The South Anchorage Assembly seat might return to the more conservative column in April: There’s a serious challenger to Assembly member Suzanne LaFrance.
It’s resource attorney Peter Caltagirone, who announced this morning at the Resource Development Council breakfast that he is running for District 6, Seat K, which represents the conservative stronghold of South Anchorage.
The next Anchorage municipal election begins in mid-March of 2020. Anchorage elections are done through mail-in ballots that take three weeks, ending April 7.
Caltagirone was the regulatory and legal affairs manager at the Alaska Oil and Gas Association when he was recruited by Commissioner Corri Feigi to join her team at the Alaska Department of Natural Resources, where he now works.
He has also served as an Assistant Attorney General in the State Department of Law, with a focus on oil and gas development.
He earned his JD from Villanova University School of Law, and has an undergraduate degree in economics and government from Claremont McKenna College in California. A Republican, his associations include:
- Alaska Airmen Association
- Elmendorf AeroClub
- Alaska Civil Air Patrol
- Seaplane Pilot’s Association
- Petroleum Club of Anchorage
- Aircraft Owner’s and Pilot’s Association
LaFrance, a Democrat, won a first term in April, 2017, with 52.41 percent of the vote to Al Fogle’s 46.94 percent. Her votes on the Assembly have been consistent with the liberal majority.
While local elections are considered nonpartisan, they are anything but that. The Alaska Democratic Party has jumped in with endorsements and support of Democrats in these races, and the Alaska Republican Party does as well, although to a lesser degree.
This South Anchorage seat was previously held by Bill Evans. Another Republican has filed for the seat — Rick Castillo, a logistics manager in the supply chain management field.
