Protecting Your Rights: Serving West Anchorage

April 24, 2026

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

This week, the Senate passed a capital budget focused on investing in the much-needed maintenance and construction of public schools.

Next week, the Assembly will certify the April 7th election municipal election results.

And 70 years ago today, the Alaska Constitutional Convention approved our state's constitution in Fairbanks.

Please read on for more information.

The Senate passes the Capital Budget

On Tuesday, the Senate passed the capital budget. The Senate's capital budget includes a prudent spending plan that allocates a total of $248 million from Unrestricted General Funds (UGF) and unlocks nearly $2 billion in federal matching funds for important projects across the state. The budget continues to support all of the projects proposed by Governor Dunleavy and makes urgent investments in maintenance and construction for Alaska's public schools.

Key highlights of the FY27 Senate Capital Budget include:

$57 million for K-12 major maintenance projects, fully funding the top 15 priority schools on the state’s deferred maintenance list as well as tank farm repairs at three rural schools;
$17 million to replace the Stebbins school, destroyed in a 2024 fire;
$14 million for repairs at Mt. Edgecumbe High School;
$17 million for University of Alaska deferred maintenance;
Workforce development programs to build Alaska’s pipeline and construction workforce for future economic growth.

The capital budget now goes to the House of Representatives for further consideration.

Anchorage Municipal Election Update

The Anchorage Election was on Tuesday, April 7th. The Anchorage Assembly will certify the results and swear in new assembly members on April 28th. The Elections Commissions posted updated results on April 23rd and showed the following results:

Assembly

District 1, Seat B: Sydney Scout 55.4%, Justin Milette 31.4%

Disctrict 2, Seat C: Donald Handelaand 55.3%, Kyle Walker 40.9%

Disctrict 3, Seat E: Anna Brawley 53.1%, Brian Flynn 44.2%

District 4, Seat G: Janice Park 46.5%, Dave Donley 46.2%

District 5, Seat I: George Martinez 56.5%, Cody Anderson 40.0%

District 6, Seat K: Zac Johnson 46.3%, Bruce Vergason 39.3%, Janelle Sharp 11.5%

The Seat 4 race between Janice Park and Dave Donley qualified for an automatic recount because the margin was less than 0.5%. The recount confirmed that Park received a 26-vote lead over Donley.

School Board

Seat C: Rachel Blakeslee 53.8%, Alexander Rosales 38.1%

Seat D: Paul McDonogh 46.4%, Sharon Gibbons 30.9%, Dustin Darden 13.7%

Propositions

All the propositions are currently passing except for Propositions 1, 4, and 9. Proposition 1 would have paid for capital improvements for the Anchorage School District, including Romig Middle School and Lake Otis Elementary. Proposition 9 would have authorized a special tax levy of almost $12 million in additional funding for ASD to hire 80 more teachers. That tax levy would have minimized the rise in class sizes, which are expected to rise by four students per class next year. That proposition is failing by less than 1 percent. Proposition 4, which would have authorized $350,000 for police department maintenance, is also failing.

Alaska's Constitution Turns 70

April 24, 1956 – The voters of Alaska approved the constitution adopted at Fairbanks in February by a vote of 17,447 to 7,180 and adopted a “Tennessee plan” to send an unofficial three-member delegation to Congress. Ernest Gruening and William Egan were named delegates to the Senate, Ralph J. Rivers to the House.

Alaska Historical Society, "This Month in Alaska History"

The Alaska Historical Society writes, "The former delegates to the Alaska Constitutional Convention of 1955-56 called themselves the '55' Club. Their mandate had been a strong one: write a constitution for a new state that would be considered a 'model' constitution. It would not be too long and it would not make laws, just propose the organizations that could. Symbolism was embedded at the convention even before it opened. The number '55' for delegates was chosen not because of the year, but because 55 delegates had been the number at the U.S. constitutional convention in Philadelphia almost 200 years earlier. On the final day, February 6, they made a few goodbye speeches and then presented convention president Bill Egan with a portrait of himself painted during the convention. Finally, in a highly emotional atmosphere, they adjourned. On April 24, 1956, the people of Alaska ratified the Constitution of the State of Alaska and it became operative with the formal Proclamation of Statehood on January 3, 1959."

For more history on the Alaska Constitutional Convention, visit the University of Alaska webpage "Creating Alaska."

Community Events

Beyond the Beige Mural Fundrasier

When: Friday, May 24th at 5:00 pm

Where: Wildbirch Hotel (239 W 4th Ave)

On Friday, April 24, McKinley Care will be hosting a fundraiser for our mural project, and we'd love to see you there! Join us at 5 p.m. at WildBirch Hotel, 239 W. 4th Ave, just down the street. Come for the food, music, a chance to meet mural artist Crystal Worl, and to support the "Raven Dreams of a Salmon Return" mural to be placed on the McKinley Care building! For more information, click here.

2026 Anchorage Chamber of Commerce Citywide Cleanup

When: Sunday , May 2nd from 12:00 pm 3:00 pm

Where: Westchester Lagoon (1824 W 15th Ave)

Get ready to beautify Anchorage! Join us for the Anchorage Chamber Citywide Cleanup Kickoff event presented by Matson at Westchester Lagoon.

Whether you're a seasoned cleanup pro or a first-time participant, there's something for everyone at the Citywide Cleanup Kickoff Event!

Here's what's in store for you:

Matson has generously donated $5000 worth of prizes. Just snap a picture of yourself cleaning up Anchorage and upload it to www.MatsonCleanupGiveaway.com/Anchorage to enter!
Community Spirit: Join fellow Anchorage residents and businesses to make a tangible difference in our city. Bags and supplies will be handed out at the Kickoff event. Stop by and grab your supplies before heading out to clean up our city!
Trash Disposal: Already started? Northern Waste is providing a place to bring your filled orange trash bags for disposal, and Solid Waste Services' recycling trailer will be at the park for your glass and plastic waste.
Environmental Impact: By participating in the cleanup, you're not just tidying up the city; you're also helping to protect our precious environment. Every piece of trash you pick up makes a difference!

For more information, click here.