Veteran enters Senate race

Big Lake resident wants Huggins' job

November 13, 2005

MARK KELSEY\Frontiersman managing editor

The campaign season for the 2006 statewide election took a step forward Friday when Big Lake resident Jay Cross announced his intent to challenge incumbent Charlie Huggins for his state Senate seat.

Standing before a small group of supporters and media personnel at the Grandview Inn, Cross, a lifelong Alaskan running as an independent, said he hopes to capitalize on what he identified as a growing number of voters who feel left out or underrepresented by the Republicans in power.

He said he disagrees with the notion that only Republicans can win in the Valley.

&#8220I've yet to find anyone in my district who says they (vote exclusively Republican). I've heard people say ‘I can't vote for a Democrat, but I don't want to vote for a Republican,'” Cross said. &#8220I plan on taking over the middle.”

A 30-year veteran of the Air National Guard who is a CIRI shareholder and member of the American Legion and St. David Episcopal Church in Wasilla, Cross said he was convinced by neighbors and friends to run after talking to Huggins at a community council meeting earlier this year.

&#8220Charlie had ideas that weren't in sync with what was going on out here,” he said.

Cross said he thinks Huggins, appointed by Gov. Frank Murkowski to fill a seat left vacant when Scott Ogan resigned, has not risen above the appointment to show he represents the people of the area.

He pointed to Huggins' support of the governor's elimination of the longevity bonus and municipal revenue sharing, as well as his support for spending Amerada Hess funds, as evidence the senator is too beholden to the Republican party.

Cross also called for meaningful overhaul of existing ethics laws and chided Huggins for supporting proposed legislation that would punish someone for discussing an ethics complaint against a public official.

&#8220People have a right to expect ethical behavior,” Cross said. &#8220There should be no loopholes.”

The Senate hopeful also expressed his belief that Huggins has less concern for his constituents than he does for the special-interest groups that support him, although he was reluctant to single one out.

&#8220Just look at where he's raising his funds,” Cross said.

Campaign filings with the Alaska Public Offices Commission for the 2006 Senate primary list contributions to Huggins from MEA general manager Wayne Carmony and his wife, Judith, totaling $400. The National Rifle Association, Alaska Outdoor Council and Alaska Boating Association held a fund-raiser Wednesday for Huggins, but an APOC report detailing the amount raised has not yet been filed.

Huggins could not be reached for comment Friday on Cross' candidacy, but has previously denied being unduly influenced by outdoors groups, which, he says, also reflect the values and interests of his constituents. &#8220I am representing the people of the Mat-Su who want access to public lands,” Huggins said last week. &#8220They are residents of the state, and they want to use those lands. My assumption is that if you drive around the Valley, a majority of people have snowmachines and four-wheelers in their yard.”

Alaskans are also avid supporters of the Second Amendment, he said.

&#8220If you go to the NRA annual banquet or the Alaska Outdoor Council banquet, you will see your Valley delegation there because that's the sentiment of the people,” he said.

Cross emphasized that as a member of the NRA himself, as well as a private pilot, jet boater and ATV enthusiast, he has a vested interest in issues of access to public lands, such as the Knik River basin. But he said Huggins' controversial proposed legislation about a management plan for the area lacks meaningful enforcement measures.

&#8220I have friends who went over there with their bikes and heard shooting and decided not to take their bikes back there,” he said. &#8220Something's going to happen there eventually.”

Cross closed his announcement with a jab at the often-bitter partisanship that has driven recent policy decisions in Juneau. &#8220To move ahead in this district, we need unity, not divisiveness,” he said.

Frontiersman reporter Dawn De Busk contributed to this story.