Location Picture
  • West Anchorage High School – 1700 Hillcrest Drive: Location Picture

For those needing to vote in person for any reason, you can vote at If you need assistance voting, or if you need to replace a lost or damaged ballot, or if you didn’t receive a ballot, please protect our community in the public health crisis and call 243-VOTE (8683).

If the April 6 election is any indication, lines could be long at the three in-person voting centers next Tuesday.

Locations:

City Hall
632 West 6th Avenue, Room #155
Weekdays, May 5 – 10, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Saturday, May 8, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Sunday, May 9, noon – 5 p.m.Election Day, May 11, 7 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Eagle River Town Center 
12001 Business Boulevard, Community Room #170
(same building as the library)
Weekdays, May 5 – 10, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Saturday, May 8, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Sunday, May 9, noon – 5 p.m.
Election Day, May 11, 7 a.m. – 8 p.m. 
Only Chugiak-Eagle River ballots will be available at this location. 

Loussac Library3600 Denali Street, First Floor, Assembly Chambers
Weekdays, May 5 – 10, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Saturday, May 8, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Sunday, May 9, noon – 5 p.m.
Election Day, May 11, 7 a.m. – 8 p.m.

52,650 votes in, but Eagle River lags as Bronson campaign rallies the base

Suzanne Downing
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13
52,650 votes in, but Eagle River lags as Bronson campaign rallies the base

Dave Bronson can’t take Anchorage in a new direction without Eagle River voters.

So far, Districts 13 and 14 are lagging in voter turnout. Only 17 percent of Republicans have voted in District 13, and 25 percent in District 14. Those voters are part of the family-oriented, country-loving conservative base that Bronson needs to become mayor of Anchorage.

[Read: Dunbar puts out call for cash as campaign war chest lags]

On Thursday evening, a big rally in Eagle River is intended to change that calculus and build up the excitement for a new direction for Anchorage. Sen. Dan Sullivan, Congressman Don Young, Gov. Mike Dunleavy are headlining the rally, along with Assemblywoman Jamie Allard. The rally starts at 5 pm at the Eagle River Lions Club, and a big crowd is expected.

For overall turnout for Anchorage’s race, 52,650 ballots have been turned in by Wednesday evening for the election that ends May 11. Political analysts believe there could be as many as 100,000 ballots.

Final week push shows momentum in Bronson campaign, malaise for Dunbar

7-day report: Dunbar puts out call for funds as Bronson books more war chest

Suzanne Downing
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20
7-day report: Dunbar puts out call for funds as Bronson books more war chest

Anchorage mayoral candidate Dave Bronson has out-raised opponent Forrest Dunbar by $77,000 in the 7-day report required by the Alaska Public Offices Commission.

Seven-day reports cover all the money coming in and going out between the 30-day report and the 7-day report, 23 days total, for the May 11 runoff election.

Over 47,000 ballots have already been cast in the Anchorage mayoral runoff, which is over 50 percent of the expected vote. That means all campaign fundraising and expenditures after the 7-day report will be used to reach a diminishing number of potential voters.

Dunbar shows $222,378 raised in his 7-day report. His total raised in his quest for mayor is $591,070, and he has $94,000 in bank, and $91,000 in debt. He has dozens of contributors from outside the state.

Bronson shows $299,708 raised in his 7-day report. He has $65,000 in debt and $66,000 in the bank. Bronson has raised close to $559,029 since beginning his campaign, about $32,000 less than Dunbar overall.

In his latest email quest for funds, Dunbar tells donors that he is $75,000 below what Bronson has raised, and they need to open up their wallets to help him pay for social media, radio, television and literature.

Dunbar has reported spending a total of $501,301, while Bronson has spent $480,456.

Read: Final week push shows momentum in Bronson campaign, malaise for Dunbar

Reinbold’s ‘victim’ bill passes Senate

Suzanne Downing
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10
Reinbold’s ‘victim’ bill passes Senate

Sen. Lora Reinbold’s bill that further defines the official definition of a victim passed unanimously on the Senate floor on Wednesday.

SB 122 adds surviving minors and spouses in the definition of victim if a parent or spouse is slain. It has one of the shortest bill titles ever: An Act relating to the definition of “victim.”

According to Reinbold’s sponsor statement, “SB 122 is a bill that removes the word ‘adult’ before the word ‘child’ in the definition in AS 12.55.185 (C ii). By removing the word adult, the definition of a victim will include a child of a person who has been a victim of a crime when a parent or guardian is deceased. SB122 will ensure victim rights for a child of a deceased parent or guardian.”

This is Reinbold’s first bill to pass the Senate since she joined the upper chamber in 2019. She had six bills signed into law and a resolution passed when she was in the House of Representatives.

During today’s floor session, she also asked to be given the chair in Judiciary, which was stripped from her by unanimous vote last month. Reinbold represents Eagle River.

The bill goes to the House for consideration.

Governor intends to rectify Native Vietnam veteran land allotments after Biden snub

Suzanne Downing
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9
Governor intends to rectify Native Vietnam veteran land allotments after Biden snub

President Joe Biden blocked a plan in its tracks that would have ensured that Alaska Native Vietnam Veterans could finally get the federal land they were entitled to in the 1970s. They were not able to apply for it while fighting in the jungles of Southeast Asia.

Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy says he is going to make it right — as right as he can — possibly with state land.

Today he plans to announce a way, Must Read Alaska has learned, to get equivalent state land into private ownership with these war veterans, who were cut out generations ago and are quickly fading into history. It appears he will file a bill with the Legislature to advance the cause for Alaska Native Vietnam Veterans.

“I’m announcing a plan to rectify long-standing injustices faced by Alaska Native Vietnam Veterans. You can watch live on my Facebook page,” he wrote today. That page is at this link.

The public can also watch on the governor’s Vimeo Livestream page at 1 pm on Wednesday, May 5.

In January, at the beginning of the Biden Administration, he put the land selection process on hold for 90 days. Then, Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, who is Native American, imposed a two-year stay on the public land orders in Alaska, a project that had been worked on for four years by the Trump Administration. The orders had already been signed.

Alaska Native Vietnam vets get burned as Interior Secretary Haaland puts two-year stay on their land allotments in Alaska

Group sues Fish and Game to stop jet skis from Kachemak Bay

Suzanne Downing
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16
Group sues Fish and Game to stop jet skis from Kachemak Bay

A coalition of groups says the Department of Fish and Game wrongfully allowed personal watercraft like jet skis, like the Sea-Doo Fish Pro pictured above, to be used in Kachemak Bay. The group says the commissioner violated the administrative procedures act because, they say, there was a predetermined outcome, the decision was arbitrary and ignored scientific data.

The plaintiffs are Cook Inletkeeper, Kachemak Bay Conservation Society, the Alaska Quiet Rights Coalition, and Friends of Kachemak Bay State Park, using lawyers Scott Kendall and former Attorney General Jahna Lindemuth, the same lawyers behind such things as the recall of Gov. Mike Dunleavy.

The groups are challenging Fish and Game Commissioner Doug Vincent-Lang’s repeal of a prohibition of personal watercraft in the bay and Fox River Flats Critical Habitat Areas.

The groups allege the commissioner made an unconstitutional appropriation favoring personal watercraft.

In their complaint, they say this is a “violation of Alaskans’ constitutional right to the use and enjoyment of the critical habitat areas by unconstitutionally prioritizing the rights of personal watercraft users over all other Alaskans.”

All critical habitat areas in the state allow personal watercraft except the Izembek Lagoon near King Cove.

Under the new rules, a few people have been using personal watercraft in Kachemak Bay this spring to troll for winter king salmon during the winter king salmon derby. Some fishing models are available by Sea-Doo and Yamaha.

Read the entire complaint at this link:

210504-jet-ski-lawsuitDownload

The Lumberman scuttled

Suzanne Downing
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10
The Lumberman scuttled

The City and Borough of Juneau Docks and Harbors, Global Diving and Salvage, and Coast Guard Sector Juneau, scuttled the derelict tugboat Lumberman offshore in Southeast Alaska on Sunday.

The 154-foot Coast Guard Cutter John McCormick towed the Lumberman, a 107-ft steel hulled tugboat to a position 54 miles west of Cross Sound where it was sunk in over 8,400 feet of water.

The Lumberman had rested abandoned in Gastineau Channel west of June since 2016 and was considered a hazard and derelict vessel. For years the community has tried to determine its fate. In 2017, the Coast Guard removed oil products from the old tug, and in 2020, the boat had to be re-anchored after drifting in the shallows. The City and Borough of Juneau applied for and received an EPA permit to sink the vessel in a place where it would not be a navigation hazard.

The portion of Gastineau Channel where the boat was moored and abandoned can only be navigated by most vessels during high tide.

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