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P E N I N S U L A
Thursday, November 1, 2018 Kenai Peninsula, Alaska
Vol. 49, Issue 28
Ballot Measure 1 spending tops statelevel record By JAMES BROOKS Juneau Empire
The electoral fight over Ballot Measure 1 is the most expensive state-level campaign in Alaska history, according to new filings from the Alaska Public Offices Commission. Tuesday was the deadline for campaigns of all kinds to submit their last major financial report before the Nov. 6 general election. According to those filings, the principal group opposing Ballot Measure 1, Stand for Alaska, has received $12 million in cash and in-kind contributions. The principal group supporting the measure, Yes for Salmon, reported $1.7 million in contributions by Oct. 27, then added another $131,000 on Monday. Stand for Salmon, a separate political group that will remain active after the election, reported receiving more than $715,000 in contributions during the campaign. Campaign fundraising doesn’t always decide elections, but it can be a barometer of support for a particular cause or candidate. It almost always determines the amount of advertising in a campaign. In 2014, approximately $14 million was spent by proponents and opponents of a referendum attempting to repeal a just-passed reform of Alaska’s oil and gas tax law, setting a record for a state-level campaign. (Federal elections have resulted in more spending: more than $57 million was spent on Alaska’s U.S. Senate race that year.) Many of the same oil and gas firms that opposed the 2014 referendum are also opposing this year’s ballot measure. Those companies include firms such as ExxonMobil and ConocoPhilips. In addition to the big fish, a spread of small fry have joined the spending spree ahead of the vote. A few examples: Mike Chihuly, a Ninilchik retiree who spent $1,860 with his wife on a newspaper ad to support the initiative. In Juneau, the Salmon Project is spending $925 in time and effort on social media, it reported. The Alaska Free MarSee SPEND, page A2
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Poll: Begich, Dunleavy tied By JAMES BROOKS Juneau Empire
The governor race between Mike Dunleavy and Mark Begich is tighter than ever. A new tracking poll from Alaska Survey Research shows the two leading candidates almost dead even, with the decision possibly remaining in the hands of the state’s few undecided voters. According to the poll, 42.5 percent of Alaskans support Dunleavy and 42.3 percent support Begich. The Begich campaign, which has consistently trailed during the election, issued a press release stating that “momentum continues to build on Begich’s side.” Asked about the poll, Dunleavy campaign manager Brett Huber said by email, “The only poll that counts is the one on November 6.” A week and a half after he announced his withdrawal from the governor’s race, incumbent independent Gov. Bill Walker still holds a measure of support among voters. Just under 8 percent of Alaskans said they will vote for him. Support for Libertarian candidate Billy Toien, polled for the first time by Moore, measured
Official: Kenai Peninsula College enrollment down By VICTORIA PETERSEN Peninsula Clarion
Former state Senate Mike Dunleavy, left, Gov. Bill Walker, center, and former U.S. Senator Mark Begich shake hands after a debate at a Juneau Chamber of Commerce luncheon at Centennial Hall on Thursday, Sept. 6, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
3.3 percent. Slightly over 4 percent of Alaskans are undecided. The poll of 500 likely voters was fielded between Oct. 26 and 29 using cellphones and landline telephones. The data was weighted to generate a representative sample of all Alaskans and has a
4.4 percent margin of error with a 95 percent confidence interval. The poll was not funded by either campaign, said Ivan Moore, director of Alaska Survey Research, in a press release accompanying the poll results. The poll also asked respon-
dents if they had already voted, then asked who people had voted for. Among the 67 people who had already cast their votes, 34 said they had voted for Begich, 32 for Dunleavy and one for Walker. Among the 433 people who See POLL, page A3
After years of growth, Kenai Peninsula College is seeing a decline in student enrollment. Enrollment decreased 4 percent between 2017 and 2018, according to an update given by Suzie Kendrick, KPC advancement programs manager, at Wednesday’s Soldotna Chamber Luncheon. “It was years before we saw red numbers like this,” Kendrick, has worked at the college for more than 17 years, said. We grew, and we grew and we grew. Then the economy flattened out. I don’t think I need to explain to you how things are a little bit different than they were five or more years ago.” Kendrick said the 92-bed See KPC, page A3
Candidate Spotlight: Senate District O Editor’s note: Ahead of next week’s election, the Clarion is publishing interviews with candidates vying to represent peninsula communities. In today’s paper, we feature candidates running for the Alaska Senate District O seat. Republican Sen. Peter Micciche, who currently represents District O, is facing two challengers: write-in candidates Ron Gillham and Willow King. District O includes central and upper peninsula communities, including Kenai, Soldotna, Nikiski, Sterling, Funny River, Cooper Landing, Hope and Seward.
By VICTORIA PETERSEN Peninsula Clarion
By VICTORIA PETERSEN Peninsula Clarion
Question: Should you be re-elected, what would your first priority be as Senator? Answer: I have several that are right at the top of the list. Obviously, Alaskans are very concerned with the opioidrelated crime and the increase we’ve been seeing. We have a lot of work to do in repealing and replacing SB 91 with more Sen. Peter Micciche. (File) effective measures that hold criminals accountable. I have people for a vote so that it can a resolution that I will draw up be protected in the constitution that puts the PFD in front of the See PETER, page A3
Question: What would your first priority be as the senator, should you get elected? Answer: One of the first priorities will be trying to get the PFD into the constitution, that way the politicians can’t ever get into it again. I want to save it for future generations. Q: Why did you start your Ron Gillham. (Courtesy photo) write-in campaign? Well, after the primary, I me and ask me to do a writesort of thought it was all over. in. And after about three I had so many people contact See RON, page A3
2nd write-in candidate looks to topple District O incumbent By KAT SORENSEN Peninsula Clarion
With election day around the corner, Soldotna’s Willow King has launched a write-in campaign for Senate District O. Incumbent Senator Peter Micciche’s name will be on the ballot unopposed, but after a tight Republic primary race in August, his challenger Ron Gilliam launched a write-in campaign. King, who had al- Willow King. (Courtesy photo)
most applied for the primary, has now followed suit in hopes of becoming a state senator. “When Ron and Peter split the vote pretty well, I decided it might be the right time,” King said. “I, and many people I talk to, don’t feel adequately represented.” Besides a small portion of her childhood spent living in Hawaii, King has lived on the central peninsula. She would spend the summers fishing with her father, a commercial
fisherman. King said that Ballot Measure 1, which asks votes to approve updates to Alaska’s habitat laws for fish, is particularly important to her. “I feel strongly about protecting the environment and our representatives are pretty strongly development based,” King said. “I’d like to see responsible development and the idea of diversification of Alaska’s economy. Lawmakers of old knew petroleum was a fi-
nite resource, but that seems to have been lost.” She doesn’t want to lean on the environmental issue, though. “I think it’s important to get back to the idea of Alaskans being able to take care of themselves and each other through all the issues that tie into that, from SB 91, Ballot Measure 1 to health insurance,” King said. “I want to see us prepared for the future because it seems See KING, page A2
Analysis: Minor permits under Ballot Measure 1 By KEVIN GULLUFSEN Juneau Empire
Ballot Measure 1, up for a vote during the statewide election Nov. 6, provides three tracks for development projects on salmon habitat in Alaska. Some projects are minor, some major, and others can received what’s called a general permit for common activities done by many people. Proponents have said that responsible development won’t face undue permitting hurdles. Opponents have said even routine projects like road widening would screech to a halt.
In a three-part series, the Juneau Empire is taking a look at how Ballot Measure 1 changes Alaska law in an effort to provide voters with an unbiased look at the permitting process — for everything from an ATV crossing, to a personal dock or a massive mine. An article published in the Clarion on Monday looked at general permits, which apply to things like skiff launches, stream crossing and recreational suction dredging in certain locations — everyday activities which a large number of people do with a minimal effect to habitat.
So, what type of development could receive a minor permit? The difference between a major and minor permit comes down to what Ballot Measure 1 calls “significant adverse effects” to fish habitat (more on that A8). Minor permits could apply to things like personal docks, temporary water use permits and boat ramp maintenance. Right now, anyone building on fish habitat has to apply for a Fish Habitat Permit. The measure doesn’t change that. Permits are approved or denied See PERMIT, page A2
Sockeye salmon splash their way up Juneau’s Steep Creek in 2012. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire file)