Anchorage Municipal Election

Protecting Your Rights: Serving West Anchorage

March 28, 2025

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

The last day of the Anchorage Municipal Election is April 1st. Voters in West Anchorage will decide an Assembly seat, two School Board seats, multiple bond propositions, and two special tax levies. Please be sure to vote!

This week, we have our constituent survey results. Thank you to everyone who completed our survey!

Anchorage Municipal Elections

Anchorage Municipal Election Information

The last day to vote in the Anchorage Municipal Election is Tuesday, April 1st.

For a full review of how to vote, please visit our recent newsletter here.

For questions, the Anchorage voter hotline is 907-243-VOTE (8683).

You can find more information about the election, including how to vote as well as candidate and proposition information, on the Anchorage Municipal Website: muni.org/elections.

To learn more about the candidates and ballot propositions, click here.

When Alaskans vote, Alaska wins!

Constituent Survey Results

This year, nearly 550 friends and neighbors from across Senate District H completed our constituent survey!

We appreciate your input and will keep your views in mind as the session continues. Having compiled the information and analyzed the results, we have key takeaways in this email:

76% of West Anchorage constituents gave the Governor's FY2026 budget proposal a failing grade (D or F).
76% support using Permanent Fund earnings to help pay for essential services.
84% believe we should not pay a statutory dividend.
74% of West Anchorage constituents support Alaska returning to a pension retirement program for public employees.

Here are the detailed results:

Question #1

Governor Dunleavy’s FY2026 proposed budget largely flat funds services, adds no new revenue or taxes, and includes a Permanent Fund dividend payment totaling $3,892 (costing approximately $2.5 billion). While the Governor’s budget doesn’t propose overdrawing the Earnings Reserve Account (ERA), if approved, it would leave us with a $1.5 billion deficit to be paid from savings accounts. What grade do you give the Governor’s FY2026 budget proposal?

Question #2

In 2018, Senate Bill 26 (AS 37.13.140) established a cap on the annual withdrawal from the Permanent Fund Earnings Reserve Account (ERA) to ensure the ERA is available for future generations to support the costs of state government—including public education, public safety, public health, capital projects, and dividends. There is competition between essential government services and dividends for funds from the sustainable draw required by AS 37.13.140. Understanding that the principal of the Permanent Fund is constitutionally protected, do you support or oppose prioritizing Permanent Fund earnings to pay for essential services, even if it means limiting the dividend payment?

Question #3

Balancing the state budget will likely require a combination of spending cuts, changes to the dividend, and new revenue. For the following choices (A, B, and C), what best reflects your position:

A: Budget Cuts

B: Dividends

C: Taxes

Question #6

Alaska is the only state without a pension retirement program for public employees. Do you support Alaska returning to a pension retirement program for public employees?

Weighted Average Questions

For questions 4, 5, 7, and 8 we analyzed results using a “weighted average” formula in which the lower number shows stronger support. The weighted average formula calculates the average value of particular responses. Applied to the ranked choices, the lower number reflects greater support for the choice and the higher number reflects less support.

For example, on question 5, “pay for public education” response has a weighted average of 1.71, which shows that many constituents ranked this option as one of their top choices.

Weighted Average = [Sum of (Number * Weighing Factor)] / Sum of all the Weights

Question #4

Which of the following new revenue measures would you support?

Income Tax (weighted average 2.16)
State Lottery Tax (weighted average 2.24)
Sales Tax (weighted average 2.27)
Increased Motor Fuel Tax (weighted average 2.30)
Education Head Tax (weighted average 2.48)
I do not support any of these measures (weighted average 0.13)

Question #5

If we raise new revenue through a sales tax, income tax, modifications to oil and gas taxes, or other revenue measure, we should use the new revenue to:

Pay for public education: teachers, schools, and training (weighted average: 1.71)
Pay for public safety: police, troopers, and prosecutors (weighted average: 2.36)
Pay for infrastructure projects: roads, airports, and ports (weighted average: 2.36)
Increase the dividend payment and help pay for dividends (weighted average: 3.55)

Question #7

Cook Inlet gas producers have forecast a gas shortage that will impact Railbelt utilities’ ability to deliver electricity and heating fuel in the future. What energy solutions do you support moving forward?

Alaska natural gas from the North Slope (weighted average: 2.18)
Expansion of renewable energy(weighted average: 2.20)
Royalty relief for Cook Inlet producers (weighted average: 3.12)
Imported natural gas (weighted average: 3.36)
Other (weighted average: 4.18)

Question #8

The Alaska Constitution provides for “a system of public schools open to all children of the State.” What are your education funding priorities?

Improve teacher recruitment and retention (weighted average 1.98)
Inflation-proof education funding (weighted average 2.08)
Expand career and technical education (weighted average 2.44)
Increased accountability through student testing and standards (weighted average 3.08)

Community Information

Permanent Fund Dividend Application

Monday, March 31st is the last day to apply for your Permanent Fund Dividend.

For more information on how to apply, click here.

Apply to the Youth Advisory Commission

Do you know a young leader in the Municipality of Anchorage who's looking for a way to make a difference and contribute to our community? Mayor LaFrance is seeking applicants aged 14 to 22 to join the Youth Advisory Commission to provide insight to City Hall and the Assembly on issues, services, and programs affecting youth. One of the commission's exciting responsibilities this year includes managing a generous donation from a local philanthropist to support community-focused initiatives.

Members will take the lead in designing a grant program, identifying its purpose, soliciting grant applications, and reviewing submissions. This commission is a unique opportunity for members to directly impact local organizations and invest in projects that benefit young people and the broader community.

The Mayor's Office invites passionate and dedicated young individuals who want to make a difference to apply for this rewarding opportunity. Together with three adult advisors they select, the Youth Advisory Commission will help represent the perspectives of their generation and help shape the policies, programs, and services that define our community.

Applications are now open!Visit the link here to learn more about the commission and to apply. The application period will close May 1. The Mayor will select applicants to be forwarded to the Assembly for final approval at their May 20 meeting.

Free Wood and Brush Disposal

Alaska's wildfire season started early this year. To help Anchorage residents protect their properties against wildfires, the Mayor's Office, Anchorage Fire Department Wildfire Division and Solid Waste Services (SWS) are partnering together to open the local wood lots for free to Anchorage residents clearing their properties this spring and summer. To encourage wildfire mitigation, from March 29 to September 30, no Anchorage residential loads of woody debris will incur fees.

Anchorage Municipal Wood Lot

Free drop-off for wildfire mitigation begins March 29, 2025.

Where: 15500 E. Eagle River Loop Road (off the Hiland Road exit off the Glenn Highway).

When: Monday-Saturday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Central Wood Lot at the Materials Recovery Facility

Free drop-off for wildfire mitigation begins May 1, 2025.

Where: 56th Ave in Midtown between Old Seward and Homer Drive, across the street from the Central Transfer Station.

When: Monday-Saturday 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Free wood disposal only applies to Anchorage residents hauling residential loads pertaining to wildfire mitigation. The following materials are accepted at the Wood Lot:

Brush and branches
Cut trees less than 6 feet long
Debris from residential properties only
"Clean" tree stumps (free of rocks, dirt, landscaping debris)

The following materials cannot be accepted for free and will result in a full charge:

Root clusters
Grass or loose leaves (leaves not on branches)
Dirt or rocks
Bagged materials (no bags please)
Debris with metal, concrete, or other materials attached
Garbage or metal
Debris from a commercial property or land clearing activity is not accepted
Mixed loads (e.g. wood debris mixed with garbage and recycling)
Lumber, fence posts, and other wood building materials

Normal wood lot fees apply outside of the May 1 to Sept. 30, 2025 timeframe, and to woody debris not categorized as wildfire mitigation, such as lumber or other building materials. Questions regarding wood lot operations? Contact Solid Waste Services at (907) 343-6250 or swcs@muni.org.

Community Events

Anchorage Delegation Town Hall

When: Saturday, April 5th from 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Where: Cuddy Hall, UAA (3400 Seawolf Dr)

The Anchorage Delegation is hosting its annual town hall on April 5th at Cuddy Hall on the UAA campus.

Delegation co-chairs Rep. Donna Mears and Sen. James Kaufman are excited to present this forum for the public to share their concerns about our city and our state.

We will livestream this event here, on this event page. Light refreshments will be provided in the room.

You can learn more at the facebook event page.

Community Health Fair

When: Saturday, March 29th 8am - 12pm

Where: APU Moseley Sports Center (4400 University Dr)

Please see more events at www.alaskahealthfair.org.

Community Health Fair at Alaska Pacific University+ Blood Tests (pricing below) @ Moseley Sports Center on 4400 University Dr. Anchorage, AK 99508

Saturday, March 29th 18th, 8am - 12pm

This is a free community event, and everybody's welcome to attend. Bring your friends & family! Walk-ins are welcome! Set an appointment online for quicker service visit www.alaskahealthfair.org