Alaska

Alaska Senate minority leader doesn’t plan to run this year

Published

2 years ago

June 2, 2022

Alaska Senate minority leader doesn’t plan to run this year

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — Ten Alaska state lawmakers don’t plan to hunt reelection this yr, and eight others are working for different places of work.

Fifty-nine of the Legislature’s 60 seats are up for election.

Those that don’t plan to hunt reelection embrace Republican Senate President Peter Micciche, who beforehand introduced his resolution, and Senate Minority Chief Tom Begich.

Begich, an Anchorage Democrat, stays listed as a candidate however informed The Related Press on Thursday he is “fairly positive” he’ll withdraw subsequent week.

“In my coronary heart and my thoughts, I’ve moved away from the job,” Begich stated.

He stated he spoke with Löki G. Tobin, who has been an aide to him, earlier than Wednesday’s submitting deadline and informed her he could not run once more. She filed to run for the seat, for which impartial Heather Herndon additionally has filed.

Begich stated he felt “a way of reduction” in indicating he wouldn’t run.

Tobin was not instantly accessible for remark.

A number of of the incumbents who opted in opposition to looking for reelection cited household issues, together with Micciche and Republican Rep. Sara Rasmussen. Rasmussen stated her younger household beforehand relocated to Juneau from their residence in Anchorage to be along with her throughout session. However she stated her son began kindergarten this yr so her household stayed in Anchorage and he or she commuted backwards and forwards.

“I used to be actually on the fence on the whole lot, type of till the top of session, and I felt like one of the best factor to do was simply to prioritize my household at that time,” she stated.

This yr’s common session ended inside the 121-day constitutional assembly restrict however prior years have been grueling, marked in some circumstances by divisive particular classes. There have been 15 particular classes since 2015, 4 of them final yr.

Democratic state Rep. Adam Wool of Fairbanks and Republican state Sen. Josh Revak of Anchorage are amongst these working for a unique workplace. Each are working for U.S. Home. Republican Rep. Christopher Kurka of Wasilla is working for governor. Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy is looking for reelection.

5 Home members are working for state Senate, together with Democratic Rep. Matt Claman, who’s difficult Republican Sen. Mia Costello; Democratic Rep. Geran Tarr, in a race with three different candidates, together with Democratic Anchorage Meeting member Forrest Dunbar; and Republican Reps. Kelly Merrick and Ken McCarty. Merrick and McCarty, each from the Eagle River space, are working in the identical Senate race.

Two Anchorage state Home races function sitting Democratic lawmakers — Reps. Harriet Drummond and Zack Fields and Reps. Andy Josephson and Chris Tuck, the Home majority chief.

The first is Aug. 16; the withdrawal deadline is June 25.

It was simply final week that the political boundaries for this yr’s elections had been set following two rounds of litigation over the redistricting course of. This additionally would be the first state elections cycle following a cut up federal appeals court docket panel resolution final yr that struck down a number of marketing campaign contribution caps.

The Alaska Public Workplaces Fee has stated there are now not limits on what a person can provide to candidates or to non-party teams.

This yr additionally brings adjustments to the elections course of. Beneath an initiative handed in 2020, there are now not occasion primaries. The 4 candidates who win essentially the most votes of their major, no matter occasion affiliation, will advance to the final election, wherein ranked selection voting will probably be used.

If there are 4 or fewer candidates in a major race, all would transfer on to the final election, the Division of Elections has stated. Practically all of the legislative races have 4 or fewer candidates. Seven races have only one candidate who has filed to run.

Jason Grenn, govt director of Alaskans for Higher Elections, which advocated for the brand new elections course of, stated the adjustments made by the system are meant to assist take away obstacles for individuals who need to run. Up to now, for instance, a candidate who wished to run exterior the occasion construction must collect signatures to get on the poll, he famous.

There are different components concerned in a single’s resolution to run, he stated, equivalent to relocating to Juneau, leaving one’s job or legislative pay.

“Our group didn’t have expectations that we’d see 10 or 12 individuals in every race,” he stated. “And we’ve heard from individuals who have stated, ‘I’m working due to these adjustments,’ or ‘I can run now as a result of these adjustments occurred.”

The August major additionally contains races for U.S. Home, U.S. Senate and governor.

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Alaska

Alaska Republicans bring in national lawyer, will ask for recount on Ballot Measure 2

Published

1 hour ago

November 25, 2024

Press Room

Alaska Republicans bring in national lawyer, will ask for recount on Ballot Measure 2

The Alaska Republican Party said on Sunday that it will be asking the Division of Elections for a recount of the votes on Ballot Measure 2, which gave Alaskans the option of repealing ranked-choice voting.

Although dark money from Outside Alaska overwhelmed proponents of the repeal, it ended up failing to be repealed by just 664 votes, a tiny margin.

Of the 340,110 votes cast on the measure, the margin of “No” votes to “Yes” votes was 160,619 to 159,955, or 50.1% to 49.9%. The state must cover the costs of a recount when the margin is this close.

“We will submit this request, along with the names of the requisite Alaskan voters required to initiate this process, once the election is certiﬁed, which is scheduled for November 30, 2024,” said the statement issued by the Alaska Republican Party.

The party has hired the Dhillon Law Group, led by Harmeet K. Dhillon, to be on the ground during the recount and review, along with Alaska-based party counsel and observers.

“Ms. Dhillon and her firm are a nationally recognized, seasoned election integrity legal team, and bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to this recount process. Ms. Dhillon is an expert in election law. She and her colleagues Michael Columbo and Mark Meuser were recently on the legal teams in Arizona, Pennsylvania, and other crucial locations nationally to ensure a fair, transparent, and thorough process,” said Party Chairwoman Carmela Warfield. “Our Party Counsel, Ms. Stacey Stone and her team, are experienced Alaskan election law practitioners, and in September 2024, they successfully intervened on the Alaska Republican Party’s behalf in the case of Alaska Democratic Party v. State of Alaska Division of Elections, ultimately prevailing in the Alaska Supreme Court.”

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Alaska

101-year-old woman shares her birthday reflections with Alaska’s News Source

Published

9 hours ago

November 25, 2024

Press Room

101-year-old woman shares her birthday reflections with Alaska’s News Source

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) – Norma Aldefer didn’t expect to turn 100. Now, one day after her 101st birthday, she’s even more surprised.

Inside her pristine apartment, Aldefer’s table is full of cards wishing her a happy birthday. She points out a favorite, which reads “You’re how old?”

Celebratory messages from loved ones, along with congratulations from state officials Senator Lisa Murkowski and Governor Mike Dunleavy. Aldefer said last year’s centennial birthday even brought in regards from President Joe Biden.

Aldefer moved to Alaska to marry her husband, who was originally from her hometown. The photograph she has at her side is of her as a younger woman posing with her mother in 1948.

Norma and her parents pose “all dressed up” for family photos.(Olivia Nordyke)

“We took pictures of ourselves and and I’m all dressed up in high heels and a hat and a purse. And my little bag that I was carrying.” Aldefer said she was scared leaving the small farm she grew up on, but by working as a telephone operator for Southwestern Bell, she expanded her horizons.

Multiple times Aldefer stated she’s remained curious all her years. She said it’s the reason she’s been able to maintain herself rather than losing her faculties, and believes it’s the way to feel fulfilled.

“Sometimes people get into things they don’t enjoy, but they think, ‘Oh, I have to make a living.’ Don’t do that. If you’re not comfortable, go do something else,” Aldefer said.

“May not make a good living for a while, but you might enjoy life.”

Aldefer says she still enjoys life, and continues to enjoy a nightly martini alongside cheese and crackers before she begins to cook dinner.

Over the course of the interview, she marveled at her gratitude for her world – calling herself blessed.

“I know I’m not going to be here much probably much longer, but I’ve had such a good life, you know. I’m not afraid of it.”

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