Candidates lining up for state primary elections

WASILLA — Palmer voters will likely have at least two contested races to decide in the first primary election following departure of a veteran Alaska legislator.

Alaska Sen. Bill Stoltze (R-Chugiak) announced on April 13 he would not seek re-election, citing his health. That in turn led Alaska Rep. Shelley Hughes (R-Palmer) to file a letter of intent to run for Stoltze’s seat with the Alaska Public Offices Commission.

Hughes declined to discuss a possible campaign at length, saying it was inappropriate to discuss elections during ongoing budget deliberations in Juneau, where legislators were set to continue work past the scheduled end of the regular session Monday.

“We’ve got work to do here, and that’s more important than me getting elected,” she said.

Hughes isn’t the only contender. Northern Industrial Training co-owner Adam Crum filed a letter of intent to run for Stoltze’s District F seat on Friday. Crum said he respected both Hughes and Stoltze, but that it was time for new blood.

He touted his business experience as his primary qualification.

“I have the experience as to what it takes to be an entrepreneur and to balance budgets,” he said. “That’s something we have a dearth of in the government that we have right now.”

Crum also said he’d push for reconsideration of the state’s formula programs — a familiar refrain from Stoltze — and work to boost a diversified economy to include, for example, mining and logging. The state once had as many as 20,000 active loggers, but was down to just a handful following the actions of federal agencies, Crum said.

“That’s an amazing thing, what government overreach can do,” he said.

Crum also conceded that the Valley’s strong tendency toward incumbents might serve as an obstacle.

“Probably, right away,” he said, when asked about it. “It will be a very tough and thrilling race. I look forward to it.”

Competitive races make for better leaders, Crum said.

“If Rep. Hughes becomes Sen. Hughes, I hope this race makes her a better senator,” he said.

Three candidates have since filed to run for Hughes’ current District 11 seat: Current Palmer mayor DeLena Johnson, Palmer Councilman Richard Best, and Nancy Campbell.

Candidates generally said it was too soon to discuss detailed plans for their legislative agendas. Still, the budget crisis wasn’t far from anyone’s mind.

Solving it will be difficult, Johnson said.

“It’s not going to be easy,” she said. “I think if I were going to say ‘I’ve got a plan,’ I think that would show some real lack of understanding.”

Johnson’s second term as mayor expires this year, and she said she was comfortable potentially leaving Palmer in the hands of a newly elected successor and recently hired manager Nathan Wallace.

“My favorite thing is being mayor,” she said. “I got a lot of things done that I started out to do. I think we’ve got a great manager. We’ve got new sales tax coming online with Fred Meyer, and a significant number of new businesses. We’re going to see some real revenue. I’m leaving Palmer in a really good spot.”

Best also said the private sector should be a theme in budget discussions.

“Generally speaking, I think (legislators) have to continue to go through the cuts and look at opportunities and continue to work with the private sector,” he said.

Best also said he opposed possible changes to the Permanent Fund and income tax. Best, who resigned a council seat after just two days in 2003 over concerns about a conflict of interest between his employer and the city, has served most recently on the council since October 2006.

Campbell also declined to outline a position on the budget.

“It’s evolving,” she said.

Campbell is a minister at the White Fields Church in Wasilla, and served on the Valley Hospital Board from 2000 to 2009.

“I believe in less government,” she said. “I want to protect the PFD, and I don’t want to mess around with education.”

She was also reluctant to use the T-word.

“I don’t want to incorporate taxes, because that will drive businesses out,” she said.

With about a month to go before the June 1 registration deadline, a tentative picture of the Republican primary was starting to emerge elsewhere.

For example, in the Senate District D race, longtime incumbent Alaska Sen. Charlie Huggins (R-Wasilla) was facing a primary challenge from Wasilla city councilman David Wilson.

Rep. Lynn Gattis (R-Wasilla) had similarly drawn a primary challenge from Wasilla resident Brandon Montano — a member of the Mat-Su borough’s marijuana advisory committee, alongside Johnson — for State Representative District 7.

District 8 Rep. Mark Neuman (R-Big Lake) had drawn a primary challenge from Big Lake resident Mike Alexander.

First-term District 9 Rep. Jim Colver (R-Farm Loop), faced a primary challenge from George Rauscher, a Sutton resident active in land use and flooding issues.

District 10 Rep. Wes Keller (R-Wasilla) has not yet drawn a primary challenge, but did have a registered Democratic opponent in Houston planning commission chair Christian Hartley.

In District 12, Tilton did not yet have a registered primary opponent, but had also drawn a Democratic opponent in Gretchen Wehmhoff.

The state general elections are scheduled for Nov. 8.

Contact reporter Brian O’Connor at 352-2270, brian.oconnor@frontiersman.com, or on Twitter @reporterbriano.

Info Box: Primary Election

Note: The following candidates have filed to run for statewide office as of Friday, April 29. The filing deadline is June 1 at 5 p.m.

Senate D:

Incumbent Charlie Huggins

Challenger David Wilson

Senate F (No Incumbent)

Shelley Hughes

Adam Crum

Representative 7

Incumbent Lynn Gattis

Challenger Brandon Montano

Representative 8

Incumbent Mark Neuman

Challenger Mike Alexander

Representative 9

Incumbent Jim Colver

Challenger George Rauscher

Representative 10

Incumbent Wes Keller

Non-Primary Challenger Christian Hartley

Representative 11 (No Incumbent)

Richard Best

Nancy Campbell

DeLena Johnson

Representative 12

Incumbent Cathy Tilton

Non-Primary Challenger Gretchen Wehmhoff