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Alaska Right-to-Life Endorsed Candidates Win 8 of 11 Races in GOP Primary

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Anchorage, AK – It was a good night for the pro-life cause around the state of Alaska. In all, eight of eleven candidates endorsed by AK Right to Life PAC won Republican primaries, with one race yet undecided in House District 6, where the incumbent Eric Feige holds a 114-vote lead over his pro-life challenger, George Rauscher.

There were four contested Senate primaries in which AK Right to Life PAC candidates were endorsed. Headlining the night was a pair of Senate races featuring incumbent members of the Pro-abortion Democrat-controlled bi-partisan working group. Both sitting Senators lost to more conservative pro-life challengers.

In Senate District D, Mike Dunleavy handily defeated Senator Linda Menard by a margin of 58.22% to 41.78%. Many expected the race to be much closer, but at the end of the day with less than 16% turnout, Republicans went resoundingly for Dunleavy. And in Senate District O, challenger Peter Micciche easily defeated incumbent Senator Tom Wagoner by more than nineteen points. Micciche is currently the Mayor of Soldotna. Neither Dunleavy nor Micciche have Democrat challengers in the general election. Incumbent Senator Cathy Giessel also won easily in Senate District N.

On the House side, AK Right to Life PAC endorsed in 7 contested primaries. Five of those races were in the Mat-Su Valley. Four of the five won by twenty points or more: Wes Keller in District 7; Shelly Hughes in District 8; Lynn Gattis in District 9; and Bill Stoltze in District 11. Incumbent Peggy Wilson also won by double digits in District 33. As mentioned above, District 6 challenger George Rauscher still trails by a narrow margin with 10% of precincts not yet reporting.

While two races were decided against AK Right to Life PAC’s endorsed candidates, there is good news even there. In House District 26 where our endorsed candidate, Larry Wood, came in second, the winner, Lora Reinbold, is also a strong pro-life conservative. And in Senate District C, where AK Right to Life PAC endorsed long-shot candidate David Eastman, the winner, Click Bishop, is also pro-life with some exceptions.

On behalf of Alaska Right to Life, I would like to offer our sincere congratulations to the winners of tonight’s primaries, and many thanks to all the pro-life candidates who stood up and were counted in this election cycle. May God bless you for your efforts. Onward and upward!

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Matt Johnson is the executive director of Alaska Right to Life.

Alaska’s primary election: One of the most important in the history of our state, page 4

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The other primary race that is of interest in the Valley is the three-way Republican Primary between Ralph Seekins, Click Bishop and a Valley political newbie, David Eastman. Seekins and Bishop are both well know in the Fairbanks area and Eastman is known more in the Valley. What is unknown is how Bishop will play with the Democrats in the Senate. Bishop is known for his very strong union ties. Eastman, a strong pro-life conservative, is new to the field with little apparent backing but he says he has “lots of volunteers.” Seekins is well known around the state and is considered a conservative. Of the three, Eastman and Seekins are considered to be the most conservative. As a Republican, it is hoped Bishop will publically commit to NOT organize with the Democrats before informed voters support him. He has not made such a promise yet. I hope the voters ask the tough questions about who he will support for the Senate leadership.

The other general (November) race of interest in the Fairbanks area is the Coghill-Thomas race. Both names are well known and respected in the Fairbanks area. That race presents a clear choice: Thomas is a Democrat and will roll with the Dems, while Coghill is a proven conservative with a long family political history in Alaska.

I hope this analysis helps voters make wise choices for the future of Alaska. I ask each and every one of you to make a difference and call your friends, relatives and co-workers and encourage then to vote on Aug 28th. This is one election where every vote will count and have great impact on the very existence of the Alaskan lifestyle as we know it and your family’s investments in Alaska.

Bottom line: Research the candidates in your area and make an informed vote in the Republican Primary August 28th.

Alaska’s primary election: One of the most important in the history of our state

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Alaska’s primary election is one of the most important in the history of our state. Alaska is at a watershed moment when a very small percentage of voters will literally chart the course of the future of our State. This primary will decide if the current gang of Democrats and their minority of Republican enablers will continue to dominate the State Senate and thus further bankrupt Alaska’s future with more government, bigger spending and virtually killing any conservative pro-business legislation. It is imperative to take back the Senate and require all Republicans to meet in the same room to not allow the skillful democrat leaders to divide and conquer the Republicans. Republican voters must insist that their elected representatives and senators pledge to caucus with Republicans first. Your primary vote during this primary election is more critical than ever before. With the low turnout of a typical primary, your vote will count more than usual.

Also on the ballot is Prop 2, a reconstitution of the Coastal Zone Management (CZM) program. The unanimously passed House version of the Coastal Zone Management program died last year when Senate Majority Democrats foisted their demand that the only version of the CZM that would pass would give literal local veto power over projects. At risk is any offshore development off the NW Arctic Coast. With local control, the only development that would possibly happen would be at the whim of a local Coastal Zone Management Board. This is bad state and national policy as it undermines the authority of both. This latest version was written by environmental attorneys and will create more layers of government and strangle responsible development. With the TAPS pipeline in dire need of feedstock, now is not the time to add unreasonable layers of regulatory burden to its possible demise.

The balance of power in the Senate is literally hanging on a few votes. There are a number of key races that will determine whether the Democratic senate coalition survives or not. For my Valley neighbors, there are several races of interest. I will attempt to give an overview of these races for the readers.

The most high profile Valley race is the race between Linda Menard and Mike Dunleavy. Linda is the incumbent from a well-know Valley family and for the most part is very personable. Linda, however, has a dismal legislative track record, having supported the Democratic leadership of the Senate, after promising in writing that she would not. This is not surprising, as many years ago, her husband Kurt Menard, switched from a Republican to a Democrat minutes before the filing deadline for a senate seat, which ended up giving control of the Senate to the Democrats.

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Alaska’s primary election: One of the most important in the history of our state, page 2

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Menard has passed only two insignificant bills, the Marmot Day bill, and a bill creating a vanity license plate. She did however passionately fight (but failed) to add a verse to the Alaska State Song. Her own majority member, Senate Finance Chairman Bert Steadman (R) Sitka, said to the Daily News that her presentation on the KUBATA (Point Mac-Anch bridge) to the Senate Finance Committee was the worst presentation he had ever seen (or words to that effect). The Daily News reported that she was joyfully skipping down the halls of the Capitol singing “hallelujah” when the special session on the Governor’s oil tax bill was ended, saying that her stomach could not take the stress of more time in special session. She threw a very pro-hunting Fairbanks nominee to the Game Board under the bus by voting “no” for his confirmation. Additionally, while recently touting she is the “Valley Conservative” she is, in fact, heavily supported by Labor, with NEA union lobbyists purportedly going door to door for her. While she was President of the Mat Su School Board, she was sanctioned by the School Board for improperly influencing a school principle in a personnel matter involving a family member.

Menard’s challenger is Mike Dunleavy. Dunleavy is a strong contrast to Menard. The headline “head and shoulders above the rest” is a great description of Mike Dunleavy, being not only tall in stature but also in conservative thought and principled action. Dunleavy started as a teacher in the North West Arctic School District, and worked his way up to being the Superintendant. He was the Chair of Governor Parnell’s education transition team. He is the current Mat Su District School Board President and is an advocate for competition in education, including home schools and private schools. Dunleavy has also owned and operated a private consulting business. He has successfully managed large organizations and large budgets. Dunleavy has provided conservative leadership to the School Board and has honorably served.

Dunleavy is unapologetically conservative and will bring conservative leadership to the Senate. He will not support democratic control of the Senate. Dunleavy is recognized for his thoughtful approach to solving problems and knows that Alaska needs more oil in the pipeline to avoid a mid 1980’s or worst crash. Dunleavy has a plan to restore fish to Valley streams, and is an avid hunter and outdoorsman. He has a small ranch North of Wasilla in the foothills of the Talkeetna Range and owns mules and a horse. Mike has the endorsement of Alaska Right to Life because his strong pro-life views. Menard, while personally pro-life, supported the Democratic Senate Leadership (Senator Hollis French) that kills any and all pro-life legislation. Dunleavy also enjoys the endorsement of the Valley’s Conservative Patriots Group and the Outdoor Council for his pro-hunting advocacy. Mike Dunleavy is the genuine article when it comes to being a true conservative Republican.

Another interesting race is between Rep. Wes Keller and former Houston Mayor Roger Purcell. Wes Keller is a proven solid conservative and carried a strong conservative agenda in the House. He has endorsement of many conservative groups, including Outdoor Council, Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife Legislator of the Year, National Federation of Independent Businessmen-Legislator of the Year, Right to Life, the NRA and the Conservative Patriots Group.

Keller is an unassuming public servant, and prefers to work quietly without bringing attention to himself. He effectively serves as the Health and Social Services Chairman, a committee that oversees the state agency with the biggest budget. This committee is very, very important but rarely gets attention of the press. Keller also serves as the Chair of the Citizens Advisory Commission on Federal Areas, an official watchdog group that holds the federal land managers accountable. He also serves on the Alaska Healthcare Commission. Keller is recognized as a thoughtful, intelligent and committed conservative in the House.

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Alaska’s primary election: One of the most important in the history of our state, page 3

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His opponent, Roger Purcell, was the former Mayor of Houston. During his tenure, Houston politics were often in the press, rarely in a positive light. Purcell is most noted for alleged misuse of a police vehicle as mayor, including running lights and sirens while passing vehicles on a road trip to Fairbanks and attempting to issue speeding tickets while not being a police officer. Purcell is endorsed mostly by himself, by funding his campaign with over $22,000 of personal loans to his campaign. He has filed for bankruptcy twice. In 2006, he was admonished by Judge Eric Smith for being an unreliable witness in a murder trial. Purcell is fond of talking big talk about the same big projects lots of other politicians promise.

Then there’s the Lynn Gattis-Mark Ewing race. Gattis, a current School Board Member, is a successful businesswoman, a lifelong Alaskan, pilot, outdoors woman, and farmer. She is a breath of fresh air to the usual wanna-be’s that seek office in Juneau. Ewing, a current Mat Su Assemblyman, tends to be overly outspoken and does not seem to be campaigning too earnestly. Incidently, like Menard, Ewing is another candidate heavily backed by unions.

Shelly Hughes and Dan Hamm are facing off in the primary with Hughes having received the nod from the ARP to be appointed by the Governor to fill the rest of late Rep Carl Gatto’s House seat. Hamm is a newcomer and Hughes has a lot of experience in the halls of Juneau representing Alaska Primary Care Association.

Rep Bill Stoltze has a primary, but no one has seen his opponent and no serious challenge is expected.

Senator Charlie Huggins and Rep Mark Neuman have only Democrat challengers and those races will be decided in November. Huggins and Green cracked open the door to the coalition, with Huggins in positions of leadership, but the Dems threw him under the bus after the last election. Huggins lost the top cover of Sen. Green.

George Raucher, a long time Alaskan, is a strong pro-life conservative running for State House in District 6. Although Raucher has not held public office, he has been very active in his community in many areas including Lazy Mountain Bible Church Missions Board, Alpine Historical Park Board of Directors, Sutton Community Council, and Volunteer Fireman & EMT. He was also a delegate to the 2012 District and State ARP Conventions. Raucher is a contractor, carpenter, and draftsman by trade. His incumbent challenger, Eric Feige, is a pilot by trade, and is not a social conservative. But he has come up with a good approach to putting environs on the hook for damages to developers if they file frivolous lawsuits.

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