Contributed by Pamela Goode
Have you ever been in a situation where you did everything possible to avoid a foreseeable mess and it ended up happening anyway? Welcome to the District 9 House Race!
Background:
Last year, Representative Rauscher held the House 9 seat and Dunleavy held the Senate E seat. Goode contacted Rauscher early on to find out what his intentions were going forward into the election season. This is common among active candidates of like minds. When Rauscher stated and then later publicly announced his desire for Senate seat E, Dunleavy's soon to be vacated seat, Goode steered clear to avoid conflict and any potential of ill will between the two compatible candidates and their common supporters. This also included accommodation by avoiding the appointment process to fill Senate E and simply focusing on the House race.
Governor Walker seemed to purposefully avoid picking Rauscher and the media alludes it had something to do with the “BDSM Free” sign that was briefly posted on his office door. Round 1 of the appointment process - Walker picks Kowalke, who was rejected by the Senate. Round 2 - Mike Shower appears out of nowhere and makes the 2nd list of names. Rauscher then files with elections for the Senate seat just prior to the appointment. Shower received the appointment and the Senate's confirmation. He also eventually decided to run for that seat.
Senate Seat E lined up relatively early in the year with Kowalke declaring in December, Rauscher in February and Shower in April. Democrat Susan Kay filed in the final days. Goode stood alone for House 9 from January until a few days before the filing deadline, which was not expected to hold, but what transpired made jaws drop. Rauscher's departing speech on the House Floor in May in the final hours of session was obviously not as absolute as many were led to believe.
Filing Deadline Importance:
The filing deadline for the 2018 Elections was June 1st at 5pm, and one to have watched. It's like musical chairs, when the music stops it's over and the playing field is defined. In my opinion, this is the most important day in the election process. It defines the direction forward and determines if there is any hope and potential for positive change or do incumbents rule again?
House District 9 | T-minus and counting:
Here is how the final days and hours unfolded for House 9. For clarity, we'll use the NASA Shuttle countdown terminology to the filing deadline, June 1st at 5pm.
• T-minus 4 days: SB91 & Valley Crime Expert, Advocate and Activist Vicki Wallner files Republican.
• T-minus 4 days: Rauscher drops his commitment to the Senate E race and files for House 9 (Republican) with enough time to intrigue even the sleepiest of the opposition special interests. It worked!
• T-minus 3 days: Bill Johnson files Democrat.
• T-minus 2 hours approximately: Jim Colver files Republican. But wait, it's not over!
• T-minus 1 hour approximately: James Squyres, retired CPA and fiscal hawk, files as an Independent (Republican) in the general election! Brilliant strategic move!
• Lift off! 5PM... doors shut... dust settles. Whoa, what just happened?
The Republican Primary ballot for House 9 started out in order of filings - Goode, Wallner, Rauscher and Colver. Wallner drops out days later. The general ballot will have the winner of the Republican primary (R), Johnson (D) and Squyres (I-R).
Three very different primary candidates!
So, what's the difference between Colver, Goode and Rauscher?
When in office, Colver organized with three Republicans and two Democrats to form the “Muskox Six” causing havoc in the Republican budget strategy. In the following legislature, these three Republicans gave the House Majority to the Democrats in 2016. That's a no-no in the Republican Party no matter what the reason. He also voted twice for unsustainable budgets. The problem with that is you can't keep the full PFD and avoid taxes with continuous over-spending; can't have it both ways. He also voted to keep the oil & gas cash/credit program (HB247) going while Alaskan's savings were being depleted and PFDs cut.
Rauscher, he voted to bond (borrow money... almost $1billion in a constitutionally questionable maneuver) and pay off the oil & gas cash credits going beyond statutory requirements, while budgets remained excessive and PFDs on the chopping block. He also voted for Democrat Bryce Edgmon for Speaker of the House. A democrat that on record wanted to permanently cut the PFD and implement an income tax.
There are several other differences; but the point is, there are three very different candidates. There is not a voting block split taking place here as some may think. Voters wanting a strong fiscally responsible legislative leader have one choice on the primary ballot, Pam Goode. She's not new to this and leads the way in accountability. In 2014 and 2016, she forewarned of the fiscal challenges ahead, the PFDs cuts and an income tax being next if spending was not curtailed. She was right!
District 9 Republicans can pick their poison with incumbents (current and former) or get behind the true conservative and committed candidate from the get go! For years, she's been listening and looking out for you!
Pam Goode, August 21, Republican Primary | Goode2Go! | www.goodeforalaska.com