On the first day of official filing for Anchorage elected offices, Eagle River resident Jared Goecker made it official, filing for the Assembly seat representing the more conservative part of the municipality — Eagle River.
The seat is currently held by mark Littlefield, who is not running for reelection and has endorsed Goecker.
“Jared is the right person to represent our community on the Assembly. He has the values, experience, and commitment to keep our neighborhoods strong, safe, and thriving,” Littlefield said. “Jared has always stood up for what’s best for our families, and I’m proud to endorse him in his bid to continue serving our community.”
Goecker’s candidacy is already gaining significant momentum, with endorsements from a wide range of respected local leaders. Current and former members of the Anchorage Assembly from Chugiak-Eagle River have voiced their strong support, including Assemblyman Scott Myers and former Assemblywomen Amy Demboski and Crystal Kennedy.
“Jared Goecker is a tireless advocate for local control and will fight to ensure our community prospers,” Myers said. “He understands the unique needs of Chugiak, Eagle River, and JBER, and he will be a reliable voice for all of us.”
“Jared has been a steady, reliable voice for commonsense principles in Alaska for years,” Demboski said. “His leadership will be exactly what we need on the Assembly to safeguard our local values and move Anchorage back in the right direction.”
“Jared brings a new generation of leadership to the Assembly that is desperately needed. I fully support his candidacy and look forward to seeing the positive impact he will make,” Kennedy said.
Filing for Anchorage School Board is Anthony Cox, making his fourth run for school board over the past four years. He has filed for Seat B, held now by Kelly Lessens.
As a graduate of the Anchorage School District and the University of Alaska Anchorage, where he earned his Master’s in Business Administration and Finance, he is the owner of two small businesses, Crunchy’s Real Food and Alaska Reserve Study.
Mark emphasized his commitment to collaboration, transparency, and forward-thinking as the keys to strengthening schools, along with: Prioritizing budgets that put resources directly into classrooms; advocating for parental engagement and choice in education; supporting programs that prepare students for success in college, trades, and life; and ensuring every child—no matter their background—has access to the tools they need to succeed.
The filing deadline is Friday, Jan. 24, 2025 at 5 p.m. for the April 1 Anchorage election.
Return to Must Read Alaska for more filing reports in the coming days.
Go to this link to find out how to file for Anchorage elected office.
And why would we care who’s endorsed by Demboski? May as well ask Scott Kendall who he’d like to see on the Assembly.
I like Jared and I’d vote for him if he were a candidate in my district, but a complimentary word from Demboski is a less than worthless endorsement in my opinion.
Back to the minor league for ya…more practice needed to compete in the big leagues of politics.
I want to sincerely thank Suzanne for the
coverage of my campaign for Anchorage School Board!
I’m running because I believe the best way to predict the future is to create it, and together, we can ensure our schools provide the best opportunities for every student.
The spotlight you’ve shone on this important work mean so much, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to share my vision with our community.
Let’s continue this conversation about making our schools stronger, together!
First order of business would be to restore orderly conduct in the classroom. I agree with the best opportunities for every student. Those students who obey the teachers and have orderly behavior are entitled to a proper education. An education free from those students who disrupt and create chaos.
That is a valid concern. My two cents would be that as long as the disrupting students are dealt with equally across the board, we should see such occurrences less.
Outstanding credentials, but hopefully you are not running against a candidate endorsed by the union (s). Qualifications are secondary in that circumstance.
Thank you Ben. Anyone can endorse whoever they please. Anyways, I hope to have your vote and others encouraged to do the same.
Mark
You have a lot of big words and grand ideas but no mention on exactly what you would intend to do with the out of control school administration and the out of control classrooms. I have three teachers in my family and they all tell me the same thing they’re afraid to touch or get around the kids because of lawsuits or being in trouble losing their jobs and the admin has all the money and all the people in the teachers kids squat. I would like somebody running for the school board to layout a path to correct this problem instead of always more money from the taxpayer good luck.
Mark, I empathize with your family of educators concerns. A viable plan to handle what sounds like toxic leadership is to change leadership one school board seat at a time. All of your support could very well make the difference that brings us good luck and good changes for ASD moving forward.
It does not matter who runs for what office.
As long as Anchorage has 100% vote by mail, and the Assembly continues to restrict observers during the ballot count, the outcome will be the same. Leftists across the board.
Jared, what are your plans for stopping the sales tax and the porta potties, and, most of all, restoring an open, honest, transparent election system, returning Anchorage’s election system to in-person balloting, hand-counted ballots, restoring accurate voter rolls, and giving election observers the chance to see what they’re supposed to be observing?
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Jared, what will you do when your Assembly colleagues try to restart mask and vaccine mandates for bird flu?
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Mark Anthony, what are your plans for stopping the child-grooming and financial corruption which seem to be hallmarks of school board business, are you ready to pound on the million dollar contracts going only to union shops until that bit of corruption goes away, are you ready to demand a forensic audit of school district finances and management practices?
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Mark Anthony what will you do when your school board colleagues restart mask and vaccine mandates for bird flu?
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Mark Anthony, will you bend a knee when your Assembly colleagues pull a Kriner’s Diner on Crunchy’s Real Food?
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Mark Anthony, might the fourth time be the charm if you ditched the worn out catchwords and talked to people like you give a damn about them… Trump style, shall we say?
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Are either of you getting support from Alaska’s GOP?
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Thanks to both of you for trying.
Thank you for the thoughtful questions and for engaging with the issues that matter deeply to you. As worn out as it may sound I believe in transparency, accountability, and ensuring that our schools operate in the best interest of students and families. Here’s where I stand on your concerns:
1. On Contracts and Financial Accountability: I support a detailed review of school district finances and practices to ensure funds are being used responsibly and ethically. Transparency in how contracts are awarded is critical, and I will push for fair competition that prioritizes value for all involved.
2. On Mandates and Grooming: I am committed to protecting parental choice and ensuring that any health-related policies respect the rights and freedoms of families. Decisions must be made based on evidence, not fear or politics.
3. On Politics Affecting My Small Business:
I understand all too well the struggles of losing business interest and business being adversely affected based on politics but continue to run anyways. Fourth time could very well be the charm.
4. On My Communication Style: I’m here to serve, not to lecture. My focus is on listening to the concerns of voters and working collaboratively to find solutions. While I may not adopt every style of communication, I assure you my passion for improving our schools is genuine and rooted in caring for Anchorage families.
5. Support from the GOP: My campaign is about ensuring all voices are heard, the GOP has the opportunity to decide whether to endorse me as a candidate, but for a moment regardless of political affiliation let’s come together as a community and vote for someone willing to listen and give as opposed to ignore and take. My focus is on building bridges to unite the community and address all our concerns.
Thank you again for the opportunity to clarify my vision. I encourage everyone to reach out and share their concerns—I’m here to listen and to act. Together, we can create a stronger future for Anchorage students.
Good start, Mark Anthony.
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Thanks.
Mr. Cox your comments:
My two cents, dealt with equally,I empathize.
You seem to be in favor of DEI, and very weak.
I have voted for you three times before but will
no loner be supporting you. Sadly with Mr. Donley being the only
conservative on the board could have used another conservative on the board,
Sadly I do NOT feel you fit this bill.
Thank you for your feedback. I truly appreciate your support in the past, and I respect your perspective. I believe it’s important to have open, honest conversations about issues like DEI and how we move forward as a community. While I do empathize with concerns regarding these topics, I am committed to finding balanced solutions that serve all of our students in Anchorageand families as a school board member.
I want to be clear that my goal is not to be divisive which DEI policies from the left have produced, instead I want to be an effective voice for every student and every parent in Anchorage whether they fit the bill for DEI or not. I have always worked campaigning to prioritize our children’s education, ensuring that our schools are a place where every student can thrive and be prepared for life after K-12.
That being said, I understand that my conservative approach may not always align with everyone’s views in the city of Anchorage to which we look to vote for us, but my commitment to run and advocate for being a voice on what the best actions are towards a brighter future for our schools has not waned. I hope to win this time around with the support of everyone reading this including you who say they are conservative or Republican or those who desire control of what’s going to happen next in our city. We need everyone to show up April.
Thank you again for your honesty and input. Please feel free to keep the conversation going if you’d like to discuss this further.
Dear Mark;
Thank you for your response. I looked on a couple of your campaign sites for your contact information but non is listed ( phone, email ect.)
I did read your Q&A on ADN and found it quite informative. ( A Good thing)
Now for a few questions:
1. What is your position on Superintendent Jharrett Bryantt being hired when he did NOT meet the qualifications for the job ?
2. What is your position on the 4 bills proposed by Sen. Elvi Gray-Jackson, Due to be voted on Jan. 21st.
A. Asian American/Pacific Islander Program
B. CPR Curriculum
C. Mental Health Education
D. Chokehold Ban
Will these bills help our children learn to read and write ?
And my final question for this round is what is your position on the Diamond High Teacher (Male) who wore a dress in class and flaunted his junk in the faces of his students?
For contact information try http://www.cox4asd.com or the municipality website for elections which have all candidate’s contact information prior to it being published. I’m glad the ADN article was available for you still.
“1. What is your position on Superintendent Jharrett Bryantt being hired when he did NOT meet the qualifications for the job ?”
I was disappointed when comparing him to the other candidates as to why the board went in that direction and how select members of the board went about hiring him. Ironically, he has a performance based contract and somehow with declining performance has received an extension.
“2. What is your position on the 4 bills proposed by Sen. Elvi Gray-Jackson, Due to be voted on Jan. 21st.
A. Asian American/Pacific Islander Program
B. CPR Curriculum
C. Mental Health Education
D. Chokehold Ban
Will these bills help our children learn to read and write ?”
From an academic lens on behalf of the Anchorage School Board focusing on student outcomes, these proposals fail to address the pressing academic challenges facing our schools—declining literacy rates, poor math proficiency, and a growing achievement gap. Our students deserve a system that prioritizes foundational education over initiatives that may sound beneficial but lack clear, measurable outcomes.
For instance, introducing an Asian American/Pacific Islander program duplicates existing resources and adds undue burden to teachers who are already navigating a packed curriculum. CPR training, while valuable, could be taught outside of mandatory curriculum through partnerships with organizations like the American Heart Association. Mental health education, while important, is too vaguely defined in its current form and risks exposing students to harmful concepts without providing clear benefits. Finally, the chokehold ban may complicate law enforcement training but has little to do with improving academic outcomes for our students.
I suggest legislation pertaining to education needs to refocus on giving students the tools to succeed—strong literacy and math skills, a safe and disciplined environment, and accountability in how resources are used. These are the priorities that will truly make a difference for our students here in Anchorage.
“And my final question for this round is what is your position on the Dimond High Teacher (Male) who wore a dress in class and flaunted his junk in the faces of his students?”
I am against it.
Dear Mark;
First and foremost thank you for your time and responses.
Last questions and then I will post some info for you.
ASD
While the school district wants to close some schools, because of declining student population.
They do NOT want to decrease administration staff or the number of teachers. And want an increase in the per student allocation.
Your Position on this?
Library
While the schools push to keep Gender Queer and other books that deal with underage sexual content.
What is your position on this and how will you deal with this issue?
Lastly do you support Home Schooling and Charter Schools?
Thank you for asking good questions. I appreciate your time in asking them.
ASD
“While the school district wants to close some schools, because of declining student population.
They do NOT want to decrease administration staff or the number of teachers. And want an increase in the per student allocation.
Your Position on this?“
I believe fiscal responsibility is essential, especially when managing taxpayer dollars. Which is why it’s also important to evaluate administrative costs and ensure staffing levels reflect current needs. Increasing per-student funding can be beneficial, but we must ensure those funds are used effectively in classrooms to improve educational outcomes, not to sustain inefficiencies which budget shortfalls often reflect.
Library
“While the schools push to keep Gender Queer and other books that deal with underage sexual content.
What is your position on this and how will you deal with this issue?“
I strongly believe in protecting the innocence of children and ensuring that school libraries are appropriate for their age and development. Books like “Gender Queer” and others containing explicit sexual content do not belong in school libraries, especially when they are accessible to minors. Parents in our district should have a significant say in what materials are available to their children instead of unaccountable committees. If elected, I will work to set policies to establish clear guidelines for age-appropriate content and ensure parents are part of the decision-making process.
Homeschooling/Charter Schools
“Do you support Home Schooling and Charter Schools?”
Yes, I fully support home schooling and charter schools as they provide families with alternatives to meet their children’s unique educational needs. Parents should have the freedom to choose the best path for their children, and these options often deliver innovative approaches to education. Supporting school choice fosters competition and drives all schools to improve, ultimately benefiting students and families.
Dear Mark;
Thank you so much for your participation in this conversation. I hope it will help others to understand your positions on some of the topics that affect our community.
A group of us (mostly seniors) and some territory babies, get together and discuss local, state and federal issues and candidates. Sadly, all three have been in the outhouse for the last four years.
I am pleased to say you have our full support, Mark.
Not just our votes but our promotion for you at every opportunity.
I believe you to be a man of Faith, Family and Country.
Best of luck on your campaign and thanks to your family.
Thank you for your support! I am deeply humbled by the trust you and your group have placed in me, and I promise to honor that trust by continuing to advocate for Faith, Family, and Country in everything I do.
This election is a journey we’re all on together, and it’s conversations like this that remind me how important it is to stay connected with the people I hope to serve. To keep the dialogue open and find more ways to support, I encourage everyone to visit my website http://www.cox4asd.com or email me at: [email protected] —it’s a great way to reach out with any questions or concerns you have, both throughout the election and afterward when we win!
Thank you again for your encouragement and promotion—I’m incredibly grateful. Let’s make a difference together!
Jared once again you have my full support and vote