By CRAIG CAMPBELL

Watching the politically out-of-control Anchorage Assembly continue to denigrate the esteemed role of local government with their quest for power makes this former assembly member wonder if we will ever again have a forum for intellectual civil discourse, or have we reached the point of no return.  

The nanny state knows best and they will make sure you know it, no questions, no debate, no resistance. 

Continuing their fashion of demonstrating superior elitist governance, on Tuesday night The Cabal decided it was time to take on the State role, directing Gov. Mike Dunleavy on his authorities to manage the coronavirus. 

Yup, these highbrow jerks passed a resolution asking the governor to implement a statewide mask mandate in Alaska. At what moment did The Cabal decide Gov. Dunleavy needed their advice?

Poly Sci 101 teaches the relationship between government bodies. It is well understood that a local governmental body may enact ordinances and implement programs that are more restrictive than state law, just not less restrictive. If the Anchorage Cabal believes wearing masks should be mandatory, they can implement a mask mandate in Anchorage. They don’t need the governor to make a statewide mandate to accomplish this and I don’t think the residents of other Alaska communities need the Anchorage Cabal to represent their interests.   

I have some advice for The Cabal: Take care of Anchorage. Our economy is failing, vagrancy is rising, you have grossly mismanaged the CARES Act funding, you have an open seat on the Assembly that needs to be filled, and you are derelict in your sworn duties by not scheduling a special election for mayor.

Many of The Cabal are lawyers; they already know about the division of power. So why did they pass that resolution? It’s as obvious as the nose on one’s face; they did it for the sole reason of trying to make the governor look weak, like he is not doing his job. This was solely a political stunt with no intended value for the Municipality of Anchorage.

I submit their plan backfired. It actually exposed them for the hypocrites they are. Unless I missed something, have they passed a mandatory mask ordinance in Anchorage? Nope, they deferred to Acting Mayor Quinn-Davidson to do the dirty work for them. They know they would be on thin legal ice for a constitutional challenge and would be providing more reasons to initiate recalls against more of them. So, to get the spotlight off their incompetence, they try to move the focus to Gov. Dunleavy.  It won’t work. 

In fairness, there was a lone voice against this political attack on our governor. Assembly member Jamie Allard stood tall, recognizing the games being played by her peers. Over the past few months, as the cabal has demonstrated more and more intolerance to opposing viewpoints, violated the Alaska Open Meetings Act and municipal charter, and created a hostile political environment in Anchorage, Jamie Allard has been the consistent voice for conservative government.  

Allard has been publically ridiculed by Cabal Chair Felix Rivera and slammed for her “lack of decorum,” threatened by Cabal member Forrest Dunbar, accused by Suzanne LaFrance of inciting violence, while Meg Zaletel claimed Allard (who is Hispanic) is a racist, and Chris Constant criticized her “wealthy, white privilege.”  

What a great cast of characters to have to work with when Assembly member Allard is simply doing her job of representing Assembly District 2.  Have I already mentioned the absolute collapse of civil discourse in local government?

Assembly member Allard may have some rough edges, she may come off a little tense at times, she may even seem a wee bit harsh in some of her presentations, but Allard has demonstrated a commitment to conservative values and has busted her butt trying to moderate this Leftist Cabal from implementing uber-liberal policies and laws. To me, she represents the resistance to tyranny.  

It must be pretty hard to show up at each Assembly meeting knowing you are outgunned and that the rest of the body isn’t interested in what you have to say or what you want to accomplish for Anchorage. 

Thank you, Assembly member Allard, for standing up to this wacko left-wing Assembly and for staying true to your conservative base. We appreciate your hard work and, in return, we will work extra hard to elect a conservative mayor in April and replace your liberal colleagues in 2022 and 2023. 

We will not forget the destruction dumped on Anchorage and the infringement on civil liberties pursued by this Cabal and by both former Mayor Ethan Berkowitz and Acting Mayor Quinn-Davidson.

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).

By DAN FAGAN

Lower-48 purveyors of dark money dumped close to $50 million into Alaska this election cycle hoping to accomplish three things: Buy a seat in the U.S. Senate, another in the U.S. House and upend our election process making it easier for Lisa Murkowski to keep her place in the D.C. Swamp two years from now.

These big money fat cats are swamp creatures. They’re all about keeping the swamp viable, strong, and healthy. 

Swampy dark money peddlers spent $35 million to buy a Senate seat for Al Gross. They ended up spending $250 per vote in a losing effort. Outside interests also spent millions trying to unseat long-time incumbent Don Young.

Those wanting Sen. Lisa Murkowski, a swamp creature if there ever was one, to return to the Senate spent $7 million promoting Ballot Measure Two.

Of the close to $50 million spent, the Outside donors were only able to get Ballot Measure Two passed.

But the infusion of swamp cash wasn’t a complete waste. Several Alaska ad agencies got a big cut of the dough. Radio, television, newspapers, and websites made a killing in advertising revenue. 

And the dark-money kingpins hired a bunch of people to ballot harvest. One Anchorage Craigslist ad read: “Canvas a neighborhood for Al Gross, pays $25 per hour.” 

House District H candidate Madeleine Gaiser reports she confronted one of the ballot harvesters as they were canvassing her district. The ballot harvester told Gaiser he was brought in from out of state. 

Republican Party activist Judy Eledge told me the small group of volunteers working with her to get the vote out was no match for the army of people all the outside money pouring into the state hired from left-wing outside big donors. 

Alaska Democrat legislators were also big winners from the $50 million in pallets of cash shipped in from out of state. Had the outside Leftists not targeted Alaska with their millions, Republicans would have likely had firm control of the state legislature.

Now it appears Gov. Mike Dunleavy could once again have a Democrat-controlled House to deal with.  

Republicans dominated in legislative races on Nov. 3. But once the ballot harvesting votes funded by Outside money were tallied, many Democrats overcame their considerable deficits and ended up on top. I doubt the Lower-48 big donors are very happy with that as a consolation prize. Alaska state lawmakers can do little for the D.C. swamp. 

Big-name Democrats like State Sen. Bill Wielechowski, Rep. Matt Claman, and Rep. Chris Tuck should write thank you notes to those Lower-48 donors for spending so much money on ballot harvesting.

It brought those into the process who would have otherwise sat things out — mostly easily manipulated low information voters. More people voted in this year’s election in Alaska than any other in the state’s history. 

Wielechowski, Claman, and Tuck all trailed election day. But once those harvested ballots began to be slowly tallied, their opponent’s leads vanished. 

How one-sided were the harvested ballots for Democrats? Matt Claman was down to his challenger, Lynette Largent by 2% the day of the election. After the harvested ballots came in, Claman was up 23%. 

The ballot harvesting funded by outsiders didn’t just benefit incumbent Democrats. Republican Mel Gillis had an 18% lead on election day against his Democrat opponent, Calvin Schrage. After the harvested ballots came in, the race made a dramatic 22.5% swing, giving Schrage an 18% lead. 

Whatever happened to the idea of showing up at a polling place on election day, showing an id, an election official matches your id with the voter roll, and into the booth you go. 

Democrats have worked tirelessly to weaken rules guarding against fraud during elections. Why? They cheat. That’s why. 

Many a man and woman in uniform laid down their lives to preserve our right to vote. We should hold the act sacred and do everything we can to uphold the integrity of the election process. 

In Texas, ballot harvesting is illegal. The absentee ballot must be submitted by the voter. 

In Montana, a ballot harvester is limited to six. In Colorado, the most ballots you can harvest is ten. 

Arizona banned ballot harvesting in 2016, other than by family members or caregivers. The U.S. Supreme Court is scheduled to hear a challenge to the ban. If the High Court upholds the ban, Alaska’s legislature should move quickly and outlaw ballot harvesting.  

Outside money donors determined the makeup of the Alaska legislature by invading our state with millions. Alaskans are known for their independence.

You would think allowing Lower-48 swamp creatures to play such a major role in our election process might be something we’re not too happy about. You would think. 

Dan Fagan hosts the number one rated morning drive radio show on Newsradio 650 KENI. Dan splits his time between Anchorage and New Orleans.