U.S. Democratic Sen. Mark Begich, a one-term incumbent, faces a challenge from former Alaska attorney general and natural resources commissioner Republican Dan Sullivan.
Begich, 52, worked as a landlord and Anchorage city worker. He was elected to the city’s assembly at age 26. He was twice elected Mayor of Anchorage before defeating former Sen. Ted Stevens to win his current seat.
Sullivan, 49, is a U.S. Marine Corps officer who served since 1993, including six weeks in Afghanistan in 2013. He holds a law degree from Georgetown University and graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University. He served two years as Assistant Secretary of State for Economic, Energy and Business Affairs under President George W. Bush.
Both candidates made visits to Haines this year. The Alaska Dispatch News reported Oct. 29 more than $50 million has been spent on the race.
Sullivan said his record is the biggest indicator of what he would achieve as senator. “I have a strong record as your attorney general and your DNR commissioner at tackling some of the biggest challenges we have in the state, setting out strategies to address them, relentlessly executing them – with many, many other Alaskans – and getting big results that benefit our citizens.”
He cited a “Cook Inlet turnaround” that included working the Alaska Legislature to pass tax and regulatory reform that spurred in-state development of gas and oil reserves. Where previously gas was to be imported from Canada, it’s now being exported from Alaska, he said. “I kept the federal government out” and helped make Cook Inlet lease sales in 2011 the third largest in history.
Sullivan said he “played a leadership role” in passage of SB21, the Parnell administration’s tax regime for Alaska’s oil industry, legislation affirmed during August’s primary election when Alaskans voted to keep it in place.
As attorney general in 2009, Sullivan said he went to Gov. Parnell, saying, “We have a huge problem with high levels of domestic violence and sexual assault in this state. I sat down with the governor over several months and put together the ‘Choose Respect’ campaign, which is much more than just marches.”
He said he helped abused women get lawyers and increased law enforcement in rural communities.
Sullivan said Haines residents are concerned about the local economy and one of the most important things he can do for residents is to listen. He met with veterans here. “This is a great, proud veterans community. Are there issues in terms of taking care of our veterans that we can do better? Absolutely. That’s been one of the top focuses of my campaign.”
As attorney general, Sullivan said he chaired a rural subcabinet in for Gov. Parnell, dealing with economic and social issues. “I spent a ton of time going to rural communities to hear what challenges there are. What people said to me was the over-regulatory approach to every aspect of our economy – whether it’s tourism or resource development or finance – is hurting Alaska and particularly small businesses.”
Begich, asked what he could do for Haines, cited the Workforce Development Reauthorization Act passed by Congress. “It ensures that people have training, apprenticeship programs, internships that are not just for people in college.” The money is funneled through state job training programs or through universities, like the mine training program at University of Alaska Southeast for high school students, he said.
Other programs like Job Corps in Palmer are open to all state residents, who can learn welding, accounting or other trades and then take them back to their communities.
Begich opened an office here in the summer. “We take Haines seriously. We think it’s an important part of our campaign.”
In discussion with Chilkat Valley residents, Begich said he heard “global” concerns. “Everything you can imagine, from their fisheries, to make sure they’re protected, making sure Medicare and Social Security are protected and concern with the (Mount Polley mine dam break) and what that impact could be.”
He said he was a “big supporter” of public radio. He said the federal government hasn’t put enough money into a public radio capital fund to improve equipment. Haines residents want broadband Internet access.
Begich said the Dodd-Frank Act reforming the finance industry needs tweaking in regards to rules on credit unions, but isn’t the disaster Republicans make it out to be. The law has saved veterans $130 million in recent months and has saved senior citizens “literally billions” of dollars on fees that had been charged in the past, he said.
Campaign spending is too high, Begich said. He said he supports a constitutional amendment to negate the Citizens United court decision. “Corporations are not citizens,” he said.
Begich said he also supports legislation requiring disclosure of the identity of people paying for ads in federal elections, similar to existing Alaska law. “You have people who can just write billion dollar checks and do what they want.”