From public safety, to jobs, to quality of life, there are still investments that need to be made for this side of town, which is often overlooked. , he will be competing in a district that is roughly 50% different from his previous one. The past two years have been marked by increased civic discord in Anchorage. According to. [Bond package set for Anchorage voters after Bronson administration flub nearly omitted millions for park projects]. Explain. She has twice served on the board of directors of Chugach Electric Association. She previously worked for the Anchorage Police Department in computer forensics and technology and was a business owner of Chinook Computer Services. General election date. Brian Flynn works in real estate and was appointed to the Heritage Land Bank Advisory Commission by Anchorage Mayor Dave Bronson in November, 2021. , he is running as a conservative and has been endorsed by Bronson and Allard. Williams frequently attends and testifies as assembly meetings. Explain. This story has been updated to reflect Roger Branson, Cody Anderson and Darin Colbry withdrawing their names from the election. Rate Dave Bronsons performance as mayor. In last years election, it was the only district to see an incumbent, moderate John Weddleton, replaced by Sulte, a conservative challenger. Assembly candidates will be chosen by voters in their district. Under new municipal voting district lines thanks to the passage of Proposition 12, which Constant championed, he will be competing in a district that is roughly 50% different from his previous one. The special election will be conducted by mail, with ballots sent out on May 31. Henslee is a lifelong Alakan, and according to her campaign website is looking to promote public safety, small businesses and tacking Anchorages issue with homelessness. . I honestly think that as far as knowledge goes Ive got quite a bit of knowledge under these kinds of conditions, and trying to keep people having their own money and keeping their own respect and being responsible for themselves is something that needs to be brought back.. I am proud to have focused on problems and solutions not on re-election.. Anna Brawley and Brian Flynn both filed last week to run for the open West Anchorage District 3. Already he has spent more than $17,000 on a mix of campaign management, events and supplies. Alaska Public Media is collaborating with the Anchorage Daily News on candidate questionnaires ahead of the election. This seat is available because former Assemblywoman Jamie Allard vacated her seat after being elected to the Legislature. Chris Constant announced Thursday that he's running for U.S. Congress. Danger is a former professional wrestler, actor, stunt man, and former union operating engineer. In 2018, he ran as a Democrat for State House in Sand Lake and received 12% of the vote. [Chugach State Park has been loved to death. A ballot proposition aims to address longstanding problems.]. If you have any comments or tips please contact me at yarrow@thealaskacurrent.com. She began working in the Anchorage School District in 1974 and has held multiple positions, including working as a teacher, librarian, assistant principal and principal. Whats your vision for improving and diversifying Anchorages economy? Former Student Board of Regent Joey Sweet. Bronson, a self-described conservative, has clashed multiple times with the current Assembly majority over city issues since taking office last year. Though Assembly seats are nonpartisan, the body has maintained a large voting block of moderate and progressive-leaning members over the past few years. The races could tip the balance of political power in the city. This new Blue 2023 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Crew Cab Short Box 4-Wheel Drive LT 1LT with a 2.7L Turbo engine engine and automatic transmission is for sale at Chevrolet of South Anchorage. But when I sit at our Tuesday meetings, I am prepared and ready. The last day for residents to register to vote is May 22. He is the head coach at Northern Lights Swim Club. George Martinez is president of the Northeast Community Council and was the Special Assistant to Former Anchorage Mayor Ethan Berkowitz. Weddleton is the current incumbent for the South Anchorage seat. I want a city we can all be proud of one full of beautiful spaces and safe opportunities to move between them where our children can receive an excellent education and where folks can run successful businesses that provide exciting job opportunities to their fellow Alaskans.. He has been ejected from the chambers for disruptive behavior and was recently arrested during an Assembly meeting. He is an HVAC instructor at Charter College in Anchorage. Flynn is sitting on a lot of that cash, having only spent $10,654 to date, giving him a sizable war chest for the last leg of the campaign, when outreach to voters ramps up as mail ballots begin arriving at peoples homes. Anchorage will vote on $45.6 million in city bond packages and a $111 million school district bond proposal. Bronson introduced Henslee during her campaign launch last year. How would you improve the quality of civic discourse in the city? Zachary Johnson is a former pilot with the Alaska State Troopers. To represent West Anchorage,. Cross mission statement is to be the best part of someones day every day and looks forward to serving the people of the Chugiak-Eagle River community as their next District 2 assembly member. I return calls and emails. There are 18 people running for seven open Assembly seats, and the only incumbents are Midtown Anchorage Assembly member Felix Rivera and North Anchorage Assembly member Chris Constant.. His challenger, Travis Szanto, a carpenter, reported giving his campaign $100. Anchorage Assembly member Felix Rivera is running for his third term representing Midtown Anchorage. John Trueblood is a project manager at Steelhead Communications, a telecommunications company. Hall said the knowledge he could bring to the assembly is that of someone who is a business owner, an educator and someone who has worked all around the country. What are some strategies the school district should prioritize to help students recover from that period? The case is much the same in the South Anchorage race to replace outgoing Chair Suzanne LaFrance, who decided not to pursue a third term. Im very historically savvy, I know a lot of history. (Bill Roth / ADN). Both are drastically outperforming challengers. He ran against Mayor Dave Bronson in the last municipal election, losing in a runoff election by a little over 1,000 votes. Project management consultant Anna Brawley has raised and spent close to the same amount, at $35,150 and $9,690, respectively. Constant said its important for districts to have two representatives so that constituents are always represented during assembly meetings. The mission of The Current is to publish a broad range of newsworthy and thought-provoking content, all which is interesting and constructive. Two candidates are looking to fill her seat, which is up for a full, three-year term. That an amount of ONE MILLION DOLLARS . Former Student Board of Regent Joey Sweet was appointed to fill the remainder of his term. As I have watched the public servants in my beloved city ignore the citizens needs and make everyday life more and more difficult with restrictive regulations, out of control spending, and harmful social ideas, as they have closed our schools, churches, and small businesses, and then ignored us and treated us with contempt, I have become more and more convinced that I, as an average member of this community, could and would do a better job at bringing reasonable leadership, she wrote on her website. Assembly members spent the morning hearing from the five candidates who applied to take over Dunbar's seat. Eleven challengers and four incumbents will vie for five open seats on the Anchorage Assembly this spring. Cox ran for Seat B on the Anchorage School Board last year and lost. District 2, currently served by Crystal Kennedy, District 3, currently served by Kameron Perez-Verdia, District 4, currently served by Meg Zalatel, District 5, currently served by Forrest Dunbar, District 6, currently served by John Weddleton, Man charged in 1994 sexual abuse cold case. Constant first won his seat in an open race in 2017 with 52% of the vote. While Assembly seats are technically nonpartisan, if Anchorage voters elect some of the more conservative challengers, it could weaken the Assembly majoritys power and strengthen the mayors hand, especially when it comes to mayoral vetoes. Stephens is a lifelong Alaskan. When Allard left her Eagle River-Chugiak Assembly seat to go to Juneau, Arlington was one of 10 who. The Anchorage Assembly could shift further to the left next year: Anchorage's George Martinez, who worked in the administration of Mayor Ethan Berkowitz and once was a well-known figure in Occupy Wall Street protest movement in New York City, has announced he is running for the East Anchorage Assembly seat now occupied by Pete Petersen, who hits Who are your Assembly Members? Taylor has lived in Anchorage for 50 years. Is the Anchorage School District currently doing a good job of retaining quality teachers? Myers also filed to fill the remainder of Allards term in January. Let us know. Contact us online or give us a call at (907) 365-8600 with any questions or obtain a price quote for this vehicle. I would look to capitalize on Anchorage International Airports global draw in freight and passengers air travel, as well as look to the future of a potential northwest passage through the Arctic where Anchorage could play a significant role. He is a private pilot and works as chief operating officer of Kakivik Asset Management and CCI Industrial, according to his website. Their opponents are running to challenge the status quo, championing right-leaning political causes, and receiving endorsements and donations from conservative activists, politicians and groups. Assembly members Kameron Perez-Verdia, who represents West Anchorage, Meg Zaletel, who represents Midtown, Forrest Dunbar, who represents East Anchorage, and John Weddleton, who represents. Rachel Ries is a former pilot and unsuccessfully ran for Anchorage School Board last year. Voters will also decide who fills two seats on the Anchorage School Board. Perez-Verdia is the incumbent for Seat D representing West Anchorage. According to the REALTORS website, the purpose of RPAC is to promote and solicit donations for the election of pro-REALTOR candidates who understand and support their interests. The Anchorage Assembly has lost its way and forgotten who they are there to serve; their constituents and not each other. Most recently, she worked with a broad coalition on a comprehensive rewrite of Alaskas alcohol statutes. Wesley Early, Alaska Public Media - Anchorage, Officials warn against moose-pet encounters on Kenai Peninsula, Alaska News Nightly: Tuesday, February 28, 2023, Sullivan seeks hearings on lab-leak COVID origin theory, Bronson aims to pay contractor millions for work on nixed homeless shelter, without Assembly approval. The last day for in-person voting and mailing back ballots is April 4. (Photo: Belloni Photography, provided by candidate) The Anchorage Daily News asked candidates for. Its a similar story in the Midtown district, where incumbent Assembly member Rivera has raised close to $11,000 so far, a mix of $1,000 contributions from union groups and small-dollar donations. Hes a registered Republican and a political newcomer, having voted in his first municipal election in 2022. A number of the new candidates are would-be allies to Anchorage Mayor Dave Bronson, and if elected, they aim to shift the balance of power in the city in the mayors favor. South Anchorage lost parts of Bayshore/Klatt and added parts of the east Dimond area. Addressing homelessness will solve several challenges. Anchorage residents who want to vote in the April 5 election must be registered by March 6 unless they are already registered to vote. In January 2023, with the question of Feinstein's re-election decision still up in the air, Democratic U.S. Representative Katie Porter announced she would run for Senate. Requiring a mandatory amount of parking can stifle development. Sulte says he is running to bring balance back to a deeply polarized Assembly, according to his website. 23, 2022 at 7:48 PM PDT. Ballots are in the mail. First step to more common-sense land use regulations Eliminating parking requirements from the zoning code was described by Volland as the "first chip in the ice" to making Anchorage's land use code work better for housing development. Constant first won his seat in an open race in 2017 with 52% of the vote. Donley is up against Irene Boll, a foster parent who unsuccessfully ran for school board in 2018. Danger is a former, , actor, stunt man, and former union operating engineer. Dunbar was elected to the Legislature and vacated the seat in January. He is a frequent attendee and testifier at Assembly meetings, and has been arrested or ejected from the chambers for disruptive behavior several times. Anchorage is facing critical issues that will affect how we live for years to come: developing a transparent, accountable, and sustainable budget that is accountable and sustainable; diversification of the economy: encouraging economic development; maintaining and improving our state infrastructure: better education achieved by ensuring sufficient resources are actually provided in the classroom, Vasquez wrote on her campaign website. Running against him is Spencer Moore, outreach director at Mountain City Church, formerly known as Anchorage Baptist Temple. A joint fundraiser was held last year by three candidates, Kathy Henslee, Stephanie Taylor and Randy Sulte, all Bronson supporters. Finally, I would seek to reduce panhandling and illegal camping preventing the homeless from using established resources. Two school board seats are up for election, with two incumbents running: School Board President Margo Bellamy and member Kelly Lessens. Although municipal code does not require the Assembly to temporarily appoint someone to fill the vacated seats, the Assembly has voted to do so in the past and may do so again. Scroll further down for answers from individual candidates. Points of contention have included the budget, a temporary ordinance requiring masks in public last year, and an escalating power struggle between the two branches of government. Hall is a first-time candidate for elected office. In response, Constant said that another conservative- leaning voice would not impact the dynamic of the current 11-member assembly, which currently has three conservative leaning members with Randy Sulte, Kevin Cross, and Jamie Allard. 2022 Anchorage Daily News. Scott Myers is a real estate broker with RE/MAX and president of the Southfork Community Council in Eagle River. Johnson is registered as Undeclared. How would you improve it? I have consistently brought forward policies that benefit the residents of Anchorage.. His wife, Rachelle Algers, is the director of the purchasing department under Mayor, . Cox is an Anchorage School District graduate and served in the U.S. Army. Feb. 25The 51st running of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race kicks off the first weekend in March, marking a full return to its pre-pandemic format . I support looking across the U.S. to copy successful strategies from proven programs in other cities. Alaska Public Media 2022. East Anchorage lost Wonder Park, Russian Jack, and Ptarmigan. Arlington ran for State Senate in 2014, losing to former Rep. Anna Fairclough. Bellamy faces two challengers. Each Day within the school term is a day in session except Saturdays, Sundays, and days designated as . If the Assembly chooses to fill the seat by appointment, the member vacating the seat would start the process by submitting a resignation letter, which would be followed by an application period, interview and possible appointment. Seat K, the South Anchorage seat on the ballot, is held by Assembly Chair Suzanne LaFrance, who is retiring after two terms. State changed its bridge replacement plans to accommodate Kinross mine plan, Bronson Administration Looks to Settle with Hickel Contracting for $2.5 million, Dustin Darden, A Perennial Candidate, Could Play Spoiler in West Anchorage, Senate passes legislation rejecting pay raises for governor and cabinet, Alaskas retirement system falls short for most. While the results of some races are pretty well settled, others will need to be ranked before we know who will go to Juneau. Explain, with specific examples. Alaska Public Media 2022. Ballots have been mailed ahead of the April 5 municipal election, and to help voters weigh their choices, the Anchorage Daily News asked candidates for Anchorage Assembly and school board to explain their views on key issues and how they would approach different challenges facing the city. Felix Rivera is running for his third and final term. February 1, 2023 | The Midnight Sun is joining The Alaska Current; January 27, 2023 | 'We're just asking for the crust.' School advocates ask for funding increase to keep up with inflation; January 25, 2023 | House keeps Tribal Affairs committee over Rep. Eastman's objections; January 24, 2023 | Dunleavy calls for Alaska to be 'the most pro-life state in the country' The race to serve out the remaining two years in the east-side district vacated by now-state Sen. Forrest Dunbar is comparably one-sided in terms of fundraising. John Trueblood is a project manager at Steelhead Communications, a telecommunications company. Whats one thing that makes you hopeful about Anchorages future? Flynn is backed by Bronson and was an active member of the right-wing group Save Anchorage until he filed. What happens if I were sick or somehow predisposed, said Constant. s retiring after two terms. Martinez, a registered nonpartisan, was a plaintiff in the Alaska Supreme Court case striking down the illegal pairing of East Anchorage and Eagle River in the redistricting process. Myers also filed to fill the remainder of Allards term in January. Flynn and Algers own a coffee shop together, and Flynn. It gained parts of Spenard and Arctic (see, Felix Rivera is running for his third and final term. According to campaign finance. The Alaska Current is a collective of journalists, creatives and content creators. The same district has a second seat up for election, as Pete Petersen is barred by term-limits from running again. Whats your vision for public education in Anchorage? Final results in the ranked choice election will be out this Wednesday. Campaign website: weddletonforassembly.com. Chris Constant, Vice-Chair of the Assembly, is running for his third and final term. Rate Dave Bronsons performance as mayor. Assembly District 1: North Anchorage Christopher Constant incumbent Constant has represented. So far, candidates aligned with the current left-of-center Assembly majority incumbents and newcomers alike are generally outperforming or keeping even with right-leaning rivals in campaign fundraising, according to the latest round of financial disclosures filed with the Alaska Public Offices Commission, which track donations collected last year through mid-February. Leigh Sloan is a former teacher, pastor, and Republican political consultant. Some conservative Assembly candidates have been working together as their campaigns attempt to flip the Assembly seats. $15,362 - Kevin Cross, Republican for the Eagle River District 2 seat on the Anchorage Assembly. Current North Anchorage assembly member Christopher Constant said that his district has been without a second representative and underrepresented for too long. Alaska Public Media 2022. The deadline for candidates to file for the April municipal election was today at 5 p.m. He has held other leadership roles and won various awards during his real estate career. Dustin Darden is a perennial candidate who has unsuccessfully run for U.S. Senate, the Legislature, Anchorage mayor and the Assembly numerous times. [Coverage of the 2022 Anchorage city election]. Meg Zaletel is a member of the Anchorage Assembly in Alaska, representing District 4 Seat F.She assumed office in 2019. She is an attorney, a former administrative law judge, assistant state attorney general and state prosecutor. This year, five Assembly seats and two school board seats are up for election. Last year, Dunbar ran for mayor and lost to Bronson in the runoff election by 1,193 votes. In the race to represent downtown, incumbent Assembly member Constant is running for a third term, has raised nearly $30,000. Sloan is a school choice and parents rights advocate. 6 candidates running for Anchorages 12th assembly seat, The Anchorage Special Municipal Election is a little more than a month away. Right now there are, Man charged in 1994 sexual abuse cold case. Taylor recently ran against Forest Dunbar for the East Anchorage assembly seat, but is now eligible for the North Anchorage seat due to a change in the voting district lines from the reapportionment process. Leigh Sloan is a former teacher, pastor, and Republican political consultant. I am excited for the opportunity to step up and work for my community, Brawley said in announcing her candidacy last week. His spouse. Even though assembly members are non-partisan and are not affiliated with any one political party, there has been a call for more conservative-leaning voices on the assembly from audience members at assembly meetings. (Photo provided by candidate) This Q&A is part of a broader candidate survey by the. Residents have until Sunday, March 6 to register to vote or update their voter registration to be able to cast a vote in this election. Copyright 2022 KTUU. Voting is now conducted by mail in Anchorage, but other options are available to submit ballots, including in-person. Darden is well-known as a routine disruptor at Assembly meetings and for advocating that Anchorage remove the fluoride from the citys water supply. Whats the single most important issue facing the Anchorage School District? , his only political donation on record is to Stephanie Taylor, a conservative backed by Anchorage Mayor Dave Bronson and the Mountain City Church (formerly known as the Anchorage Baptist Temple), who ran against now-State Sen. Forrest Dunbar for his Eastside Assembly seat. She is a business owner and real estate agent with AK Gold Homes. , who has been running for several months now to fill Pete Petersons seat. was appointed to fill the remainder of his term. Mikel Insalaco founded marketing firm egoforge and unsuccessfully ran for state House last year. Colbry said that he can bring knowledge to the assembly about the issue surrounding people experiencing homelessness from an inside perspective. All rights reserved. Benefiting from lingering frustration toward Assembly members by activist donors and political action committees, as well as newly lifted campaign spending limits in Alaska, candidates on both sides raised sums more befitting statewide races. A blend of a public and private partnership is needed that adopts ideas and programs with proven track records from successful cities. Elections 2022 See also: City elections in Anchorage, Alaska (2022) General election General election for Anchorage Assembly District 3 Seat D The other four residents who applied to fill the interim position were Crawford; James. Bronson provided no explanation for the abrupt change in the city's leadership, and a spokesperson for the mayor declined to comment on the matter, citing "personnel" issues. Flynn and Algers own a coffee shop together, and Flynn considers himself a fiscal conservative. Running against him is Rachel Ries, who lost a bid for school board last year, but has earned the endorsement of prominent conservative politicians and Republicans, including Bronson, Eagle River. I would rate the current administration an 8 or 9 based on the fact that Anchorage has a defined and broadly supported solution to improve homelessness and his efforts to petition the state to rebuild the Port of Alaska and a specific section of the port to ensure security of supply for Alaska while the remainder of the port is rebuilt. Ive been a neighbor, volunteer, and advocate for West Anchorage for the last decade, and I believe in Anchorages potential to be a vibrant city.. The math for veto override doesnt change because the charter states its two-thirds. March 18, 2022 Randall Sulte is a candidate for Anchorage Assembly in the April 2022 election. Find your Assembly District and contact the me mbers that represent you . Perez-Verdia, a current Assembly member, was elected to Seat D in 2019 and is seeking a second term. Leadership starts at the top with leading by example. East Anchorage has two seats on the ballot, one filled for nearly two terms by former Assemblyman Forrest Dunbar, was elected to the Legislature and vacated the seat in January. Zaletel was elected to Seat F in 2019 and is seeking a second term. Loring said he is retired and that he has a strong interest in education and is currently doing research to write a book about the Anchorage School District. In 2020, Rivera, a registered Democrat, came within 179 votes of losing to Save Anchorage candidate Christine Hill. He kicked off his campaign at 49th State Brewing in downtown Anchorage. Explain, with specific examples. Her work includes modernizing alcohol licensing laws and zoning improvements like removing excess parking requirements. Grip over the Assembly near that big News this week ' s who s! 16 . Then they, unlike everyone else were without representation and so my neighbors organized a campaign and effort to move the charter amendment, and voters significantly approved it.. I would return the Sullivan, among the longest-running COVID-19 shelters in the U.S., to the people. During my time in office that is exactly what I have done. His constant runs for office have made him a spoiler candidate. Darden is registered with the pro-secessionist Alaska Independence Party. There are 18 people running for seven open Assembly seats, and the only incumbents are Midtown Anchorage Assembly member Felix Rivera and North Anchorage Assembly member Chris Constant. The Anchorage Assembly will hold its regular meeting Tuesday night. Emily Goodykoontz is a reporter covering Anchorage local government and general assignments. There are four candidates looking to replace her. Anchorage has vote-by-mail elections, and registered voters should expect ballots to arrive roughly three weeks before the election. Im running for office because theres more work to be done, she said in an emailed statement. I was also very pleased to see him hold an unruly citizen (who was actually in support of him) accountable for their behavior at a recent Assembly meeting. The seat represents District 1 which covers North Anchorage, including downtown. Kameron Perez-Verdia is running for a second term as a district representative for West Anchorage . Austin Quinn-Davidson announced back in November she would not run for reelection, saying she wanted to spend more time with her family. The election was officially nonpartisan.Incumbent independent acting mayor Austin Quinn-Davidson, first . If passed, this would allow the market to determine how much parking is necessary, rather than municipal code. The area has long . Sloan is a school choice and parents rights advocate. Travis Szanto owns Skyworks LLC, a carpentry business. PROJECT PURPOSES AND DEPARTMENTS IN 2022. Published: Mar. Henslee previously ran as a Republican candidate for the Alaska House, District 23, and lost in 2020. Flynn is backed by Bronson and was an active member of the right-wing group Save Anchorage until he filed. That could have major implications for the citys legislative branch, which now has had a majority decisive enough to regularly override vetoes by Mayor Dave Bronson on contentious issues and push investigations into the administration.