Protecting Your Rights: Serving Sand Lake, Spenard and Turnagain

August 13, 2021

Power Cost Equalization Lawsuit Update

Last month, we wrote about the Alaska Federation of Natives (AFN) and several other groups suing the Dunleavy administration over the current lack of funding for the Power Cost Equalization Fund. On Wednesday, the court ruled in favor of AFN and against the governor.

While the governor has argued that the Power Cost Equalization (PCE) fund’s existence depends on three-quarters of both chambers of the Legislature agreeing to maintain it each year, Judge Josie Garton held in a written order that the endowment fund is separate from the general fund, which is the account that pays for the state budget. Judge Garton ruled that because the endowment fund is not in the general fund, it is not subject to a provision of the state constitution that requires unspent money to be swept into the Constitutional Budget Reserve each year.

PCE is a long-standing commitment the State made to provide equity for rural Alaskans. The ruling from Judge Garton protects the funds that keep the lights on in rural Alaska from being swept into the Constitutional Budget Reserve Fund as Governor Dunleavy contended was legally required.

The legislature established PCE as a compromise to rural Alaska following large government investment in energy projects and programs that benefitted residents on the road system and in Southeast Alaska. For most Alaskans, the cost of electricity is around $0.20/kWh, but rural Alaskans face energy costs that average more than double the urban rate. Recognizing that it was not feasible to develop energy projects in rural Alaska similar in size to the large Railbest energy projects, we established PCE to help bring rural power costs more in line with costs on the Railbelt.

I expect the legislature will broadly support this decision. The House Majority has long supported power cost equalization and, on August 3, the House Minority expressed strong support for the PCE program in a press release.

Ranked Choice Voting

In the 2020 General Election, voters approved an initiative to establish a Nonpartisan Top Four Primary Election system and a Ranked Choice Voting General Election system. Moving forward, there will be many changes to how we vote and how elections look in Alaska. Click on the video to see how Ranked Choice Voting works.

Ranked Choice Voting FAQ

What is Ranked Choice Voting?

Ranked Choice Voting allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference. In the 2020 general election, voters approved an initiative to establish a Ranked Choice Voting general election system.

How does Ranked Choice Voting work?

In each race, voters will rank their choices in order of preference. The top four candidates who advanced from the primary election will appear on the ballot. Voters can vote for a write-in candidate by adding that candidate on their ballot and including that candidate in the ranking. For a candidate to win, they must receive a majority (50% + 1) of total votes cast. If no candidate receives a majority of votes in the first round of counting, more rounds of counting continue until a candidate reaches a majority. This is what happens:

How are votes counted in Round 1?

The Division of Elections only counts the vote for your 1st choice candidate.

If a candidate receives more than 50% of first-choice votes, that candidate wins.
If no candidate wins in Round 1, the counting goes to Round 2.

How are votes counted in Round 2 and subsequent rounds?

The last place candidate in Round 1 is eliminated from the count and the Division of Elections allocates their supporter’s 2nd choice selections to the remaining candidates on the ballot. This vote redistribution process continues until one candidate reaches over 50% of the votes cast. In each round of counting, each voter gets one vote.

As time goes on, the Division of Elections informational webpage will be updated to include additional educational tools to help prepare you for voting in both new election systems.

Overcoming Health Inequities

The Anchorage Health Department has selected United Way Alaska to distribute federal funding intended to limit the spread of COVID-19 by increasing testing and overcoming vaccine hesitancy. Because vaccine hesitancy is such a complex problem – fed by diverse factors such as historic harm to communities causing mistrust, language barriers, transportation limitations, and often misinformation – the United Way is turning outward to offer grants community’s leaders, organizers, and central figures to help lead grassroots outreach and education campaigns.

Learn more and help spread the word about this funding opportunity. Grants range from $20,000- $200,000. The grant application portal is open now through the end of August.

Status of Alaska Housing Relief

$25 billion in Emergency Rental Assistance was made available to states to stand up programs to prevent renters from losing their homes. Through the federal CARES Act and thanks to the legislature and Governor Dunleavy, Alaska received $200 million along with allocations to the Municipality of Anchorage and tribal governments. Combined, AHFC is administering $242 million in relief through its program, Alaska Housing Rent Relief.

More than 1/3 of renter households applied for this assistance in our state. To date, more than $85 million has been paid. For perspective on what’s happening in other states, see this article in the Washington Post, “Evictions are about to restart as tenants wait on billions in unspent rental aid; As courts prepare to allow evictions again, only 12 percent of $25 million approved in December has reached people in need.”

If you or someone you know missed out on rent relief, visit www.alaskahousingrelief.org to sign up for information about future openings.

Congratulations Lydia!

With the end of the Summer Olympic Games, Alaska welcomed Lydia Jacoby, winner of the gold medal in the 100-meter breaststroke, back home.

Lydia's thrilling come-from-behind victory in the gold medal race is an inspiration to all Alaskans!

Community Events

Mark your calendars for this upcoming event:

Movie in the Park

Join Anchorage Downtown Partnership, Ltd., Alaska Public Media, and Kendall Toyota of Anchorage for a car-themed evening at Movie In The Park. This event is free - no tickets needed - with open seating in the park.

When: TONIGHT, Friday, August 13 from 5:30 – 10:00 PM

Where: Anchorage Towne Square, 544 W 5th Ave.

Schedule:

5:00 PM - Meet & greet Molly of the Denali

5:30 PM - Molly of Denali

6:00 PM - Cars

8:00 PM - Talladega Nights

For more information and to RSVP, visit the Facebook event page.