SPRING 2018 ISSUE 

ARWC ONLINE
IN THIS ISSUE
March 23rd Luncheon
Muni Mail In Ballots
Proposition 1
Proposition 10
School Bonds
Lincoln Day 2018
2017 ARWC BOD
LINKS
President's Message,

Happy Spring Break!  Your ARWC BOD is taking a much needed break.  We have sponsored an event every month, except January, for the past 8 months.  We want to thank all of you who bought tickets and volunteered to help make our recent Lincoln Day the biggest money maker yet.  We netted $25,000 to a sold out crowd of 180 people. That means we are ready to affect 2018 Elections.  Our goal is to help take back the Governor's seat, keep the Senate Majority and take back the House. 

Many of us attended the Republican State Convention this weekend. Over 300 Alaskans came to work on rules, platforms and resolutions.  Several of our young Republican women work hard and volunteer their time all year round, not only for ARWC, but for the Party and candidates. Julie Tisdale is the State Party Treasurer, Stacey Stone-Semmler is the Party Legal Counsel and Portia Noble works hard as a community activist.  Just ask the majority of Republican candidates who it is that volunteers to walk their district with them.  They immediately say Portia!

Please read the entire newsletter about our Luncheon next week with ARWC member and Mayoral Candidate Rebecca Logan.
Also find My opinions on the upcoming propositions. Many of you know that I and several members of the Board have been very involved in Yes on Prop 1.  Former Mayor Sullivan gives an excellent viewpoint on Prop. 10.

Remember, this is the first ever mail in ballot. To say we have concerns would be an understatement.  Let's all show the Democrats that "their" plan backfired and helped Conservatives more than them!

Always thinking of ways to beat Democrats,
Judy

2018 Membership dues are past due.  If you have not renewed by April 1, 2018 you will be dropped from our list. That would make us very sad.

 ARWC March Luncheon

FRIDAY MARCH 2, 2018
11:30-1:00
BAMBINOS RESTAURANT (2819 SPENARD RD)

"A Conversation with Rebecca Logan"

Unable to purchase online call Carolyn to
 rsvp  at  243-2000



MUNICIPAL MAIL-IN BALLOTS ARE ARRIVING IN THE MAIL  THIS WEEK!


WHY I AM VOTING YES ON PROPOSITION 1 
Right to Privacy Initiative
  • A liberal 9 member Anchorage Assembly does no have the right to overturn a vote of the people.
  • No one, including the city of Anchorage, should expect female to undress and be exposed to a member of the opposite sex in intimate settings such as bathrooms, locker and shower rooms.
  • This ordinance DOES NOT exclude private business, churches or shelters. Our petition only effects intimate spaces but does nothing to employment or housing.
  • Anchorage should protect the privacy, safety and dignity of all Alaskans, not threaten it. 
  • Over 9.000 municipal voters signed our petition.
  • The American College of Pediatrics states that this movement is child abuse. (Research on request. It will send chills down your spine).
  • This is common sense for all Alaskans.
VOTE YES ON PROPOSITION 1:  PROTECT OUR PRIVACY

PROPOSITION 10: A LETTER OF CONCERN FROM
SOMEONE WE ALL TRUST

ML&P Sale may be Good
 for city, but Process Causes Concern
      By Former Mayor Dan Sullivan
            
On April 3, Anchorage vote will be asked to approve Ballot Proposition 10, which authorizes the city to sell the Municipal Light and Power electric utility to Chugach Electric Association. These two utilities provide the majority of electric service to Anchorage residents, with Matanuska Electric Association serving the Chugiak Eagle River area.
            While this sale may ultimately be a good deal for the municipality and the consumer, I have real concerns about the process involved with this proposal. In 1975, the city of Anchorage and the Greater Anchorage Area Borough merged into the Municipality of Anchorage. Subsequently, the municipal dharter was written and enacted as the guiding document for the governance of the new entity.Section 16.02 of the charter defines how the sale of any municipal utility should be conducted.
It reads: "The municipality may sell, lease, or otherwise dispose of a municipal utility only pursuant to an ordinance or initiative proposition approved by three-fifths of the qualified voters voting on the question. If the disposal of the utility is by ordinance, the municipality may dispose of a municipal utility only to the highest responsive bid received by the municipality from a responsible bidder to a competitive procurement. The assembly shall provide for such competitive bidding by ordinance, and shall provide a description of the factors that will be considered in evaluation of the bids, including the relative weight of price and other evaluation factors."
            Unfortunately, neither of the charter requirements for selling ML&P has been followed in the proposed sale to Chugach. There was no Assembly ordinance authorizing a sale and triggering a competitive bid and the requirement for a 60 percent vote has been disingenuously altered in the proposition.
            The opening sentence of Proposition 10 reads: "If approved by a majority of qualified voters voting on the question, this proposition would amend the Anchorage Municipal Charter and authorize (but not require) the Municipality to sell.........the assets and business of ML&P to Chugach Electric."
            Nowhere in the proposition does it state that the normal requirement for selling a utility is 60 percent and that this charter requirement is being specifically amended. I seriously doubt if 99 percent of the voters know the 60 percent charter requirement. Not many walk around with a copy of the municipal charter in their pocket. With shenanigans like this, maybe more should.
            When I first heard about the reduction in the vote requirement, I thought - this is something Mark Begich would come up with, just like he did for increasing the bed tax to fund the Denaina Center. Imagine my surprise when I found out that sure enough, he is under contract to Chugach to facilitate this deal, and has worked with the Assembly and the mayor to craft the sneaky change to the vote requirement.This deal was negotiated behind closed doors with minimal public involvement and without the advice and consent of the ML&P Advisory Commission, who learned of the deal the day before it was delivered to the Assembly. Judy Brady, one of Anchorage's finest civic leaders, resigned as chair of the commission in disgust over how this backroom deal was handled. That should tell voters all they need to know as they contemplate this sale.
            I have also heard from reliable sources that there has been interest in the sale from parties who are prepared to make a substantially higher offer than Chugach, with all the proceeds paid up front. That would mean our Municipal Trust Fund would see a significant and immediate cash influx, rather than waiting decades for Chugach's schedule of payments. We have an obligation to maximize the return from the sale of a valuable asset such as ML&P.This proposition should be rejected by the voters who should demand a more transparent process. I would then advise the Assembly to go back to the drawing board, pass an ordinance approving the sale, and let the process of a true competitive bid begin.
Dan Sullivan served as the mayor of Anchorage from 
2009 to 2015 and on the
 Anchorage Assembly from 1999 to 2008.

ALL BONDS INCLUDING SHCOOL
NO-IT NEVER ENDS. LIVE WITHIN YOUR BUDGET AS WE DO!

LINCOLN DAY 2018
DON YOUNG CELEBRATION
(More pictures go to Facebook: ARWC