Birthday cake and political bucks

EAGLE RIVER — If history does indeed repeat itself, then it might be logical to assume that state Rep. Dan Saddler (R-House District 13) ought to have little challenge in retaining his seat for yet another term come the 2018 election.

His only close race came in 2010 when then Rep. Nancy Dahlstrom resigned and Saddler won a three-way contest within the Republican primary by only four votes. Since then, opposition within his own party and that presented by Democrats has come up far short. In the 2016 primary election, Saddler beat Myranda Walso, a Republican, three-to-one taking 73 percent of the District 13 vote. He ran unchallenged in both the 2014 party primary and general election.

Thus begs the question: With so few opponents and convincing wins even when he is opposed, why bother with fundraising?

Answer: Planning for whatever next year might bring and taking advantage of whatever limited time he and his counterparts are not called back to Juneau for special session.

Saddler said he isn’t taking any chances that well-heeled opposition might not arise. He also wants to be strategically prepared for other legislative opportunities.

A close knit group of long-time Saddler supporters threw the 57-year-old a birthday party/fundraiser event on Tuesday at Chepo’s Mexican Restaurant in Eagle River.

It was a little bit of “who’s who” in Eagle River Republican politics with Dan Kendall, former Anchorage Assemblyman and Crystal Kennedy, three-term Anchorage School Board member and former candidate for the District 14 seat in 2016 on hand.

Neither were surprised that Saddler and his supporters took advantage of a break from special legislative sessions to put some extra cash in the representative’s political bank account.

“One of the ways to ensure you can run a good race no matter what is to have sufficient resources,” Saddler said of the decision to fundraise even though it appears he has no opposition. “I hope I don’t have any opposition. I am gratified that the people of Eagle River seem pleased with my performance thus far.”

He also noted that Alaska Gov. Bill Walker’s call for a fourth special session to begin on Oct. 24 scheduled to continue right up to the Thanksgiving holiday means that he and other legislators with potential campaigns cannot fundraise for that last month before the holiday season when donors aren’t thinking politically anyway.

As donors, friends and a few new faces to the Republican Party in Eagle River dined on enchiladas and spicy chicken wings, Saddler fielded a variety of questions regarding state government – especially inquiries regarding the Permanent Fund Dividend.

There was a bit of discussion as to which political office Saddler will be running for. While nothing has been announced on the part of Sen. Anna MacKinnon, representing Eagle River, Saddler has said that if her seat were to become open, he would consider a switch to the other side of the state legislature.

In the meantime, Saddler, who said his political war chest isn’t that weighed down, greeted those that attended his luncheon birthday party with a big smile and a hearty handshake.

Jenni McConnaughey of Eagle River, who does not live in Saddler’s district, said she came to the party anyway to wish her longtime friend a happy birthday. And to get a few answers regarding the state’s current fiscal situation.

She asked him a few politically-related questions that she did not share publicly. But when asked about Saddler’s responses, she quickly stated, “If I have a question, I can always get an answer from him. There is no runaround and no ‘gobbledegook’ with Dan.”

According to a mandatory “Year Start Report” Saddler filed with the Alaska Public Offices Commission on Feb. 4, 2017, covering financial transactions for the calendar year 2016, Saddler had a total of $4,282.87 on cash on hand to begin 2017.

Research more about political candidates finances via the Alaska Public Offices Commission online presence at doa.alaska.gov/apoc.