Lupe Marroquin, Alaska House Candidate District 31

At the Democratic event last Monday just after the filing deadline, in addition to the video of Janet Reiser, I also got this video of another new candidate, Lupe Marroquin.  As I wrote in the post last week, Lupe went to extraordinary lengths to make sure I got a ballot when I was in Thailand a couple of years ago.  She has no opponents in the primary, but incumbent Bob Lynn does have an opponent (Steve Pratt) in the Republican primary.  And as I wrote last week, Rep. Lynn was one of the legislators I saw regularly in Juneau, and while I don't agree with all his stands, I'm convinced he's an honest politician who votes for what makes sense for the public as he sees it, and he's not blinded by ideology or tied to the party line.   And I'm biased for another reason.  Besides being one of the oldest, if not the oldest, Representatives, he's one of the few who has his own independent blog (not set up by staff for his official legislative or party website.)  Marroquin has a campaign Facebook page.

I had some trouble with Viddler so I made a Youtube version as well.  You can try them both and see if you find one better than the other. 

Alaska Legislative Races - 26% Uncontested

The Lt. Governor's office is in charge of elections and on his website is the list of people who have signed up to run in the August primaries.  The deadline was June 1 and I got this on June 2, but there are some who are still pending certification. 

Five of the 20 Senate seats only have one candidate - that's 25%, all incumbents, who are running unopposed.  Two Democrats and three Republicans. 

[Update:  an ADN Alaska Digest piece today listed 14 unopposed candidates.  I had sixteen.  On double checking the Lt. Gov's website it seems one I had thought was unopposed has an opponent (Kurt Olson), but one the ADN did not list is on the list still as unopposed (Lindsey Holmes.)]


Twelve  [Eleven] of the 40 House seats are unopposed - 30 27%, all incumbents.  Six Democrats and five Republicans.  This is a little misleading though.  Three of the Democrats running unopposed - Regie Joule (Kotzebue), Bob Herron (Bethel), and Bryce Edgmon (Dillingham)- are from rural Alaska and they joined the Republican majorities on the grounds that as minority members they can't get the projects their districts desperately need.

All three seats from Juneau (one Senate and two House) are unopposed.  I'm sure their media markets are not real happy that the candidates won't need a lot of advertisements. 

Below I've cut and pasted the list from the Lt. Governor's website.  I've highlighted the unopposed Republicans in red, the unopposed Democrats in blue, but I've made the House Democrats who joined the majority Republicans purple.  (The Senate was evenly split 10 Republicans and 10 Democrats.  All the Democrats and most of the Republicans joined in a coalition to form the majority.  There were four minority Republicans who did not join the coalition.  Of the minority, only Sen. John Coghill is on the list of candidates.) 

State Senate District B

* Dennis Egan (Democrat) - Incumbent

3156 Pioneer Avenue
Juneau, AK 99801
Phone: (907) 586-6136

State Senate District D

* Pete Higgins (Republican)
3875 Geist Rd, Ste E-126
Fairbanks, AK 99709

* Joe J. Thomas (Democrat) - Incumbent
879 Vide Way
Fairbanks, AK 99712
Phone: (907) 590-4648

State Senate District F

* John B. Coghill (Republican) - Incumbent

PO Box 58003
Fairbanks, AK 99711
Phone: (907) 488-7886

State Senate District H

* Charlie R. "Charlie" Huggins (Republican) - Incumbent

3375 Edgewater
Wasilla, AK 99654
Phone: (907) 373-6419

State Senate District J

* Ron Slepecki (Republican)
8649 Cross Pointe Loop
Anchorage, AK 99504
Phone: (907) 222-0939

* Bill Wielechowski (Democrat) - Incumbent
1300 Farrow Circle
Anchorage, AK 99504
Phone: (907) 333-2806

State Senate District L

* Johnny Ellis (Democrat) - Incumbent
1231 W. Northern Lights Blvd
Anchorage, AK 99503
Phone: (907) 276-4633

* Richard M. Wanda (Republican)
PO Box 211986
Anchorage, AK 99521
e-mail: richardwandaforstatesenator@yahoo.com



State Senate District N

* Ed Cullinane (Democrat)
7232 Hunter Circle
Anchorage, AK 99502
Phone: (907) 830-9755

* Lesil McGuire (Republican) - Incumbent
2022 Kimberly Lynn Cir
Anchorage, AK 99515
Phone: (907) 351-8060


State Senate District P

* Catherine A. "Cathy" Giessel (Republican)
12701 Ridgewood Road
Anchorage, AK 99516
Phone: (907) 345-5470

* Jennifer B. Johnston (Republican)
11090 Hideaway Lake Drive
Anchorage, AK 99507
Phone: (907) 346-1087

* Mark W. Moronell (Republican)
www.moronellforalaskasenate.com

* Janet L. Reiser (Democrat)
PO Box 244993
Anchorage, AK 99524
Phone: (907) 903-3041

State Senate District R

* Gary L. Stevens (Republican) - Incumbent

PO Box 201
Kodiak, AK 99615
Phone: (907) 486-4205

State Senate District S

* Lyman F. Hoffman (Democrat) - Incumbent

PO Box 763
Bethel, AK 99559
Phone: (907) 543-3583

END OF SENATE RACES - BEGINNING OF HOUSE RACES


State Representative District 1

* Kyle B. Johansen (Republican) - Incumbent
PO Box 8601
Ketchikan, AK 99901
Phone: (907) 617-5537

* Ottar Mobley (Democrat)
PO Box 19185
Thorne Bay, AK 99919
Phone: (703) 678-8737


State Representative District 2

* Steven A. Samuelson (Republican)
PO Box 2188
Petersburg, AK 99833
Phone: (907) 723-3664
e-mail: StevenSamuelson@gmail.com
Candidate's web site: http://www.StevenSamuelson.com

* Reber P. Stein (Democrat)
2323 Sawmill Creek Rd
Sitka, AK 99835
Phone: (907) 747-3960

* Peggy Wilson (Republican) - Incumbent
PO Box 2211
Wrangell, AK 99929
Phone: (907) 874-3020

State Representative District 3

* Beth Kerttula (Democrat) - Incumbent

10601 Horizon DR.
Juneau, AK 99801
Phone: (907) 463-5440

State Representative District 4

* Cathy Muñoz (Republican) - Incumbent

2101 Jordan Avenue
Juneau, AK 99801
Phone: (907) 723-8089 e-mail: cathym@riemunoz.com
Candidate's web site: http://www.cathymunoz.org


State Representative District 5

* Robert W. Beedle (Democrat)
PO Box 16
Cordova, AK 99574

* William A. "Bill" Thomas Jr. (Republican) - Incumbent
PO Box 942
Haines, AK 99827
Phone: (907) 766-3365


State Representative District 6

* Alan Dick (Republican) - Pending Certification

* Rex L. Goolsby (Republican)
PO Box 814
Tok, AK 99780
Phone: (907) 883-8218

* Woodie W. Salmon (Democrat) - Incumbent
PO Box 21
Chalkyitsik, AK 99788


State Representative District 7

* Mike Kelly (Republican) - Incumbent
1625 Wolverine Lane
Fairbanks, AK 99709

* Bob Miller (Democrat)
1355 Silverberry Dr.
Fairbanks, AK 99712
Phone: (907) 460-8683
e-mail: miller4statehouseak@gmail.com


State Representative District 8

* David Guttenberg (Democrat) - Incumbent
PO Box 80731
Fairbanks, AK 99708
Phone: (907) 388-0194

* David M. "Dave" Talerico (Republican)
PO Box 521
Healy, AK 99743
Phone: (907) 683-2469


State Representative District 9

* Scott Kawasaki (Democrat) - Incumbent
2008 Carr Avenue
Fairbanks, AK 99709
Phone: (907) 590-0315

* Joseph A. Michel (Republican)
PO Box 61219
Fairbanks, AK 99706
Phone: (907) 347-9636


State Representative District 10

* John S. Brown (Democrat)
814 Austin Street
Fairbanks, AK 99701
Phone: (907) 452-5870

* Urban E. Rahoi (Republican)
1001 Lakeview Terrace
Fairbanks, AK 99701
Phone: (907) 456-6967 or (907) 509-2803

* Vivian M. Stiver (Republican)
523 2nd Ave
Fairbanks, AK 99701
Phone: (907) 347-2102

* Steve M. Thompson (Republican)
PO Box 70843
Fairbanks, AK 99707
Phone: (907) 374-4806


State Representative District 11

* Sean P. Rice (Democrat) - Pending Certification

* Tammie Wilson (Republican) - Incumbent
571 Canoro Road
North Pole, AK 99705
Phone: (907) 590-7602


State Representative District 12

* Bert L. Cottle (Democrat)
PO Box 1049
Valdez, AK 99686
Phone: (907) 835-3700

* Eric A. Feige (Republican)
PO Box 1208
Chickaloon, AK 99674
Phone: (907) 351-2360
e-mail: ericfeige4akhouse12@gmail.com
Candidate's web site: ericfeige4akhouse12.org

* Pete Fellman (Republican)
HC 60 Box 4200
Delta Junction, AK 99737
Phone: (907) 895-4090

* Don Haase (Republican) - Pending Certification


State Representative District 13

* Don Benson (Republican)
PO Box 4059
Palmer, AK 99645
Phone: (907) 745-4913

* Carl Gatto (Republican) - Incumbent
PO Box 2894
Palmer, AK 99645
Phone: (907) 232-3060
e-mail: carljgatto@gmail.com
Candidate's web site: carlgatto.com

* David J. Parks (Republican)
PO Box 1683
Palmer, AK 99645
Phone: (907) 982-5420


State Representative District 14

* Wes Keller (Republican) - Incumbent
PO Box 875910 #267
Wasilla, AK 99654
Phone: (907) 376-6115


State Representative District 15

* Stephen Jacobson (Republican)
2685 N. Alma Drive
Wasilla, AK 99654
Phone: (907) 357-1189
Candidate's web site: www.jacobson4statehouse15.com

* Mark Neuman (Republican) - Incumbent
13768 W. Maplewood Drive
Wasilla, AK 99654
Phone: (907) 354-0800


State Representative District 16

* Bonnie Nelson (Democrat) - Pending Certification

* Bill Stoltze (Republican) - Incumbent
PO Box 464
Chugiak, AK 99567
Phone: (907) 688-5754 or 745-5772


State Representative District 17

* Anna I. Fairclough (Republican) - Incumbent

PO Box 771112

Eagle River, AK 99577
Phone: (907) 694-7090


State Representative District 18

* Nancy A. Dahlstrom (Republican) - Withdrew
PO Box 771094
Eagle River, AK 99577
Phone: (907) 694-4929

* Bill Cook (Republican)
19328 Monastery Dr. #A
Eagle River, AK 99577
Phone: (907) 694-1010

* Dan Kendall (Republican)
PO Box 770616
Eagle River, AK 99577
Phone: (907) 696-7066

* Martin J. Lindeke (Democrat)
16111 Cline Street
Eagle River, AK 99577
Phone: (907) 622-4216

* Dan Saddler (Republican)
PO Box 771811
Eagle River, AK 99577
Phone: (907) 696-5492


State Representative District 19

* Gabrielle LeDoux (Republican)
PO Box 102293
Anchorage, AK 99510
Phone: (907) 677-8159
e-mail: voteledoux@gmail.com
Candidate's web site: www.voteledoux.com

* Pete F. Petersen (Democrat) - Incumbent
8633 Turf Ct.
Anchorage, AK 99504
Phone: (907) 522-6870


State Representative District 20

* Max F. Gruenberg Jr. (Democrat) - Incumbent
4801 Kenai Ave.
Anchorage, AK 99508
Phone: (907) 337-1688

* Scott A. Kohlhaas (Libertarian)
6701 E. 6th Ave. #24
Anchorage, AK 99504
Phone: (907) 337-3171
e-mail: scott@scottforhouse.org
Candidate's web site: www.scottforhouse.org


State Representative District 21

* Robert E. Clift (Libertarian)
6402 Hampton Drive
Anchorage, AK 99504
Phone: (907) 337-9679

* Barbara E. Norton (Democrat)
6130 Country Lane Circle
Anchorage, AK 99504
Phone: (907) 222-2540
e-mail: cnmbarb@gmail.com
Candidate's web site: barbaranortonforstatehouse.com

* Lance Pruitt (Republican)
2954 Brittany Place
Anchorage, AK 99504
Phone: (907) 929-4934
Candidate's web site: www.lancepruitt.com

State Representative District 22

* Sharon M. Cissna (Democrat) - Incumbent

PO Box 141892
Anchorage, AK 99514
Phone: (907) 272-8662

State Representative District 23

* Les Gara (Democrat) - Incumbent

PO Box 202259
Anchorage, AK 99520
Phone: (907) 250-0106


State Representative District 24

* Robert Benton (Republican) - Pending Certification

* Berta Gardner (Democrat) - Incumbent
1405 Matterhorn
Anchorage, AK 99508
Phone: (907) 223-9330


State Representative District 25

* Harley Brown (Libertarian)
2104 Cleveland Ave.
Anchorage, AK 99517
Phone: (907) 744-7646

* Mike Doogan (Democrat) - Incumbent
PO Box 91876
Anchorage, AK 99509

* Thomas M. Higgins (Republican)
3402 Dorbrandt St. #36
Anchorage, AK 99503
Phone: (907) 575-3297

State Representative District 26

* Lindsey Holmes (Democrat) - Incumbent

4149 Hood Ct.
Anchorage, AK 99517


State Representative District 27

* Robert L. "Bob" Buch (Democrat) - Incumbent
3160 W 71st Avenue
Anchorage, AK 99502

* Mia Costello (Republican)
5512 Yukon Charlie Loop
Anchorage, AK 99502
Phone: (907) 770-1702


State Representative District 28

* Jodie Dominguez (Democrat)
205 E. Dimond Blvd. #288
Anchorage, AK 99515
Phone: (907) 248-2111

* Craig W. Johnson (Republican) - Incumbent
12200 Timberlane Dr.
Anchorage, AK 99515
Phone: (907) 349-4307


State Representative District 29

* Chris Tuck (Democrat) - Incumbent
8220 Barnett Drive #2
Anchorage, AK 99518
Phone: (907) 223-6474

* Kris Warren (Republican)
900 W. 86th Avenue
Anchorage, AK 99515
Phone: (907) 344-5914


State Representative District 30

* Charisse E. Millett (Republican) - Incumbent
2860 Beluga Bay Circle
Anchorage, AK 99507
Phone: (907) 227-7673

* Jeannette O. Reddington (Republican)
4460 Mars Dr.
Anchorage, AK 99507
Phone: (907) 947-0308

* Lynda L. Zaugg (Democrat)
PO Box 232401
Anchorage, AK 99523
Phone: (907) 440-2849


State Representative District 31

* Bob Lynn (Republican) - Incumbent
4400 Trapline Dr.
Anchorage, AK 99516-1538
Phone: (907) 346-4447

* Guadalupe "Lupe" Marroquin (Democrat)
PO Box 111956
Anchorage, AK 99511
Phone: (907) 338-9448
e-mail: lupemarroquinforstatehouse@gmail.com

* Steve Pratt (Republican)
3115 Seawind Dr.
Anchorage, AK 99516
Phone: (907) 345-0032


State Representative District 32

* Mike Hawker (Republican) - Incumbent
PO Box 111329
Anchorage, AK 99511
Phone: (907) 346-2844

* Matthew Moore (Democrat) - Pending Certification

* Christian M. Rawalt (Republican)
PO Box 112872
Anchorage, AK 99511
Phone: (907) 727-8097


State Representative District 33

* Kurt E. Olson (Republican) - Incumbent
317 Diane Lane
Soldotna, AK 99669
Phone: (907) 260-4822

* Richard "Dick" Waisanen (Democrat)
44932 Eddy Hill Drive
Soldotna, AK 99669
Phone: (907) 262-6298


State Representative District 34

* Charles M. "Mike" Chenault (Republican) - Incumbent
PO Box 8154
Nikiski, AK 99635

* Ray G. Southwell (Alaskan Independence)
PO Box 6881
Nikiski, AK 99635
Phone: (907) 776-3384

State Representative District 35

* Paul Seaton (Republican) - Incumbent

PO Box 1564
Homer, AK 99603
Phone: (907) 299-3434
e-mail: Paul@VotePaulSeaton.org
Candidate's web site: http://www.VotePaulSeaton.com


State Representative District 36

* Alan Austerman (Republican) - Incumbent
PO Box 8766
Kodiak, AK 99615
Phone: (907) 486-5930

* Andrew Schroeder (Democrat) - Pending Certification

State Representative District 37

* Bryce Edgmon (Democrat) - Incumbent

PO Box 84

Dillingham, AK 99576
Phone: (907) 842-1729

State Representative District 38

* Bob Herron (Democrat) -Incumbent

PO Box 602
Bethel, AK 99559
Phone: (907) 543-4377


State Representative District 39

* Vincent T. Beans (Democrat)
PO Box 32336
Mountain Village, AK 99632
Phone: (907) 591-2347

* Neal W. Foster (Democrat) - Incumbent
PO Box 1633
Nome, AK 99762
Phone: (907) 250-8375

State Representative District 40

* Reggie Joule (Democrat) - Incumbent

PO Box 1269
Kotzebue, AK 99752
Phone: (907) 442-3452

Janet Reiser State Senate Candidate Seat P

My state representative, Berta Gardner, had a reception for Democratic House Candidates last night.  After being in the Capitol every day for several months and then being totally disconnected from all that during our trip, I figured this was a good chance to see some of the folks I'd met in Juneau and to see some of the new candidates.  It was.  Among other things I learned was that Nancy Dahlstrom, House Rules Chair this session,  had resigned from the legislature to take a job with the administration.  I don't think that made it into the London papers.

 I met several of the new candidates, but didn't get pictures of them all.  At left above is Janet Reiser, a chemical engineer, who is running for Senate Seat P, the seat Sen. Con Bunde is retiring from.

Lupe Marroquin a retired public servant, most recently in charge of elections at the Municipality of Anchorage, is running for House in District 31.  This was the first time I actually met Lupe in person, but she went through extraordinary efforts to get us absentee ballots in Thailand in March 2008.  Getting a fax through to us and our getting it back took a lot of work on her part.  I was so impressed that I did a post on her efforts.

Rep. Bob Lynn has a primary opponent on the Republican side.  I got to know Rep. Lynn while I was in Juneau.  The one committee that I attended most regularly was the State Affairs Committee that he chaired.  I found him respectful, thoughtful, and he had a good sense of humor.   If he wins his primary, then the voters of District 31 are assured a good representative no matter who wins.

Jodie Dominquez, shown here (left) with her campaign manager, is running for House District 28 against Rep. Craig Johnson who appeared to me to be a strong advocate for oil and gas interests in the legislature.




I'm hoping that this election Alaska bloggers can take a key role in helping voters get to know the candidates.  My sense is that we (Alaskans) should seriously evaluate the candidates as if we were hiring someone to handle our personal estates.  Because that's what we're doing.  We need to get past the PR television ads that package candidates based on focus group information on how to push voters' emotional buttons.  And we need more than how they come off in a single public television debate.

We need to seriously look at their resumes and determine who is most qualified.  We need to interview them and we need to talk to them in less formal situations.  While I am a registered Democrat, I plan to give as objective information about candidates as possible.  To say that a registered Democrat or a registered Republican can't report on the elections is ridiculous.  That would either mean some of the most qualified reporters couldn't report, or that reporters would have to hide their affiliations by registering independent.  I think it's better that we declare our affiliations and then let the readers consider what we write.

Unlike some other bloggers, I will not use my blog as a partisan forum to push Democrats and attack Republicans.  (That's perfectly legitimate, but just not my style.) But I also can't cover everything.  I will attempt to gather information that will help readers make informed choices.  And I assume that on occasion I will slip into opinion, but it will be supported by the facts.

Here's a video I got of Janet Reiser last night.  One of the nice things about talking to people who are fairly new to politics is that they tend to be pretty open and haven't learned yet to hide themselves behind a professional facade.  Candidate Reiser really seems talks from the heart here.  Yes, she's pushing her candidacy, but she's pretty transparent.




So, Alaska bloggers, let's give Alaskans more information than they've ever gotten about the candidates for the legislature. Let's try to transform this political races to businesslike hiring decisions. If there are skeletons, let's get them out, but I don't think we should focus on the negative. Rather we should help Alaskans get to know the candidates in all their rich complexity.