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Dave Donley: Why I Am Running

SENIOR CONTRIBUTOR
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Dave Donley: Why I Am Running

By DAVE DONLEY

I am running for the Anchorage Assembly Midtown District 4 in the April 2026 election. I grew up in Spenard/Midtown and served sixteen years representing Midtown Anchorage in the State House and Senate. After nine years on the Anchorage School Board, I am term limited from running again. The Assembly seat I am running for is currently held by Assembly Member Felix Rivera and he is term limited from running for re-election, so it is an open seat.

I am running to make the lives of Anchorage families better. To do that I will work to restore common sense to local government by focusing on three key basics of local government: SAFETY – SCHOOLS – ROADS.

SAFETY:

I will work for safer homes, neighborhoods, and schools by prioritizing the numbers and effectiveness of our police, ensuring prompt emergency fire and medical response, and protecting our neighborhoods and families from criminal homeless activity. The current remedies and responses to Anchorage’s homeless problem are wasteful, failing, and unaccountable. As a first step, Anchorage needs a homeless Navigation Center – such centers are proving highly successful in the lower 48 – to comprehensively provide services to transition the willing out of homelessness.

SCHOOLS:

I will continue to support our students and teachers through assisting schools with transportation, safety, and sports program funding. I advocate fully staffing the School Resource Officer (APD) program which is essential for protecting our children attending schools. As I successfully did as a State Senator and Anchorage School Board Member, I will continue to advocate for fair state funding of Anchorage schools. I will work for greater co-operation between ASD and the city with maintenance services to increase efficiency and reduce costs.

ROADS:

As a State Senator I successfully championed multiple key road projects and transportation reforms for better and safer Anchorage roads. Better snow removal and basic maintenance can be accomplished. A good primary road system protects our neighborhoods from short-cutting speeders.

I have spent my entire career serving the citizens of Anchorage and Alaska. This is my twenty-fifth year of serving in elected office representing my hometown of Anchorage. After nine years on the Anchorage School Board, my twins will be graduating in April 2026, at the same time my School Board term ends.

As a School Board Member, I proposed budget reductions, greater efficiency, patriotic activities, and even fairer pay for teachers. I advocated parental rights and common-sense reforms.  I held the Board accountable and proved I will not be intimidated from calling for “Common Sense on SAFETY – SCHOOLS – ROADS” in the Assembly.

My website is donley4alaska.com and I ask for your support now and your votes this April.

Former Senator Dave Donley served 16 years in the Alaska Legislature, is in his third and final term on the Anchorage School Board and has twins in public high school.

Greg Sarber: Alaska’s Untamed Call

SENIOR CONTRIBUTOR
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Greg Sarber: Alaska’s Untamed Call

By GREG SARBER

This fall, my daughter drew a sheep hunting permit in the Tok Management Area (TMA), an area reserved for trophy sheep hunting. In preparation for the trip, we discovered that the sheep population had declined due to a recent harsh winter; however, we decided to go anyway. My daughter said that at least it would be a fun camping trip, and if nothing else, climbing hills would be good training for her legs, as she had an audition coming up for the Homer Nutcracker Ballet.

On the second day of the trip, while busting through a hillside of alder bushes to reach the high country, I had some time to contemplate what a peculiar group we residents of Alaska are in how we choose to live and recreate, and that extends to our kids.

Except for those in the military who are posted here, every resident chooses to live here. We have the freedom to move somewhere else, but for some reason, the residents of this state decide to live in Alaska. Our reasons might be for the fishing and hunting, the scenery, a job opportunity, or just to have a little elbow room, but all of us give up easier living outside the state to make our homes here.

However, to do so, we pay a price. Alaska challenges you. Tasks that should be relatively routine become difficult when you add in the Alaska factor. Even residents in our large urban cities face challenges that their counterparts in the lower 48 never have to consider. If you are a gardener, you’d better build a fence that is moose high and porcupine tight before you plant the first seed. Even getting the kids off to school or going to the grocery store can be a challenge with deep snow in the driveway, frost-covered car windows, slippery winter driving conditions, and the potential of encountering a moose in the street or parking lots.

Rural residents face even greater challenges due to the high cost of fuel and groceries. Things that the lower 48 Americans consider essential, become expensive luxuries in much of our state. Throw in long, dark, and cold winters, and you can understand why living here isn’t for the faint of heart. Yet we all choose this place to live.

As I mentioned, I was having these thoughts while walking up through an alder thicket on a steep hillside. If you have never had the opportunity to enjoy that particular pleasure, it isn’t possible for me to adequately put it into words. Let’s put it this way: if alder thicket walking were a potential criminal sentence, the ACLU would sue to have it declared cruel and unusual punishment. It wouldn’t be allowed for even our worst criminals.

It was when we finally got through the alders and above the last of the willow and berry bushes, arriving at the high country, that I remembered why I chose to live in Alaska and wanted to share it with my child. The beauty and solemnity of parts of this state are beyond description. In the high valleys of the Alaska mountains, it feels like you are in one of the magnificent cathedrals of Europe and are standing in the presence of God. My words are inadequate to express the feeling. I wish I were a poet so I could do a better job of describing what it is like.

Reflecting on my trip helped me answer the question of why some of us choose to live here. To do so, we face brutal challenges, like my fight with the Alders. However, the rewards go far beyond the struggle.

Greg Sarber is a lifelong Alaskan. He is a petroleum engineer who spent his career working on Alaska’s North Slope. Now retired, he lives with his family in Homer, Alaska. Greg serves as a board member of Alaska Gold Communications, Inc., the publisher of Must Read Alaska.

Suzanne Downing Resignation

Todd M Lindley
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Suzanne Downing Resignation

Dear Readers,

Our Board of Directors is saddened to announce the sudden resignation of our esteemed editor, Suzanne Downing, as she embarks on a new journey.

Suzanne has been an integral part of our organization, bringing unmatched passion and dedication to her role. Her commitment to delivering insightful coverage of Alaska’s news and issues has profoundly shaped our publication and earned the trust of our readers.

We extend our deepest gratitude to Suzanne for her tireless efforts and the lasting impact she has made on our team and the community. We wish her all the best in her future endeavors.

As we wish Suzanne every success in her next chapter, we remain committed to prioritizing the high-quality, independent journalism that our readers rely on. The Board of Directors at Must Read Alaska is dedicated to promoting and protecting a free press and to delivering comprehensive reporting on issues that affect Alaska and our communities.

Looking ahead, watch for new content sections that will focus on rural issues, faith, and family, alongside the stories we have consistently covered. This refined focus is a direct response to feedback from our readers, ensuring that we cover stories that resonate with our audience. As we strive to enhance our service, we invite our readers to share their suggestions and feedback by reaching out to us at [email protected].

Must Read Alaska is committed to providing in-depth reporting on issues that impact Alaska and our communities. We appreciate your ongoing trust and support as we continue our dedication to excellence.

On behalf of the Board of Directors,

Todd Lindley, Vice President

Alaska Gold Communications, Inc., publisher of Must Read Alaska

Fairbanks City Council weighs limits on political signs

Suzanne Downing
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Fairbanks City Council weighs limits on political signs

The Fairbanks City Council will take up a controversial ordinance Monday night that would sharply restrict when residents can display political signs on their own property.

The proposal, sponsored by Council Member Sue Sprinkle, would confine “temporary signs” such as political campaign displays to a 90-day window, limiting them to June through November in most years. Signs outside of that period — including those for candidates or ballot items in a spring special election — would be prohibited under city law.

Sprinkle has argued that campaign signs left up too early or lingering too long after an election amount to “visual litter.” Under the ordinance, any sign violating the timeline would be deemed a public nuisance. Property owners would have 15 days after notice to remove the display, after which the city could remove it at the owner’s expense. The ordinance also specifies that the city would have sole discretion to either dispose of or store any removed signs.

The measure is a direct assault on free speech, pointing to a federal court ruling in ACLU of Alaska v. Alaska DOT, which struck down state restrictions on political signs as unconstitutional. If enacted, the Fairbanks ordinance could suppress political expression ahead of special elections like the one held in May 2024.

The council will consider the ordinance at its meeting on Monday, Sept. 8, at 6:30 pm at City Hall. Members of the public can testify in person, email comments to [email protected], or submit feedback through the city’s online contact form here.

Cutting edge case: Ninth Circuit to decide on California’s switchblade ban, Second Amendment

Suzanne Downing
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Cutting edge case: Ninth Circuit to decide on California’s switchblade ban, Second Amendment

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals is considering whether California’s longstanding ban on switchblade knives violates the Second Amendment, in a case that could expand constitutional protections beyond firearms.

The lawsuit, Knife Rights, Inc. v. Bonta, challenges California Penal Code sections that prohibit the possession, sale, or transfer of automatic knives with blades two inches or longer.

The plaintiffs, including Knife Rights, Inc. and individual knife owners, argue that the restrictions are unconstitutional under the Supreme Court’s 2022 New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen decision.

The case was first filed in March 2023 in the US District Court for the Southern District of California. In August 2024, the district court ruled against the plaintiffs, holding that switchblades are not “arms” under the Second Amendment because they are not commonly used for self-defense and may be considered “dangerous and unusual.” The plaintiffs appealed, arguing the decision misapplied precedent.

In their 2025 brief before the Ninth Circuit, the plaintiffs contended that the district court wrongly imposed a self-defense requirement for Second Amendment protection and failed to recognize that switchblades function much like common folding knives. They also emphasized that switchblade bans originated in the 1950s, well outside the relevant constitutional framing period examined under Bruen.

The Ninth Circuit has now asked for amicus briefs to address two central questions: whether switchblades are “in common use” by law-abiding citizens for lawful purposes, and whether they should be considered “dangerous and unusual.” Legal experts note that these standards, derived from the Supreme Court’s District of Columbia v. Heller ruling, have been pivotal in shaping modern Second Amendment jurisprudence.

The court has also appointed high-profile amici to provide opposing perspectives. Erin Murphy, an appellate attorney with experience in Bruen, has been asked to weigh in, while a lawyer affiliated with Everytown for Gun Safety will present arguments supporting California’s position banning switchblades.

The outcome of the case could clarify whether the Second Amendment extends to non-firearm weapons and determine how strictly states must adhere to the historical tradition test outlined in Bruen. The litigation is a potential precedent-setter for future challenges to state restrictions on knives and other arms.

Anchorage Assembly to consider 1% sales tax

Suzanne Downing
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Anchorage Assembly to consider 1% sales tax

The Anchorage Assembly will take up a controversial proposal Tuesday evening that would ask voters to approve a retail sales tax in the city.

Assemblyman George Martinez has introduced an ordinance that would place a 1% sales tax measure — cleverly dubbed “Penny for Progress” — on the April 7, 2026, municipal ballot. If passed by a simple majority of voters, the new tax could begin as soon as October 2027. Administering such a tax would be costly to the city but no fiscal analysis has been revealed.

The plan would dedicate tax revenues equally into three vague categories:

  • Infrastructure improvements such as roads, sidewalks, utilities, and snow removal systems.
  • Workforce housing development and preservation.
  • Behavioral and mental health facilities and crisis response programs.

Martinez says that Anchorage’s fiscal model is “structurally imbalanced” and unable to meet long-term capital needs without new revenue. His ordinance frames the 1% tax as a transparent, accountable “city-building strategy,” complete with oversight committees and a five-year review process.

But the proposal represents a camel’s nose under the tent. Anchorage does not have a sales tax, and once implemented, the rate will inevitably climb higher in future years. The measure would amend the city charter, making it easier for future assemblies to build upon this initial levy.

The Assembly has repeatedly delayed or rejected putting the measure on the ballot. A 3% sales tax known as Project Anchorage was considered for a special election on Sept. 2, but the Assembly voted 8-4 on March 18, to postpone the legislation indefinitely, effectively killing it. Earlier discussions included potentially placing it on the April 1, 2025, municipal election ballot as an advisory vote, but this was also postponed. 

The Assembly will take up Martinez’s ordinance during the Tuesday, Sept. 9 meeting, which starts at 5 pm at the Loussac Library Assembly Chambers. This item is subject to a public hearing, which will take place after 6 pm. Agenda at this link.

Anchorage town halls set to hear public comment on Assembly’s 3% sales tax proposal

Anchorage Assembly postpones 3% sales tax vote, but why pay for special election?

Anchorage Assembly to consider changing 3% sales tax vote to ‘advisory vote only’ in April

As Democrat leaders in Anchorage propose a sales tax, the city’s inflation rate is now sixth in nation

Camel’s nose under tent: New mayor and a new proposed sales tax for Anchorage

Anchorage Assembly to consider alcohol tax and sales taxes for April ballot

Anchorage mayor complains of peace summit costs, ignores the great economic windfall to businesses

No Kings, just pawns: New report links protest movement to extremist, socialist networks

Suzanne Downing
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No Kings, just pawns: New report links protest movement to extremist, socialist networks

A new investigation into the 50501 organization — one of the main forces behind the nationwide “No Kings” protests — has revealed extensive ties to extremist groups on the far left, sparking backlash and a quiet retreat by some former allies.

The report, published by the Oversight Project, analyzed social media connections of 42 organizers linked to 50501 chapters across the country. It found a dense network of affiliations with groups such as the Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL), Democratic Socialists of America, Antifa, and Students for Justice in Palestine. Several of these organizations have histories of supporting violent actions, aligning with authoritarian regimes, or spreading propaganda on behalf of foreign adversaries, including the Chinese Communist Party.

The Oversight Project concluded that, despite presenting themselves as a grassroots “pro-democracy” movement, 50501 organizers are deeply enmeshed with radical factions that explicitly reject American constitutional norms. The findings stand in stark contrast to mainstream media portrayals of “No Kings” rallies as ordinary expressions of civic engagement.

Among the troubling connections cited:

  • PSL celebrated the anniversary of China’s communist revolution and denied the Tiananmen Square massacre.
  • Students for Justice in Palestine praised Hamas’s October 2023 attacks on Israel as a “historic win.”
  • Antifa-aligned accounts promoted political violence and vandalism.
  • Code Pink and ANSWER Coalition were linked to CCP propaganda networks funded by millionaire Neville Singham, according to previous reporting by The New York Times.

The dataset further showed that 50501 organizers followed these radical groups more frequently than mainstream media outlets such as NPR, Reuters, or the Associated Press — and even more often than most Democratic politicians, with the exception of Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

The revelations are beginning to reshape the perception of the movement. Some who initially supported 50501 for its anti-authoritarian messaging are now distancing themselves, concerned that the protests were serving as a cover for extremist ideology.

Rep. Anna Paulina Luna had previously warned that the movement was “a ruse to push a communist and Marxist agenda.” The Oversight Project’s findings lend weight to that concern.

While legacy outlets like NPR have described 50501 as “grassroots-led” and “pro-Constitution,” news coverage has ignored the deeper network of affiliations. The contrast between glowing media accounts and the report’s detailed mapping of far-left ties has fueled suspicion that the movement is less about preserving democracy than about advancing a radical agenda under its banner.

The report concludes with a warning: “Despite public pronouncements about protecting democracy, the organizers of the ‘No Kings’ protests are aligned with anti-democratic groups who seek to impose a communist utopia in America.”

As awareness grows, more voices — including some on the left — appear to be reconsidering whether alignment with 50501 is worth the risk of being associated with extremist and foreign-aligned factions.

The next No Kings protest is scheduled for Oct. 18 in cities across America, including Alaska.

The report can be read here.

Former Alaska Airlines pilot pleads guilty after mushroom-fueled cockpit incident

Suzanne Downing
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Former Alaska Airlines pilot pleads guilty after mushroom-fueled cockpit incident

A former Alaska Airlines pilot who tried to disable the engines of a passenger flight in 2023 while under the lingering effects of psychedelic mushrooms pleaded guilty to various related charges, formally closing one of the most alarming air-safety incidents in recent memory.

Joseph Emerson, riding off-duty in the cockpit jump seat of a Horizon Air flight, attempted to cut the engines on a trip from Everett, Wash., to San Francisco. More than 80 passengers were aboard. The crew diverted to Portland for an emergency landing and Emerson was restrained by the flight crew.

Earlier he had pleaded not guilty, but on Friday, Emerson pleaded guilty to interfering with a flight crew and entered no contest pleas in Oregon state court to 83 counts of reckless endangerment and one count of endangering an aircraft.

Emerson had taken psilocybin mushrooms two days prior to the flight during a camping trip to mourn a friend’s death. He later reported experiencing hallucinations and said he believed he was in a dream state. He described the cockpit incident as an attempt to “wake up.” He had not slept for more than 40 hours.

Prosecutors noted that Emerson may have suffered from hallucinogen persisting perception disorder, a condition sometimes linked to psychedelic use.

Under his plea agreements, Emerson was sentenced to 50 days in jail, time he has already served. He will serve five years of probation, 664 hours of community service, and $60,569 in restitution, mostly payable to Alaska Air Group. Federal sentencing is set for Nov. 17, where he faces a maximum of 20 years but will likely see that reduced greatly.

The case comes at a time when citizens of Alaska are considering whether to legalize psychedelic mushrooms. A ballot initiative is currently gathering signatures that could put the question before voters. Emerson’s case may serve as a warning about the risks of hallucinogen use and its lingering effects. The ballot measure, as approved by the Attorney General and Lieutenant Governor, characterizes mushrooms as “natural medicine.”

Alaska Airlines says off-duty pilot not only tried cutting engine, he tried to pull emergency exit handle mid-flight

Former Attorney General asked for exemption from APOC financial disclosures in advance of entering race

Suzanne Downing
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Former Attorney General asked for exemption from APOC financial disclosures in advance of entering race

Former Alaska Attorney General Treg Taylor, who recently stepped down and is expected to enter the 2026 race for governor, has asked the Alaska Public Offices Commission for an exemption in filing certain required financial disclosures.

Is Alaska’s attorney general stealth campaigning for governor? A look at his recent events raises questions

At issue is Taylor’s extensive rental property business; he and his wife own Inlet Towers in Anchorage. According to correspondence between Taylor, his wife Jodi, and APOC staff, the Taylors own 234 rental units, most of which had been previously managed by a third-party company. State law requires public officials to disclose all income over $1,000, including the names of tenants who pay that amount or more annually, the exact rental payments, and the name of the property manager if it is not the official or a family member.

Taylor, while still attorney general, submitted a request for an exemption on March 17, the deadline for annual disclosures, citing the cumbersome nature of manually entering hundreds of rental income records into APOC’s electronic filing system. He noted that while other sections of the disclosure form allow for file uploads, the rental income section does not. “My filing in regards to rental income would be extensive due to the number of tenants and the turnover among tenants and would take a significant amount of time to enter by hand,” Taylor wrote.

“My request for an exemption/waiver would be until the functionality for uploading a file for rental income is available as it is in other sections of the filing,” Taylor wrote. “I believe that APOC staff have expressed interest in adding the option to upload rental income as a file. I certify that all the facts stated in this exemption/waiver request are true. I will submit my 2024 public official filing to the best of my ability without the information which is the subject of this exemption/waiver request.”

The request, however, was set aside by staff during APOC’s busiest filing season and resurfaced in July after staff contacted the Taylors, who said that Jodi Taylor, Treg’s wife, manages the property.

APOC staff advised that while exemptions from electronic filing can be granted, the law does not allow exemption from disclosure itself.

“Additionally, I have been advised that your exemption request should have been submitted as a request for exemption from electronically filing under 2 AAC 50.816. While the request must still comport with provisions of 2 AAC 50.821, your request should have also included the information or statement that you are seeking exemption from reporting, in an alternative format,” wrote the paralegal staffer at APOC.

Officials asked Taylor to provide the rental income data in an alternative format, such as a spreadsheet, but as of late July, no such disclosure had been made. In its staff recommendation, APOC emphasized that disclosure is the core intent of Alaska’s ethics law, particularly for high-ranking officials like the attorney general.

“Exempting the electronic disclosure of a filer’s sources of income because the filer finds APOC’s filing system to be inconvenient places a burden upon the citizens who use these disclosures to ensure transparency,” the staff said in the documentation.

Still, the commission is expected to consider whether a limited exemption should be allowed at its Sept. 10 meeting, given the unusual volume of Taylor’s rental holdings and the lack of upload functionality in APOC’s system.

Taylor’s handling of the disclosure may draw scrutiny as he positions himself for a run for governor. Personal financial disclosures have discouraged many business people from running for office, and so some may ask why Taylor, as attorney general, should get an exemption on his Public Official Financial Disclosure. The documents related to this matter are at this link.

Breaking: Attorney General Treg Taylor exits Dunleavy Administration, eyes Governor’s Mansion

Reader poll: Who do Must Read Alaska readers think should run for governor?

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