Candidate Comments on
Ballot Measure 3 - Clean Elections

Austerman Baffone Davis Gara Gardner Gatto Giorgana Gossweiler Kenny Kerttula Kohlhaas Lewis Lundquist Menard Middlebrook Petersen Serrano Sikma Van Etten Waisanen Webb

House D-36 - Alan Austerman

I would much more support a bill to reduce the limits on how much a candidate can currently raise and spend. This bill allows for inflation and pays more to certified candidates if un-certified raise more money than you offer for state funded candidates. These two things are hard to control and the amount of state funds will get out of hand. As state oil dollars dwindle the only place to get the state funds will be from the PFD. In my view this bill would disconnect the public more than they already are.

House D-28 - Valerie Baffone

I think the results of Clean Elections in the states of Arizona and Maine have been very impressive in increasing public participation.

Senate D-K - Bettye Davis

It's working in other states and I think it will be great in our state. A great way to get more people involved in the political process.

House D-23 - Les Gara

I think the amounts need to run an efficient informative campaign, and to hire a campaign manager, needs to be adjusted. Also, if possible and constitutional, we need to limit the influence the ability of special interest groups to advertise by using misleading information about candidates.

House D-24 - Berta Gardner

I am a cosponsor of the legislature introduced in the House.

House D-13 - Carl Gatto

I believe Clean Elections may be the ideal way to go although a closer look may alter that decision. Still, committing me to vote a certain way after November sounds unethical. You are not asking my opinion, you are using "will you" in your request. That is why I cannot answer your questions.

Senate D-G - Erick Giorgana

I was introduced to the concept of clean elections during my participation in the Alaska Dialogue in 2007. My campaign is about restoring faith in the public process and in the ability of government to be an agent of good. I believe in open, honest government and that, above all, our legislators have to work for all the people. The Alaska Clean Elections Act will help us move in that direction.

House D-17 - William Gossweiler

I support the concept of the proposal and agree that substantial changes are needed to bring credibility and integrity back to the election process, but I am not prepared at this time to commit to fully funding everything in the measure. I need to better educate myself on the details.

House D-32 - Mike Kenny

I gathered signatures in this effort and look forward to enacting it into law.

House D-3 - Beth Kerttula

On August 26, I will be voting in favor of the Alaska Clean Elections Act. Campaign finance reform is one part of creating a culture of openness and fairness in Alaskan politics. Public funding of campaigns helps create a more even playing field, where campaigns will hopefully become more about the issues than about who can raise the most funds. Taking financial pressures off candidates and allowing them to focus on issues and people would be a great step forward. I support public campaign financing and am glad to acknowledge my support of Prop. 3.

House D-20 - Scott Kohlhaas

If this works, then extremists will be getting taxpayer dollars. It this does not work, then only the most organized will be able to qualify, leaving the average candidate out. On principle, it's wrong to take from one to give to another. But giving taxpayer dollars to politicians should not be AkPIRG's single issue in my humble opinion.

House D-27 - Bob Lewis

I am concerned about the bureaucracy this initiative creates. I support it in principle and will vote to fund it if it passes…I support the idea, but I also have questions. The concept is a good one and I will vote for it in August.

House D-36 - Andrew Lundquist

I support the concept of Clean Elections (reducing the impact of special interest campaign money on our election system and to encourage more qualified people to fun for state office). My opposition to this Ballot measure is that the qualification thresholds are too low. Having to only collect 1,000 signatures with $5 each and 10% of the total votes in the primary to qualify for $30,000 of state funds is too low. $30,000 of campaign money in a place like Kodiak, is big money. $30,000 in Anchorage, for example, is inadequate to fund a competitive race for House in most districts. I feel that this measure will just encourage "political gadfly" types to run for office and will do little to encourage more highly qualified candidates for state office. I like the voluntary component of this measure.

Senate D-G - Linda Menard

Upon review of similar legislation in the state of Arizona, I am not comfortable with the proposition as written. My biggest objection is that it is voluntary. However, the concept of Alaska clean elections is a step in the right direction and I look forward to working on a more equitable movement of clean elections in Alaska.

House D-38 - Eric Middlebrook

This initiative will make state office more accessible to everyday people who want to serve and eliminate the need to find high dollar backers.

House D-19 - James Petersen

I have been talking about Clean Elections funding for years. I have relatives from Arizona and they were the first people to make me aware of the idea. Clean Elections is one of my bullet points on my brochure that I use when going door to door. You have my complete support on the Clean Elections proposition.

House D-16 - Beverly Serrano

I believe in a citizen's representation. I see the Alaska Clean Elections Act as a way to empower the "common" constituents and voters, taking excessive power from those with the most money.

US Senate - Roderic Sikma

Clean Elections is Socialism and I will not support it.

Senate D-O - Douglas Van Etten

As a candidate now and in my past elections, most of my contributions come from small donors.

House D-33 - Richard Waisanen

With the corruption we have observed in this state and in the U.S. among elected officials, something needs to change in this electoral process. Also, candidates must have an exorbitant amount of money to run, and passing clean elections would encourage regular folks like me to campaign and run for office. It would help eliminate the influence of lobbyists and corporations.

House D-30 - Bruce Webb

Something like this has been a long time coming! People running for public office are doing so, supposedly, with the intention of representing the public fairly and ethically. It is only common sense that their elections and the entire election process be clean and ethical.