Mayoral candidates lead campaign spending

WASILLA — The mayor’s veto power comes with a hefty price tag, if Alaska Public Office Commission figures are any indication.

According to filings available Friday night, mayoral candidate Vern Halter led all candidates for Mat-Su Borough Mayor in fundraising for Tuesday’s election with $54,252.06. Halter’s efforts include more than $15,000 of his money, as well as contributions from some unions and individual Valley residents.

His chief rival in terms of fundraising, incumbent mayor Larry DeVilbiss, had taken in $23,994.80, though DeVilbiss also saw a late-breaking swell in support to the tune of $2,150 from a combination of Republican party organizations and former Governor Sean Parnell, according to subsequent 24-hour finance reports on Sept. 29, 30, and Oct. 1.

Mayoral candidate Rosemary Vavrin had only an APOC exemption form on file, available for candidates who spend less than $5,000 dollars.

Vavrin said she’s spent less than $200 of her own money on the campaign. Her primary costs have been fliers and cab fare to attend public forums. She’s primarily promoted herself using public forums and candidate questionnaires from local media outlets.

As to how she can compete against opponents with much larger war chests, Vavrin said she stays on-message.

“I compete by being myself,” she said. “By saying how much I love living here and how much I want to give back.”

Mayoral fundraising accounted for $79,346.86, according to the most recent figures available, and totaled roughly two thirds of the total fundraising for the 2015 borough election.

Halter wasn’t alone in making a personal investment in public office. In the race for the Willow seat on the Mat-Su Assembly, Doyle Holmes had raised $14,940, of which about $10,000 was his own money.

By contrast, Holmes’ rival for District Assembly Seat 7, Randall Kowalke, had raised $13,938.52.

Assembly District 6 challenger Robert A. “Bob” Doyle had raised $11,470.36, according to the most recent campaign report, dated Sept. 26. Doyle’s most recent contributions were $50 from his own pocket on Sept. 23, and $250 from Alaska Sen. Michael Dunleavy.

Incumbent Barb Doty trailed Doyle, bringing in $8,922.45, according to her most recent seven-day filing.

At the borough level, the most frugal race was between Maria Serrano and George McKee for Assembly District 3.

McKee had raised $6,453.78 compared to $3,294.00 for Serrano.

McKee was the only candidate to incur any debt, according to campaign filings, which showed he owed $300 for brochure design.

Not a single city council candidate in a contested race had registered a contribution, save for Palmer city council candidate Kenni Linden, who reported $300. Her sole expenditure was to an online printing firm for campaign postcards, stickers, pen, bags, and thank-you cards.

Voting for the regular election closes Oct. 6 at 8 p.m.

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