Page 1642 – Must Read Alaska

War chest report: Campaign fundraising’s first big reveal

Politics

-

February 15, 2018

War chest report: Campaign fundraising’s first big reveal

The first wave of campaign fundraising reports are due today. To an extent, they show the strength of candidates to be competitive in the August primary and November General Election.

Must Read Alaska will update this report as the candidates file them; the deadline is midnight for filing with Alaska Public Offices Commission.

Readers can see the entire listing at the APOC web site and explore the donor listings.

RESULTS MAY VARY

The fundraising amounts do not tell the whole story, as candidates filed for office at different times; some filed only recently, but still must report through Feb. 1.

There are other constraints that skew fundraising results: Sitting legislators are prohibited from raising funds while they are in session, while in the case of Mike Dunleavy, a separate election effort has started with a well-funded independent expenditure group that has entirely different reporting requirements.

Here are the amounts candidates in some of the possibly competitive races have reported raising up until the Feb. 1 deadline (R=Republican, D=Democrat, UD=Undeclared Democrat):

GOVERNOR

Alaskans for Dunleavy, R, (campaign): $105,171
Dunleavy for Alaska (independent expenditure group): $274,000
Scott Hawkins, R: $217,170
Bill Walker, U-D: $277,191
Charlie Huggins, R, withdrawn: $38,843
Mike Chenault, R: $32,804

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR

Kevin Meyer: $83,305
Lynn Gattis: $42,255
Edie Grunwald: $41,878
Byron Mallott: $154,583
Stephen Wright: $2,283

SENATE

Pete Kelly, R, District A, Fairbanks: $71,445
Scott Kawasaki, D, District A, Fairbanks: $48,540

Click Bishop, R, District C, Fairbanks: $19,375

George Rauscher, R, District #, Sutton: $3,950

Mia Costello, R, District K, Anchorage: $28,257

Sam Cason, U-D, District K, Anchorage: $2,945

Elvi Gray-Jackson, D, District I, Anchorage: $67,814

Chris Birch, R, District M, Anchorage: $24,525

Peter Micciche, R, District O , Soldotna, Kenai: $40,355

HOUSE

Kathryn Dodge, D, District 1, Fairbanks: $27,569
Bart LeBon, R, District 1, Fairbanks: $25,375.00

Steve Thompson, R, District 2, Fairbanks: $10,152

Colleen Sullivan-Leonard, R, District 7, Wasilla: $3,681

Pam Goode, R, District 9: $11,793

David Eastman, R, District 10: 15,026

Cathy Tilton, R, District 12, Chugiak-Wasilla: $9,531

Dan Saddler, R, District 13, Eagle River: $10,518.75

Gabrielle LeDoux, District 15, Anchorage: $66,624
Aaron Weaver, R, District 15, Anchorage: $1,970

Ivy Spohnholz, D, District 16, Anchorage: $45,641

Marcus Sanders, R, District 17, Anchorage: $2,554
Andy Josephson, D, District 17, Anchorage: $22,942

Anthony Lekanof, R, District 18, Anchorage: $1,665

Les Gara, D, District 20, Anchorage: $16,160

Matt Claman, D, District 21, Anchorage: $39,433
Marilyn Stewart, R, District 21, Anchorage: $6,490

Liz Vazquez, R, District 22, Anchorage: $7,516
Sara Rasmussen, R, District 22, Anchorage: $7,170
Jason Grenn, UD, District 22, Anchorage: $27,125

Chris Tuck, D, District 23, Anchorage: $3,500
Forrest McDonald, R, District 23, Anchorage: $1,272
Connie Dougherty, R. District 23, Anchorage: $6,755

Joe Riggs, R, District 26, Anchorage: $19,037
Al Fogle, R, District 26, Anchorage: $11,600

Lance Pruitt, R, District 27, Anchorage: $10,500

Jennifer Johnson, R, District 28, Anchorage: $5,148

Chuck Kopp, R, District 24, Anchorage: $15,911
Steve Duplantis, R, District 24, Anchorage: $5,556

Laddie Shaw, R, District 26, Anchorage: $11,792

Paul Seaton, District 31, Homer-Anchor Point: $32,760
John Cox, R, District 31, Homer-Anchor Point: $928

Justin Parish, District 34, Juneau Mendenhall: $8,067.45
Jerry Nankervis, R, District 34, Juneau: $23,932.54

Daniel Ortiz, UD, District 36, Ketchikan: $9,346.74

Bryce Edgmon, D, District 37, Dillingham, Aleutians: $14,020
William Weatherby, R, District 37, Dillingham, Aleutians: $2,462

Louise Stutes, District 32, Kodiak-Cordova, $13,100

ANCHORAGE MAYOR

Ethan Berkowitz, D: $102,090
Rebecca Logan, R:$50,026.29

ANCHORAGE SCHOOL BOARD

Deena Mitchell: $22,649

Alisha Hilde: $8,108

Tasha Hotch: $5,656

OTHER

FAIR ANCHORAGE NO ON 1: $415,747

Fairbanks utility interested in purchase of ML&P

Columns

Suzanne Downing

-

February 15, 2018

1

ANCHORAGE DAILY PLANET EDITORIAL

The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner is reporting this morning that the Golden Valley Electric Association is more than a little interested in the proposed $1 billion sale of Anchorage’s Municipal Light & Power utility to the Chugach Electric co-op.

The newspaper says GVEA sent ML&P a nonbonding letter of interest that “provides a purchase price range of $875 million to $1 billion and promises not to raise rates or lay off employees for 24 months.”

“It’s not an offer,” the newspaper reported GVEA CEO Corey Borgeson as saying. “This is a little bit of a defensive move. There is concern that if we lose one of our major suppliers that we may see higher costs of energy from the Anchorage area.”

The letter gives GVEA an opportunity “to work on issues and conditions of the sale,” Borgeson said.

Other entities also have submitted letters of interest, but Anchorage officials are blocked from discussing the proposed deal because of a nondisclosure agreement.

“I am very limited with what I can say,” Kristin DeSmith, communications director for Anchorage Mayor Ethan Berkowitz, told the News-Miner.

Borgeson told the newspaper GVEA is interested in “buying components of ML&P, namely gas wells in Cook Inlet, a new power plant near Eagle River and the Bradley Lake Hydroelectric Project of which GVEA owns a 17 percent share.”

Tom Braund withdraws, but not before governor lashes out

Suzanne Downing

-

February 15, 2018

8

REPLACING MIKE DUNLEAVY PROVES TRICKY

Less than 24 hours after he was appointed, the second man chosen by Gov. Bill Walker to fill Senate Seat E has withdrawn, saying he needs to take care of personal matters.

The first man chosen, Randall Kowalke, was rejected by Senate Republicans, who asked the governor to work more closely with the district in finding a replacement for former Sen. Mike Dunleavy, who is now a candidate for governor.

In a long letter to Walker, Braund — a former Marine and retired safety officer — said that none of the media attacks regarding him had anything to do with his decision, and that it was simply personal choices involving the health needs of a loved one.

His letter to Walker indicates why District E people chose him in the first place:

“My decision has nothing to do with the media trying to smear me with anything they think is dirt in their quiver; even a joke can be turned into dirt by the low reporters.

“My decision is my own. I’m a Marine; this stuff rolls off my back like the dew. I’ve had professional gangsters try; they lost. So, nothing leftists try sways my decisions.

“My decision has little to do with the fact that I am somewhat unfamiliar with the processes in Juneau or any lack of knowledge of any issues at stake; I know enough. I would be on a big learning curve and am highly qualified to learn.

“To me, the most important thing anybody elected can do is whatever makes life better and easier for the People of Alaska. These days, that means your elected doing what it takes to keep your money in your own pockets, not funding government expansion or special interests. Politicians forget whose money it is.

“This State belongs to Alaskans, not government. The elected are supposed to be maintaining essential infrastructure, not luxury. That is the foundation of my decisions – the Constitutional job description.”

CHIEF OF STAFF GOES BALLISTIC

At the same time Braund was withdrawing his nomination, Gov. Walker’s Chief of Staff Scott Kendall, fired off an angry statement defending the nomination:

To be clear, the Governor absolutely does not endorse any of the three nominees sent to him by the Republican Party, including Thomas Braund. The Senate Republicans rejected the Governor’s nominee—Randall Kowalke—and then publicly demanded that he appoint one of the three nominees endorsed by Party officials. Essentially, they announced they would deprive the people in Senate District E of representation unless this demand was met. The Governor does believe that District E is entitled to representation. Accordingly, all questions regarding Mr. Braund’s fitness and qualifications for office should be directed to the Republican Party— who did vet Mr. Braund and, by vote, endorsed his beliefs as acceptable to them—as well as to the Senate Republicans who rejected Mr. Kowalke and specifically requested such a Party-approved nominee. The Alaska Republican Party and the Senate Republicans now have the nominee they demanded.” – Scott Kendall, Chief of Staff

VICKI WALLNER’S NAME FORWARDED

Alaska Republican Party Chairman Tuckerman Babcock said he was forwarding the next name on the list of applicants to the governor for his consideration: Vicki Chaffin Wallner of Palmer. Wallner had come in fourth during the voting process in the district meeting in mid-January.

Wallner is the founder of a popular crime-fighting Facebook group in the Mat-Su Valley, “Stop Valley Thieves.” She is a businesswoman and small farm owner.

Governor lowers flags, reminds Alaskans of ‘fragility of life’

Politics

Suzanne Downing

-

February 15, 2018

2

Gov. Bill Walker has ordered Alaska and U.S. Flags lowered to half-staff in remembrance of the victims of yesterday’s deadly shooting in Parkland, Fla. The directive to do so comes from the White House.

“Donna, Byron, Toni, and I are heartbroken, and share our prayers with the children, parents, educators and community members of Parkland, Florida,” Walker said in a press release. “Yesterday’s tragedy is a reminder of the fragility of life, and we join the nation in grieving with those who have lost their loved ones.”

U.S. and Alaska flags should be lowered to half-staff immediately, his order said. All flags should return to full staff at sunset on Monday, Feb. 19.

According to the Associated Press, a white nationalist group called the Republic of Florida, said that the 19-year-old shooter in Parkland was associated with the group, which wants wants Florida to become its own white ethno-state. He also had “trouble with a girl,” which may have led to his actions, in which 17 people died.

Abortionist hunter? Governor’s pick for District E advocates execution?

Suzanne Downing

-

February 15, 2018

3

‘BEST DECISION FOR ALL ALASKANS’

Gov. Walker said he believes Tom Braund is the best choice for Alaska.

He chose him over a sitting representative of House District 9, part of Senate District E — an area that stretches from Wasilla to Valdez, and from Talkeetna to Whittier.

Walker skipped over Rep. George Rauscher because Rauscher briefly had a note on his office door telling people to leave their gross perversions outside his office.

Rauscher’s door sign, which was only up for less than an hour, poked fun of the Democrats’ constant troubles and their lawmakers’ forced resignations.

His signage referred to, perhaps, how both former Reps. Dean Westlake and Zach Fansler were asked to resign within a two-month period because of their inappropriate behavior toward women, which included everything from butt-slapping by Westlake to alleged dating violence by Fansler.

*A sign on the door of Rep. George Rauscher disqualified him in the governor’s eyes for the Senate seat.*

The Walker Administration decided Rauscher wasn’t playing nice with the Democrats. He was disqualified from being appointed to the Senate seat because of the sign.

When asked about how he felt about having been disqualified because of the sign, Rauscher was unapologetic.

“Hiding behind ‘BDSM’ [bondage, domination, sadomasochism] as a reason for hitting a woman is wrong and has no place in [the legislature]. That was what the statement said. I don’t know how it was taken or how it was misconstrued, but that’s what it meant and that’s the way I feel about it.”

[Read: Fansler: Marching for women by day, smacking them around at night]

To fill the vacant Senate seat for District E, Walker turned to Braund, a man who some may say anchors the fringe on right-to-life issues.

Did Gov. Walker consider what Braund wrote in 2017 when he advocated violence in his Facebook feed?

Braund’s social media comments are making the rounds, as shown here in a conversation he was having with others about Planned Parenthood:

*A screen capture of a conversation Tom Braund was having regarding Planned Parenthood.*

Must Read Alaska has reached out to Braund for explanation, because it’s possible his post was made sarcastically.

But there it is, a viewpoint on Facebook that Gov. Walker will have to explain or defend to his Planned Parenthood supporters, because, while Braund is a private citizen engaging in social media, the governor is the CEO of the state who has made an official appointment.

On Monday, a day before he appointed Braund, Walker sent a letter to Sen. President Pete Kelly and Majority Peter Micciche, calling himself “a non-partisan Governor and my decisions are not based on the wishes or demands of any one party.”

Walker went on to say that he had a “sincere desire to make the best decisions for all Alaskans, including the residents of Senate District E.

Walker’s best decision for all Alaskans is, for the purpose of political revenge, Tom Braund. And if the Senate Republicans confirm him, he could become Walker’s worst nightmare.

Well played, sir: Governor picks Tom Braund to replace Mike Dunleavy

Suzanne Downing

-

February 14, 2018

6

SHOWS CONTEMPT ON OFFICIAL LETTERHEAD

Gov. Bill Walker quickly sent another name back to the Senate Republicans as the person he wants to see replace Sen. Mike Dunleavy.

This time, he went off the list of three names given to him by District Republicans.

But he didn’t choose sitting legislator Rep. George Rauscher. And he skipped over economist Todd Smoldon. He chose Tom Braund, a retired first responder who has been recovering from a car accident.

Braund is the only one of the three names given to him by District E Republicans that the governor did not actually interview in person. Braund phoned in his interview.

The drama created by the departure of Sen. Mike Dunleavy has been elevated in recent days when Walker started contacting people around District E and interviewing them in secret. Word got out and the people who had volunteered hundreds of hours to vet applicants were dismayed.

On Monday, Walker said he would pick the person he feels will be best for Alaska and for the District, and he chose Randall Kowalke, who did not make the cut in the grassroots process. That name was rejected today by Senate Republicans.

By Wednesday, Walker was of a different mind. He was going to go off the list provided to him by the people of District E.

But Walker was so disgusted he could not even capitalize the word “Republican” in his curt letter to Senate President Pete Kelly:

Dear President Kelly:

I was disappointed to receive your notiﬁcation earlier today that the Senate republicans decided to reject Randall Kowalke. Out of all the candidates who applied seeking appointment to Senate District E, please know I remain convinced that I forwarded the best choice for your consideration.

It is evident that the Senate republicans will continue to reject any person I appoint, no matter how qualiﬁed, unless that person’s name is on the list provided to me by the republican party. Therefore, in the interest of providing timely representation in the State Senate for the residents of District E and pursuant to my authority under Article II, Section 4 of the Alaska Constitution, I have appointed Thomas E. Braund to fill the vacancy in the Alaska State Senate, District E.

Subject to confirmation by the Senate republicans, Thomas E. Braund will hold this office for the remainder of the unexpired term for Senate District E. I emphasize that I make this appointment believing that Senate District E needs full representation at the earliest possible time in this important final session of the 30”‘ Alaska State Legislature.

Sincerely, Bill Walker

Dunleavy seat: Senate Republicans turn down governor’s pick

Juneau’s new mascot for combined football team is…uh-oh

The Social

Suzanne Downing

-

February 14, 2018

1

The Crimson Bear mascot for Juneau-Douglas High School and the Falcon for Thunder Mountain High School will remain for most sports, but the football mascot for the new combined school team?

Students at JDHS, Thunder Mountain, and Yaakoosge Daakahidi High School were offered a chance to vote on three names: Thunder Bears. Capital City Senators and Orcas.

The response was overwhelming for Thunder Bear.

Evidently school administrators did not check the Urban Dictionary:

Bridgett Weiss, the Director of Student Services at the Juneau School District, told the Juneau Empire that it was a “very strong voice” for the Thunder Bears.

Likely because the students did check the Urban Dictionary.

Downer? Alaska’s cannabis taxes drop off

Politics

Suzanne Downing

-

February 14, 2018

5

Downer? Alaska’s cannabis taxes drop off

For the second month in a row, revenue to the State from marijuana sales has slid.

Cannabis tax dropped 18 percent between October and December, according to the Department of Revenue.

December sales of raw cannabis brought in $784,176 in taxes, compared with $872,197 in November and $953,591 in October. September brought in $723,757 in to State coffers. January sales have not been reported yet.

Bruce Schulte, the former board chairman of the Marijuana Control Board, views this change as a maturing of the market. When commercialization began, he said, consumers were buying more buds, which are taxed at $50 per ounce at the cultivar level. The trim — leaves and stems — is taxed at $15 an ounce and is used in manufactured edibles.

Schulte said the consumer demand may be shifting toward those manufactured products as they become more available. The manufacturing of consumables is still in its infancy in Alaska.

October was the end of the first year of legal commercialized marijuana sales after voters approved legalizing commercialized marijuana in November of 2014.

In October, growers sold 1,004 pounds of bud and 626 pounds of trim, but in December those numbers were down to 824 pounds of bud and 519 pounds of trim.

In 2016, the Revenue Department predicted the State would receive $6 million in 2017 and $12 million in 2018 from marijuana sales.

In fiscal years 2017 and the first part of fiscal year 2018, the state has collected a combined $6.3 million in taxes. At the same time, the number of taxpaying growers has increased from 44 to 82 from 2017 to 2018.

Fairbanks remains the heartbeat of the pot cultivar industry in Alaska, with 15 taxpaying entities. Anchorage has 12.

Dunleavy seat: Senate Republicans turn down governor’s pick

Suzanne Downing

-

February 14, 2018

5

Dunleavy seat: Senate Republicans turn down governor’s pick

AK GOP REAFFIRMS: SEAT BELONGS TO THE PEOPLE

Gov. Bill Walker yesterday demanded the Senate Republicans take a formal vote on his nominee to replace Mike Dunleavy.

Walker got his way and now he’s back to the drawing board.

Senators took their vote this morning in private. They rejected his pick, Randall Kowalke, a Mat-Su Borough Assemblyman and announced it quickly at sunrise.

“Republicans are united. This is not the governor’s Senate seat. It belongs to the people,” said Alaska Republican Party Chairman Tuckerman Babcock. “We provided him with three names, and the governor never explained why he rejected them and he hasn’t asked us for more names. We stand ready to help if asked.”

This morning’s vote followed efforts yesterday by Senate Republicans that were more conciliatory in nature toward Walker, encouraging him to reconsider his choice and work through the traditional process in support of the people of District E.

Senators appeared to want to not make it a point of strife, but to work cooperatively to solve the problem of the vacant seat, which represents a swath of Alaska that is very conservative.

But the governor shot back with a harsh letter to the Majority, saying he is going to do what is best for the district and Alaska, and that, as a non-partisan governor, he doesn’t have to take the advice of local Republicans.

His nomination of a moderate like Kowalke could have been his effort to break up the Senate Majority, but he characterized it as a “I know best” decision.

[Read: Governor to Senate Majority: I’m sticking with Kowalke]

“We believe the people of District E should be given an opportunity to fill the seat with a candidate they support through the traditional process, which is designed to respect the will of the voters. The seat does not belong to us in the Senate, or the governor. The seat belongs to the people of District E.” — Senate Majority Leader Peter Micciche

WHAT IS WALKER’S NEXT MOVE?

Walker may have lost political ground, but has 10 days to come up with another name. He has at least one potential nominee in his back pocket, and some pundits say his pick of Kowalke was a head fake to get to that person: Eddie Grasser, who is a lobbyist for the Alaska Safari Club International.

In an election year, the nomination of a hunting advocate would help Walker shore up a section of Republican voters who have grown disillusioned with him over hunting and fishing access issues.

Walker backed out of an important access case that involved a historic road across Ahtna Native Corp. land to rich fishing grounds on the Klutina river and lake area. Walker angered fishermen when carved out a deal with the Corporation, but at the last minute the deal collapsed when Ahtna rejected it. The case, which had been in the courts, is now muddling on the back burner for the Department of Law.

[Read: Ahtna rejects settlement over Klutina Road]

Grasser, well-known in Juneau and in the trophy hunting community, was not on the list provided to the governor by District E Republicans, but like Kowalke, was brought in for an interview by Walker.

The original three names forwarded by District E Republicans were District 9 Rep. George Rauscher, Todd Smoldon, and Tom Braund. All three interviewed with the governor, but he also included a dozen other people on his list to replace Mike Dunleavy, who has left the Senate to challenge Walker for governor.

GOING HIS OWN WAY

Walker also didn’t choose from the list provided him by local Democrats in District 40, after Rep. Dean Westlake was forced to resign over “MeToo” harassment claims in December.

But it’s well-known in Democratic circles that Walker worked closely with the Alaska Democratic Party to find an alternative name for Westlake that most would agree with, and John Lincoln, a Democrat from Kotzebue, was easily confirmed after drama ensued for days over the three names originally given to him by the local Democrats in District 40.

Through conversation with Democratic leaders in a district he will easily win this November, Walker found Lincoln to be an acceptable and willing alternative.

But for Senate Seat E, Walker is taking a combative and top-down approach. He knows District E voters will likely pull for Walker’s Republican opponent, which may be why he has shown no interest in talking with the people to find a replacement for Dunleavy.

Dunleavy’s seat isn’t his only concern. Walker also must find a replacement for former Democratic Rep. Zach Fansler, District 38, who resigned in disgrace and was out of office on Feb. 12 after a violent incident with a woman in a hotel room in Juneau in January.

That district has been “unorganized” but recently elected a Democratic Party chairman and is starting the process of forwarding three names to the governor.

War chest report: Campaign fundraising’s first big reveal

Fairbanks utility interested in purchase of ML&P

Tom Braund withdraws, but not before governor lashes out

Governor lowers flags, reminds Alaskans of ‘fragility of life’

Abortionist hunter? Governor’s pick for District E advocates execution?

Well played, sir: Governor picks Tom Braund to replace Mike Dunleavy

Downer? Alaska’s cannabis taxes drop off

Dunleavy seat: Senate Republicans turn down governor’s pick

About us

The latest

Survey Series: Gubernatorial Candidates Evaluate Climate Change Consensus

RNC Chair Joe Gruters Speaks at 2026 Alaska Republican State Convention

Alaska Legend John Sturgeon Testifies in Support of AG Stephen Cox