Financial reports show Rep. Kelly ahead of challengers
Published Thursday, August 21, 2008
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Stumble It!FAIRBANKS — Rep. Mike Kelly is leading his two Republican challengers money-wise, but not by much with the primary election just five days away.
The latest financial disclosure reports show that 24-year-old political newcomer Schaeffer Cox has twice the number of campaign contributions as Kelly, who is leading because his contributions are generally larger.
And the district’s Democratic contender, who is unopposed in the primary, is out-raising the Republicans so far.
Kelly is seeking a third term in House District 7, which encompasses Farmers Loop, Gilmore Trail and the Steese Highway to Chatanika.
The 66-year-old retired utility CEO has raised about $11,500, plus another $5,000 he carried over from his campaign two years ago, reports filed this week show.
Cox has raised about $11,000. He has loaned or given his campaign another $3,800 of his own money, his reports show.
Mike Behner, another Republican challenger, is not raising money to defeat Kelly, who beat him in the Republican primary two years ago. But Behner said in an interview on Wednesday that he regrets it.
“I probably should have launched a major campaign against him,” the 59-year-old retired middle school principal said. “If I’m going to win, I’m going to win.”
House District 7 has the only contested primary in the Legislature for Fairbanks, excluding House District 10 where Rep. Jay Ramras is being challenged by Frank Turney.
Whoever wins the district’s primary will face Democrat Karl Kassel, a retired municipal parks director who has raised about $13,000 and loaned his campaign an additional $5,000 of his own money.
“I’ve been going full speed ahead,” he said.
Kelly has the benefit of multiple $500 contributions, the maximum amount a person can give a candidate during one year.
The incumbent has received about 50 campaign contributions with $500 contributions coming from Doyon Ltd. executive George Gordon; Vend Alaska Inc. executive Dan Thompson; Fairbanks Sen. Gary Wilken and his wife; Bob Penney, an Anchorage real estate developer; and Bill Nordmark, owner of a motel in Healy and chairman of the board of directors of the Golden Valley Electric Association — the utility Kelly once led.
Cox, a carpenter and the son of a Baptist preacher, has received more than 100 contributions, some as small as $7 and $10.
“We’ve had lots of people making little tiny donations,” he said. “Those are touching. That makes you really feel a deep obligation to your constituents when you see them put a check for $5 in your money jar and say, ‘I hope that you win.’”
Much of Cox’s financial support has come from people who work in the construction industry. The International Union of Operating Engineers gave Cox $1,000.
Additionally, Cox’s father contributed $500 to his campaign. Dentist Craig O’Donoghue contributed $200, and former Borough Assemblyman Mike Prax gave Cox $136.
Kelly, reached Wednesday evening at a fundraiser, was asked whether the Legislature’s special sessions this summer put his campaign behind.
“Oh, sure,” he said. “But I’m not a whiner. That’s just the way it works. It’s part of the job.”
Community Discussion
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I really wish that the newsminer would disclose the titles of the writers of these letters. Luckily we have google and I can tell you that Bob Shefchik is the Chief of Staff for the Fairbanks North Star Borough.
So Bob Penney is a financial supporter of Mike Kelly.
Penney and Stevens were partners in a Utah land deal. Stevens made an initial investment of $15,000 in 1998 and said in 2005 that he made $150,000 when he sold his interest in the property.
Penney has been under scrutiny lately for his relationships with members of Alaska's congressional delegation. The state's other U.S. senator, Lisa Murkowski, was accused of getting a sweetheart deal from Penney on her 2006 purchase of a Kenai riverfront lot next door to Penney's home.
Earlier this year, Penney appeared before a federal grand jury that is part of the ongoing investigation of Stevens.
Please Fairbanks, anyone but Mike Kelly.
Fbksgas - I think you meant to post that in the letter to the editor about Kelly, not this article. Although the information you provide is interesting, and frankly not all that surprising.
So...I guess that "Financial reports show Rep. Kelly ahead of challengers" (except Karl Kassel).
Keep it that way! Learn more about Karl at his website: http://kasselforhouse.com/
So as for financial issues go for another Republican.....Kelley? It's a Penney saved another reputation earned? I need another shower.
Why wasn't Kassel's contributors identified. Can see why there are lobbyists. How much was actually given by people who could vote in district 7. Seems no matter who you vote for, some special interest group is already first in line.
In addition, Mr. Kelly is the man who continues to help the not-for-profit FMH with things like the "Certificate of Need" to the detriment of our entire community.
And then of course there is GVEA under Mr. Kelly. But that is a can of worms we have discussed before in these forums.
Kassel...?
No Way!
The long time head of the Borough Parks and Rec Dept.; an extremely wasteful dept.
I have listened to him through the years of his cushy gov job.
Whatever he says to get elected on his site, he is Big Gov., pro-spend...a guy that should learn what it's really like in the private sector for a change...now that he's got his time in and has his enviable Borough retirement.
Probably looks forward to being another former Borough employee double-dipper.
He never stood for the property tax payers. Always spend.
Given a choice between him and Kelly; I'd vote for Mike.
I had to register today to blog because I am disturbed about the comments being made about Mike Kelly. I am a voter in Mike Kelly's district and I will be voting for him! When I make a decision about the person I am going to vote for I ask myself if they are pro-life, pro-growth of our economy/resources, and I make sure they are NOT pro growth of dependence on government. Mike is all of these things and even if you do not agree with every decision he makes he stands by what he says so you know what you are getting and can trust in that. Others are stooping to lower levels to try to win and do not have a record to defend, it is easy to say what you are "going" to do and harder to stand by what you have done. Another unacceptable reference here is lumping Mike into the corruption in our government. Mike is not one who can be bought or bullied into voting a certain way. Think about it, it would have been easier to vote for the $1200.00 energy payout in an election year than to stand up and say it is not a long term fix? People who stand up even when it is hard or unpopular are the kind of people I respect and want to represent me and my children. Mike is that person!
Those of you who are unhappy and are thinking of voting for someone else I encourage you to attend his meetings and meet him face to face and ask your questions. He is willing and ready to answer them and to support Alaska on a better path. My name is Michelle Hajdukovich and I approve of this message!
Ok, so Kelly is what you look for in a representative, but judging from the sentiments of many of the other posters here Kelly is not doing a good job representing his constituents. It doesn't matter what his personal beliefs are, he is supposed to represent what his district whats and he seems to have forgotten that.
Give to Schaeffer Cox it's a donation.
Give to Mike Kelly it's an investment.
Vote for Schaeffer Cox. Mike only looks out for his investors (FMH/Banner Health, GVEA,Etc.) and won't even talk to anyone else.
"Will you look at me when I'm talking to you" LOL
MarieBarr-I am one of his constituents and he is representing me and my beliefs. There are others like me and we will be voting for him. I do think he is doing a good job and his personal beliefs are important because they guide his voting. Someone who is untrue to themselves will ultimately be untrue to you and that is not something I can respect. You can't please all of the people all of the time and anyone who would try is not someone I want to have in office. I hope we don't forget that!
Mike got my vote twice and never...NEVER will get another! Anybody listen to him on KFAR last week? What an IDIOT! Do as he says not as he does.
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