Early voting began on Oct. 20 for three Mat-Su Borough Assembly seats and three School Board seats that are up for grabs in the Nov. 4 election.
The election will either strengthen the existing conservative majorities on these bodies or weaken them with left-of-center candidates.
Given that the Mat-Su Borough now includes each candidates’ political affiliation next to their name, it is easier for voters to decipher their political leanings, but voter affiliation, alone, does not tell the whole story.
The Mat-Su Republican Women’s Club has issued their endorsements of candidate whom they believe will advance conservative social and fiscal policy. These include the following names:
— Assembly District 1: Michael Bowles – Republican
— Assembly District 2: No endorsement
— Assembly District 4: Maxwell Sumner – Republican
— School Board District 2: Kendal Kruse – Republican
— School Board District 5: Brooks Pitcher – Republican
— School Board District 7: Lorie Colee – Republican.
How the election could shape Mat-Su politics
— ASSEMBLY DISTRICT 1: This seat is currently held by Assemblyman Tim Hale who is not running for re-election. Along with Nowers, Hale is one of the least conservative members on the Assembly. If voters replace him with Republican Michael Bowles, the Assembly will add a member who describes himself as a “registered Republican” who is “unapologetically conservative.” Bowles opponent, Michelle Huen, describes herself as “undeclared,” but not as conservative.
— ASSEMBLY DISTRICT 2: Assemblywoman Stephanie Nowers currently holds this seat. Nowers lists her affiliation as “nonpartisan,” but she is backed by Mat-Su Democrats as the least conservative choice. She is being challenged by “undeclared” Dana Raffaniello, who describes himself as a “principled conservative,” and claims the Republican Party in Alaska has abandoned conservative values, empowered Democrats in the State Legislature and failed to defend girls’ sports, common sense bathroom policies and parental rights in education.
— ASSEMBLY DISTRICT 4: Conservative Maxwell Sumner holds this seat, and he is running unopposed.
— SCHOOL BOARD DISTRICT 2: This seat is currently held by conservative, school-choice and parental rights advocate Kendal Kruse, a Republican. She is being challenged by left-of-center Gage Saxton, who is listed as “nonpartisan.” Saxton, however, has publicly stated that he favors greater spending on government schools, as well as fostering an environment that encourages LGBTQ students to express their preferred gender identity.
— SCHOOL BOARD DISTRICT 5: Conservative Republican Brooks Pitcher currently holds this seat, and he is running unopposed.
— SCHOOL BOARD DISTRICT 7: This seat is currently held by Ted Swanson, who has repeatedly argued and voted against conservative initiatives on the school board. Since Swanson is not running for re-election, voters will replace Swanson with either Republican Lorie Colee who is endorsed by the Mat-Su Women’s Republican Club or Dena McChargue, who is running “undeclared.”
BALLOT PROPOSITIONS
In addition to the candidate races, voters will decide the fate of four ballot propositions that deal with tax exemptions, a new fuel tax proposal, and the annexation of several land parcels into the Meadow Lakes Road Service Area.
— PROPOSITION 1: This measure would allow qualifying seniors, disabled veterans, and their spouses/surviving spouses to receive a prorated property tax exemption if they become eligible after January 1 — instead of waiting an entire year.
— PROPOSITION 2: This is an “advisory vote” asking if the Borough should impose a temporary 7¢ per gallon motor fuel tax for 1.5 years to generate about $5 million annually for road maintenance and property tax relief.
— PROPOSITION 3: This would annex parcels on N. Utopia View Circle and surrounding areas into the existing Medow Lakes Road Service Area.
— PROPOSITION 4: This would annex parcels on N. Mana Naen Street, W. Elvas Lane, and nearby areas into the Medow Lakes Road Service Area.
TAKING ACTION
— Early voting runs from Oct. 20 to Nov. 3. Click here for exact locations, times and other information regarding early voting.
— For information about where to vote on election day, click here.
15 Comments
In our state “Republican” is not synonymous with conservative. Our state legislature has proven that time and again, as well as occasionally on various assemblies. I would venture there are more conservative undeclared and unaffiliated registered to vote in Alaska than conservative Republican. I am a registered Republican and I like to joke that I was born one,and I am also conservative. On the other hand my husband is a staunch conservative but has never affiliated with a party and remains undeclared. It seems only registered republicans are endorsed by our Republican Party which I sort of understand, but then they tout the candidates as conservatives. Is the candidate truly conservative as too many have proven to not be. I know one candidate running for office in the November election who may be every bit as conservative as any Republican conservative running but has remained undeclared therefore receives no endorsement. I only say this to encourage voters to study the candidates. Do the best you can to know whom you are voting for. Also, our Republican Party needs to clean up their act and vet carefully whom they endorse as conservative. Likely for a more local election it is easier to give endorsement with confidence than a statewide election, still, I for one am wary.
100% agree. People should look at the Candidates, and research where they are standing. For district 2, the way the GOP is running their Endorsements claiming there is no Conservative running for district 2 is not accurate. They could have just said here are the GOP candidates, and left it at that.
Quick question… do you all know what Joel’s awards have been in journalism/writing?
You should, it might be comical…
Joel, could you tell me about the chateaubriand that was had at Simon & Seafort’s.
HIA, could you tell me about the left/liberal leaning Alaska news site where I can comment openly as a Conservative?
I wish I could M, however, there is not such a thing that exists here in Alaska. Would you like to start one with me?
I find it interesting that the Matsu GOP groups seem to prefer the incumbent who is technically term limited out, but is using a loop hole to run for a third term. Being the incumbent would not be able to run for another term after this, and we all know she is fully endorsed and backed by the Matsu democrats, she will no longer be Electorally accountable to the people, so she can slow down or stop any Conservative positions bought forward. They can simply say these are the Republicans running and leave out the part of saying there is no Conservative running for district 2
HOLY S**T, Dana, are you talking about trump?
No to Prop 2. It’s on-par with Anchorage’s 10 cent gas tax to fund replacement of school roofs. The tax pulls down 20 mill/year YET zero roofs have been replaced. Why is that? /s
You hit the nail on the head. There appears to be no legal requirement(s) to appropriate as written the taxes once collected. Anchorage is at $159,000,000 going to “solve the homeless” problem. How much of our gas tax goes to subsidize the indigent recidivist”homeless “? Anchorage’s cost per gallon is routinely 30¢ higher per gallon than the valley.
Penny, are you concerned with the homeless issue in Anchorage? Let’s put a Christian spin on it, “Come to me all who are weary and carry heavy burdens and I will give you rest.”. I kinda think you are one of those “Christians” if you are commenting here.
The most effective method of dealing with our new nuisance is to just ignore him/it, you know of whom I speak. He/it thrives off of conflict and has nothing better to do than annoy. Like all liberals he and his party are experiencing the demise of their control over our government, and have nothing to offer but protest.
Love you Steve, but you and your ilk couldn’t ignore me if you tried. Wanna test it out???
Watch the time-stamps…