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| Wednesday, August 19, 2009 |
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Election Watch Philip Alderfer, Mike Heimbuch jump into racesJuly 30, 2008
Local realtor Philip Alderfer announced he is running for District 35's legislative seat held by Rep. Paul Seaton. He is running as a Democrat. Alderfer believes residents of this district are missing out on certain opportunities to develop their own sources of tidal, wind and hydroelectric power. "We are uniquely positioned to use renewable energy resources because of where we live," Alderfer said. "I would like to see the community make that a priority." Alderfer also said he believes the way property taxes are assessed is a problem in need of fixing. "The Kenai Peninsula is a great place to live. It offers wonderful friends, fantastic opportunities and a high quality of life," he wrote at www.Alderfer08.org. "But there are challenges, like energy costs, increasing property taxes, and a small job market. Solving these problems will take hard work and new ideas." Alderfer, 40, has a PhD in political science and formerly worked for the Michigan governor's office and for that state's legislature as a fiscal analyst. His extended family has lived on the southern Kenai Peninsula since the 1970s, and he moved here in 2001. He manages the Alderfer Group, a local realty firm. This is his first run for elected office. "I've been extremely fortunate in Homer and now it is time to contribute back to the community," he said. This week, Alderfer will meet with people in Seward; next week he will travel to Seldovia. Heimbuch runs for mayor Homer City Councilman Mike Heimbuch announced this week he will seek the mayor's seat in this fall's city election. Heimbuch has served on the council since April 2004, when appointed to fill a vacant seat. He has served on the Homer Port and Harbor Commission, Library Advisory Board and the local Fish and Game Advisory Board. He is also a former legislative aide on natural resource and fishery issues. Heimbuch, father of three and married to Ann Heimbuch, is employed as a commercial fisherman and also works in marine vessel repair. He is a jazz pianist who gives private lessons as well. He has been involved with the Homer Little League and Share the Spirit. He has fished for halibut, herring, cod, shrimp and salmon around the state since 1963 and served on a variety of commissions, including the fish and game advisory committee and the Prince William Sound Aquaculture Association. He majored in music and education at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Mayor James Hornaday said he has not yet decided whether to seek re-election. He has until Aug. 15 when the filing period ends. Parnell takes lead in Republican Primary Lt. Gov. and candidate for Congress Sean Parnell pulled into the lead ahead of incumbent Don Young 46-42, according to the most recent Hays Research statewide poll released Monday. Parnell gained four points and switched places with Young to claim the lead in the Republican Primary. An earlier Hays poll conducted in May showed Young leading Parnell 45-42. "Alaskans are looking for conservative leadership and honest government and they know they're not getting it in Congress," Parnell said. Young recently resorted to a negative attack campaign. The incumbent pulled his ad after falsely claiming he had won a favorable "Hero of the Taxpayer" award from a national taxpayer group, Taxpayers for Common Sense. The taxpayer group said it had no such award when it denounced Young9 9s ads and asked that he immediately cease airing them. Taxpayers for Common Sense said in a statement on their Web site that they had given Young an award in 2003, but it had been the "Golden Fleece" for "extreme cases of wasteful spending." Rep. Gabrielle LeDoux, R-Kodiak, will share a spot on the Republican ballot with Parnell and Young in the August primary. Cuddy talks economic fixes Speaking before the Anchorage Midtown Rotary, lifelong Alaskan and candidate for the U.S. Senate Dave Cuddy suggested that in order to repair the national economy, we must repair Washington. "Alaska has a bright future, as long as the folks in Washington don't mess it up for us," Cuddy told Rotarians. Cuddy, a Republican, is running against Sen. Ted Stevens, along with Democrat Mark Begich. The former Alaska State Representative and bank president said that with a $40 billion savings account, budget surplus, vast natural resources and wonderful quality of life, Alaska can weather the necessary reduction in the size and scope of the federal government needed to fix our broken economic system better than any other state. "Congress cannot pass this national debt, unfunded liabiliti es and fragile economy on to our children," Cuddy said. "Alaska cannot stand by itself if America collapses." Cuddy commented that 90 percent of voters know that Congress is doing a poor job, yet incumbents are re-elected to office 95 percent of the time. He suggested that the answer is found in former House Speaker Tip O'Neill's assessment that, "All politics is local." Alaska gas prices are the highest in the nation As the average price of a gallon of unleaded gas in Alaska reached $4.69, State Sen. Hollis French, D-Anchorage, discussed presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama's plan to help end America's dependence on foreign oil and criticized the John McCain campaign's latest ad on gas prices. "Senator Obama has a plan to end our dependence on foreign oil and reduce skyrocketing energy prices," French said in a press release. "Having worked in the oil business in Alaska for 12 years, I know firsthand the importance of oil and natural gas to Alaska. Senator Obama will invest in renewable fuels, increase car fuel economy standards, and strongly supports the Alaska natural gas pipeline that'll provide affordable energy to Alaska and our country."
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