A Blogger and a Preacher are Spending Big Money on Anchorage’s Upcoming Election
In January, Must Read Alaska editor Suzanne Downing donated $600 to Anchorage Assembly candidate Kathy Henslee. Days later, Henslee turned around and cut Downing a check for $750 for advertising on the conservative blog.
That unusual bit of mutual back-scratching is one of the more eye-opening tidbits to so far emerge from campaign finance reports filed by statewide politicians with the Alaska Political Offices Commission.
An unabashed supporter of Republican politicians, Downing has made her reputation bashing the biases of “mainstream” media. The former Juneau Empire reporter once published a story calling out “media members” for signing a petition to remove Gov. Mike Dunleavy. That story fell flat, however, with Downing resorting to calling out people’s spouses and other non-journalists in an effort to prove her point. In the end, the only actual reporter shown to have to signed the petition was former KTUU anchor Blake Essig.
But when it comes to her own journalistic ethics, the former Juneau Empire reporter isn’t nearly as strict. Although donating to politicians is a huge no-no for journalists, state records show she’s gone all-in supporting political candidates in the upcoming Anchorage municipal elections. Already this year she’s donated $2,250 to local political candidates — including $700 to Anchorage Assemblywoman Jamie Allard (who is planning to run for State House), $400 to assembly candidate Randy Sulte, $300 to assembly candidate Stephanie Taylor and $250 to assembly candidate Thomas McKay.
Donating to political campaigns is a big no-no for journalists, and would be a firing offense for any reporter at the “mainstream” Alaska news outlets Downing demonizes.
Downing isn’t the only self-styled journalist to break with journalistic ethics by donating to a political campaign. Mat-Su Valley blogger Joel Davidson of the Alaska Watchman is also a financial supporter of Stephanie Taylor, with Davidson giving $100 to the Anchorage politician’s campaign.
And progressive blogger Jeanne Devon of the Alaska Mudflats has also gotten into the funding act, giving $200 to the gubernatorial campaign of Les Gara.
But no other “mainstream” Alaska political journalists turned up in a search of campaign donors, nor did any other prominent bloggers. Among the names searched in the state database were Anchorage Daily News editors David Hulen and Vicky Ho; ADN political reporters James Brooks, Nat Herz and Emily Goodykoontz; Alaska’s News Source news director Tracy Sabo and assistant news director Rebecca Palsha; Alaska Public Media news director Lori Townsend and reporters Liz Ruskin and Lex Treinen; Anchorage Press editor Matt Hickman; and popular political bloggers Matt Buxton (Midnight Sun Alaska), Dermot Cole (Reporting from Alaska) and Jeff Landfield (Alaska Landmine).
It’s unknown whether the anonymous Blue Alaskan blogger has donated to any political campaigns, as they are anonymous.
PENNIES FROM HEAVEN
The Anchorage Baptist Temple is also making its presence known in the race. The Eastside megachurch founded by Liberty University President Jerry Prevo is no stranger to local politics, and this year senior pastor Ron Hoffman has opened the checkbook in a big way.
Records show Hoffman and his wife Crystal have donated $7,500 to Anchorage races so far, spread between Assembly candidates Stephanie Taylor ($2,000), Randy Sulte ($1,000), Kathy Henslee ($1,000), Kevin Cross ($1,000) and Liz Vazquez ($500); as well as Anchorage School Board candidates Mark Anthony Cox ($1,000) and Rachel Ries ($1,000).
Hoffman has benefitted from a recent court decision that struck down Alaska’s $500-per-year limit on individual donations to political candidates. The Alaska Legislature is currently mulling legislation to limit spending, but as of now there is no limit on the amount of money one person can spend to support someone’s campaign.
BIG BUSINESS
One of the largest beneficiaries of the Anchorage political season has been political consultant Joseph Lurtsema, whose Mobibiz Marketing has thus far raked in $35,900 for marketing conservative candidates — including $26,000 from Taylor alone. Lurtsema’s company has also received $3,300 from Vazquez, $4,500 from Rep. Ken McCarty (R-Eagle River) and $1,100 from Rep. Cathy Tilton (R-Wasilla).
Lurtsema has risen to prominence over the past couple years as one of the primary forces behind the Save Anchorage group, which has thousands of members and has organized numerous anti-mask and anti-vaccine rallies since gaining prominence in 2020 (Lurtsema is no longer an administrator on the group).
The Anchorage municipal election is April 5.
Matt Tunseth is a freelance writer from Anchorage, Alaska who has previously worked as a reporter and editor for numerous Alaska news outlets including the Anchorage Daily News, (Kenai) Peninsula Clarion, Alaska Dispatch News, Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman, Chugiak-Eagle River Star and Anchorage Press. Write to him at matthew.tunseth@gmail.com.
