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Candidates raise money from PACs, Republicans, but mostly small donors

An analysis of FNSB Assembly and School Board candidate fundraising.

The last filing deadline was September 26, seven days before the election, so money could have been raised since then. That means these dollar reports are not complete. But big unions and local Republicans have been the largest contributors so far.

This analysis of APOC reportslooked for out-of-state contributions, money given to candidates by political action committees and political parties.

We did not look at groups that raise and spend money outside of the candidate’s own organizations.

It is also narrowed to just the borough wide races; the 12 candidates for FNSB Assembly and school board.

Candidates reported $244,898.63 raised for those races. A huge chunk of that, $24,047, was contributed by 21 political action committees — all from Alaska.

In spite of it being a nonpartisan election, local Republicans gave money to six candidates.

$4,725 came from out of state -- all from small contributions under $500.

In Borough Assembly races, the largest fundraiser was Scott Crass. In school board races, it was Bobby Burgess.

For Borough Assembly Seat D, Liz Reeves Ramos raised $30,268.09 from 231 donors. She reported $355 from five out-of-state donors. She received $6,099 from nine Alaska political action committees. She received nothing from political parties.

Her opponent, Tammie Wilson received $11,860 from 55 donors, all from Alaska. She received $500 from one Alaska political action committee and $1500 from Republican Women of Fairbanks.

For Seat E, Jimi Cash raised $20,290 from 51 donors. He reported no out-of-state donors. He received $1,000 from one political action committee. He received $1500 from the Republican Women of Fairbanks.

His opponent, Nick LaJiness raised $21,968 from 185 contributors. He reported $250 from three out of state donors. He received $5500 from seven Alaska political action committees. He received nothing from political parties.

For Seat H, Aaron Gibson raised $25,410 from 55 donors. None of them from out-of-state. He received $500 from one Alaska political action committee. He received $1500 from the Republican Women of Fairbanks.

His opponent, Scott Crass, raised $30,554 from 239 contributors. He raised $140 from out-of-state donors. He received $7,750 from 10 Alaska political action committees. He received no money from political parties.

In school board races:

For Seat E, Tim Doran raised $7650.78 from 57 contributors, none from outside Alaska. He reported $2500 from four local political action committees. He received no money from political parties.

His opponent, Michael Humphrey, raised $16,725.12, from 86 contributors. He reported $450 raised from 17 out-of-state donors. He excepted $750 from a local political action committee and $1500 from the Republican Women of Fairbanks.

For Seat F, Bobby Burgess received a total of $30,972.49 for his campaign from 246 contributors.
He reported $2250 from 15 people in out-of-state funds. He received $5099 from eight Alaska political action committees. He received nothing from political parties.

April Smith received a total of $12,810 for her campaign from 84 contributors.
She reported $100 from one Colorado resident. She received no money from political action committees. She received $1500 from Fairbanks Republican women.

For Seat G, Maggie Matheson raised $5820 from 24 donors, all from Alaska. She raised no money from political action committees, but received $1500 from the Republican Women of Fairbanks.

Her opponent, Meredith Maple, raised $30,570.15 from 252 donors. She raised $930 from 17 out-of-state residents. She raised $5,099 from eight Alaska political action committees. She received no money from political parties.

And with all those numbers coming at you, these aren’t final amounts. The last day a candidate can accept a contribution for their campaign in the FNSB election is Friday, November 17.

The final reports are due in January, 105 days after the election.

Robyne began her career in public media news at KUAC, coiling cables in the TV studio and loading reel-to-reel tape machines for the radio station.