Early returns in the special election to select a 12th member for the Anchorage Assembly show left-leaning Daniel Volland leading the far more conservative Stephanie Taylor.
When polls closed on June 21, the tally was as follows:
— Daniel Volland: 1,452 (38.49%)
— Stephanie Taylor: 1,182 (31.34%)
— Tasha Hotch: 618 (16.38%)
— Robin Phillips: 231 (6.12%)
— Rob Forbes: 163 (4.32%)
— Cliff Baker: 126 (3.34%)
If Volland’s lead holds as additional ballots come in over the next few days, he will further solidify the left-leaning majority as he is clearly in line with their agenda.
A local optometrist, he supports the Assembly’s controversial plan to grant itself the power to impeach a sitting mayor. He also supports abortion and the radical agenda of the LGBTQ political movement. His campaign was supported by the Democratic establishment, including Assemblyman Christopher Constant, School Board Member Margo Bellamy and Democratic State Legislators Tom Begich, Andy Josephson, Elvi Gray-Jackson, Zack Fields and Harriet Drummond.
The winner of the special election will hold the new 12th Assembly Seat – known as Seat L – which encompasses downtown, South Addition, Government Hill, Mountain View, Fairview, Northstar and the northern parts of Spenard, Airport Heights, Russian Jack Park, East and Midtown Anchorage.
For her part, Taylor ran a compelling campaign, which included a heavy dose of door knocking and face-to-face conversations. She stood on what she called “common sense” conservative principles, and promised to bring a reasonable voice to the Assembly, one that prioritized roads, safety and economic growth over divisive hard-left social issues that have defined the Assembly in recent years.
Taylor fell short in her initial effort to unseat leftist Assemblyman Forrest Dunbar in April’s regular election. Despite that defeat, Taylor secured nearly 5,000 votes in April and entered the special election with considerably more name recognition than the other candidates.
Turnout for the special election, however, appears to be rather paltry. A total of 38,487 ballots were mailed to voters who live in District 1, but only 3,801 were returned as of election night. While more ballots are expected to arrive via mail over the next few days, voter participation is nowhere near what it was in the regular April election in which five Assembly races drew between 10,000 and 18,000 votes for each contest.
This is a developing story.
5 Comments
Sorry for all the people that have to deal with Anchorage. The left has gone overboard and if they don’t like it they will change the rules to suit their warped way of thinking! All the rest of the people of South Central that need services in Anchorage have to put up with the garbage rules they make. I think Stephanie Taylor should win so the right might get heard at least, not just the left!
Anchorage is a lost cause. There should be a focus on conservative leaning areas seceding and joining Mat-Su and/or KPB. Leave what remains to enjoy the socialist utopia they crave so badly.
Dude! Palmer has had to fight like crazy consuming (not so much in $) but in effort and energy to battle those same extreme leftists who hate America. Victories over the last 2 years include no city-wide mask mandates, electing a couple of conservatives to the city council, voting out THREE (3) leftist council members who broke the law by holding private meetings to discuss city business. Restoring our traditional celebrations named after the Colonists that a few individuals in the Chamber sought to get rid of (under the radar) and replace with “twisted river” (Braided river or something like that) without consulting the public. When conservatives get lazy and don’t go out to vote (especially in local elections) this is what happens (+ the increased opportunities for cheating) A handful of patriots in Palmer worked their collective butts off to get people to the polls to vote out the 3 assembly members who violated the law. And though it was considered an incredible turn out, it still wasn’t even 1/4 of eligible voters! Good grief!
It’s a problem nationwide. Even in majority conservative areas, the liberals have been allowed to take over so many of the small local boards and councils due to apathy.
EAGLEXIT is looking more and more reality. The people who keep electing these id 10 ts can have their garbage