Ballot Review Election Day Tuesday April 5, 2016

Prepared by the League of Women Voters of Anchorage for the Anchorage Municipal Election, Tuesday, April 5, 2016 Assembly • School Board • Bond Propositions • Charter Amendments

On Tuesday, April 5, 2016, qualified voters within the Municipality of Anchorage will: • Elect five Assembly members and two School Board members and • Vote areawide on six bond propositions and two proposed Charter Amendments. Voters residing in some service areas will also elect members to their respective service area boards and vote on amendments to service area powers and establishing service areas. This Ballot Review presents information about the ballot measures, as well as the Assembly and School Board candidates. Candidates were invited to submit 100-word biographical profiles. The Notice of Election, Notice of Polling Places, and Notice of Bonded Indebtedness will be published in the Alaska Dispatch News on Monday, April 4, 2016, and online at www.muni.org/elections. The notices will list Assembly, School Board, and service area candidates and polling places, as well as the text of the ballot propositions and current bonded indebtedness.

Who may vote?

Anyone registered to vote in Alaska by March 6, 2016, and who has lived within the Municipality of Anchorage for at least 30 days before the election may vote in this election.

When do I vote?

Election day is Tuesday, April 5, 2016. Vote between 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. You may also vote before Election Day; see below for information about options for early and absentee voting.

Where do I vote?

Vote at the polling place for the precinct where you live. There are several ways to determine your polling place. Your voter registration card has your precinct number; find your precinct in the notice of polling places in the Alaska Dispatch News on Monday, April 4, 2016, or online at www.muni.org/elections. You may call the Municipal Clerk’s Office at 907-243-VOTE (8683) or State Elections Office at 907-522-VOTE (8683).

Vote by mail, fax, or early in-person

You don’t have to wait until Election Day to vote. You may vote by mail, vote by fax, or vote early in-person. Applications for Absentee By-Mail ballots or Absentee By-Fax ballots must be received by the Clerk’s Office by 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 29, 2016. Applications are available at www.muni.org/elections or by calling 907-243-VOTE (8683). Early and Absentee In-Person Voting Locations Anchorage City Hall 632 West 6th Avenue, Suite 105 All Municipal ballots will be available. Z. J. Loussac Library 3600 Denali Street, Wilda Marston Theater, 1st Floor All Municipal ballots will be available. Chugiak Senior Center 22424 North Birchwood Loop Only ballots for Eagle River/Chugiak will be available. Ted Stevens International Airport Domestic Terminal – lower level, near entrance from parking garage. All Municipal ballots will be available. University of Alaska Anchorage Student Union, 2905 Spirit Way All Municipal ballots will be available.

Voting by personal representative

Dates March 21 – April 4, 2016 Monday through Friday Closed weekends and Election Day.

Hours 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

March 21 – April 4, 2016 Monday through Saturday Sunday – March 27, 2016 Sunday – April 3, 2016 Tuesday – April 5, 2016 March 28 – April 4, 2016 Monday through Friday Closed weekends and Election Day. Election day ONLY Tuesday, April 5, 2016

10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Election day ONLY Tuesday, April 5, 2016

7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

If you are unable to go to the polls due to age, serious illness or a disability, you may have a personal representative pick up and deliver a ballot to you. The ballot should be picked up at your (the voter’s) precinct or an absentee voting location. Anchorage voters hospitalized on Election Day may request delivery of a ballot by an elections official by calling 907-343-4311 by 10:00 a.m. on Election Day. Call the Clerk’s Office at 907-343-4311 or 907-243-VOTE (8683) for more information on these options.

Voting on Service Area bonds

Bond-related projects such as roads and parks are organized into service areas with various geographic boundaries; only taxpayers in those service areas pay for the bonded projects. Even so, State law requires a pledge of the “full faith and credit” of the whole Municipality, which means that a bond proposition in a service area must be approved by a majority of voters throughout the Municipality as well as by a majority of voters in the service area. For example, all qualified voters vote on the Anchorage Road and Drainage Service Area (ARDSA) bonds, but only taxpayers in the ARDSA pay for them. In this election, this applies to Propositions 4 (APRSA – Parks), 5 (ARDSA – Roads), 6 (AFSA – Fire), and 7 (AMPSA – Police). Other bond related projects, like Proposition 1 (Schools) and Proposition 3 (Areawide Safety), are funded areawide and paid for by all Anchorage taxpayers.

On the Web

This Ballot Review is available at www.muni.org/elections and at www.lwvanchorage.org, as well as on Facebook: League of Women Voters of Anchorage or Facebook: Municipal Clerk’s Office. “Like” us on Facebook and share the Ballot Review.

Candidates

Qualified voters residing in the Municipality of Anchorage may vote for a candidate listed by filling in the oval next to the name, or writing in the name of a person qualified to hold that office and filling in the oval next to the write-in name. All seats are three-year terms ending in 2019. Assembly member are elected to specific designated district seats. School Board members are elected at large, meaning each member represents all areas of the Municipality and are elected to designated seats. All Assembly and School Board candidates win with a simple majority. Candidates’ names appear in random order on the ballot. Candidates were invited to submit a 100-word biographical profile for inclusion in the Ballot Review. The profiles may be found later in this publication.

Candidates for Assembly

District 2 - Seat A - Chugiak/Eagle River: Amy Demboski, Nicholas Begich District 3 - Seat D - West Anchorage: Ira Perman, Dustin Darden, Eric Croft, Adam Trombley District 4 - Seat F - Midtown Anchorage: Ron Alleva, Dick Traini District 5 - Seat H - East Anchorage: Forrest Dunbar, Terre Gales District 6 - Seat J - South Anchorage: Mark Schimscheimer, John Weddleton, Treg Taylor

Candidates for School Board

Seat A: Bettye Davis, Brent Hughes Seat B: Kay Schuster, David Nees, Starr Marsett

Prop. 1: $49,255,000 Anchorage School District Capital Improvements Bonds These bonds would pay for educational capital improvements: design, construction, upgrade, and renovation of school facilities; projects to extend educational facility building life; and replacing school buses. More information about these bonds is available at www.asdk12.org/bonds or 907-742-4153. For property assessed at $100,000, estimated annual costs are $10.86 to retire the debt. There are no new costs for operations and maintenance (O&M). Property owners throughout the Municipality would be taxed for these bonds. To be voted on by qualified voters residing in the Municipality of Anchorage. Projects expected to be funded include, but are not limited to: Estimated Estimated Annual Project Cost O&M Capital Improvement Projects Whaley School – design – improvements $1,400,000 $0 Mount Iliamna – design – relocate program from current facility on JBER to an existing elementary site 2,600,000 0 Districtwide Life Safety and Building Protection Projects Abbott Loop Elementary – convert security cameras to internet protocol 63,000 0 Bartlett High – replace intercom system and exit signage 1,005,000 0 Bear Valley Elementary – replace intercom system 175,000 0 Birchwood ABC Elementary – convert security cameras to internet protocol 63,000 0 Campbell Elementary – replace roof and improve seismic integrity 2,498,000 0 Central Middle – brace walls for seismic integrity 500,000 0 Chester Valley Elementary – convert security cameras to internet protocol 63,000 0 Chugiak Elementary – convert security cameras to internet protocol 63,000 0 Chugiak High – convert security cameras to internet protocol; replace a portion of heating system 4,116,000 0

Project

Estimated Estimated Annual Cost O&M

College Gate Elementary – replace back-up generator District-wide – seismic study and investigation Eagle River High – convert security cameras to internet protocol East High – install sprinklers and improve restrooms Goldenview Middle – replace water line Homestead Elementary – replace back-up generator and improve heating King Career Center – replace roof Lake Otis Elementary – replace exterior windows Mears Middle – convert security cameras to internet protocol; replace intercom Mirror Lake Middle – convert security cameras to internet protocol; replace direct digital building control Muldoon Elementary – partially replace roof North Star Elementary – convert security cameras to internet protocol Nunaka Elementary – replace roof Polaris K-12 – convert security cameras to internet protocol Ptarmigan Elementary – partially replace roof and replace emergency lighting Rogers Park Elementary – replace roof and convert security cameras to internet protocol Romig Middle – convert security cameras to internet protocol Russian Jack Elementary – convert security cameras to internet protocol Sand Lake Elementary – convert security cameras to internet protocol Service High – install sprinklers and replace railing Steller Secondary – convert security cameras to internet protocol Student Nutrition – replace roof Taku Elementary – replace back-up generator and repair sidewalks

275,000 364,000 210,000 4,200,000 1,530,000

0 0 0 0 0

211,000 4,095,000 85,000

0 0 0

455,000

0

279,000 920,000 63,000 2,190,000 105,000

0 0 0 0 0

1,890,000

0

3,243,000 105,000 63,000 63,000 1,830,000 63,000 2,040,000 263,000

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

continued on Page 3

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League of Women Voters | Ballot Review

Prop. 1: $49,255,000 Anchorage School District Capital Improvements Bonds (cont.) Estimated Estimated Annual Cost O&M

Project Tyson Elementary – replace exit signage Wendler Middle – convert security cameras to internet protocol; replace intercom West High – convert security cameras to internet protocol; replace library roof; upgrade seismic bracing

32,000

0

455,000

0

4,557,000

0

Estimated Estimated Annual Cost O&M

Project

Whaley Center – replace digital building controls 35,000 0 Williwaw Elementary – convert security cameras to internet protocol 63,000 0 Willow Crest – replace roof 3,525,000 0 Student Transportation Transportation – replace approximately 27 school buses 3,500,000 0 Total $49,255,000 $0

Prop. 2: Charter Amendment – Marijuana Sales Tax This proposition would amend the Municipal Charter by adding Section 14.06, Retail marijuana sales tax, and amend Sections 14.01 and 14.03.

the tax increase limitation until 2019 only. The amendment would allow the Assembly to make exemptions to the tax by ordinance.

The amendment would approve an initial five percent (5%) sales tax on the retail sale of marijuana and marijuana products. The amendment would allow the Assembly to adjust the tax no more often than once every two years by up to two percent (2%), with the maximum tax not to exceed 12 percent. The proposition also specifies that revenues from the tax are outside

If approved by 60% of voters voting on the question, the amendment would take effect upon certification of the election. To be voted on by qualified voters residing in the Municipality of Anchorage.

Prop. 3: $3,065,000 Areawide Safety Capital Improvement Bonds These bonds would pay for capital improvements to public safety areawide. For property assessed at $100,000, estimated annual costs are $0.65 to retire the debt. There are no new costs for operations and maintenance (O&M). Property owners throughout the Municipality would be taxed for these bonds.

To be voted on by qualified voters residing in the Municipality of Anchorage. Projects expected to be funded include, but are not limited to: Project Upgrade E911 (Enhanced 911) Replace ambulances Purchase 12 LifePak defibrillator/cardiac monitors Total

Estimated Cost $2,000,000 900,000 165,000 $3,065,000

Estimated Annual O&M $0 0 0 $0

Prop. 4: $3,360,000 Anchorage Parks and Recreation Service Area Capital Improvement Bonds These bonds would pay to construct, renovate, and equip parks, trails, and recreational facilities in the Anchorage Parks and Recreation Service Area (APRSA). The APRSA includes most of the Anchorage Bowl and most of the Hillside. The APRSA does not include Eagle River/Chugiak, Birchwood, Peters Creek, Eklutna, Girdwood, Indian, Bird Creek and portions of Glen Alps, Stuckagain Heights, Rabbit Creek, and Bear Valley. For property in the APRSA assessed at $100,000, estimated annual costs are $0.82 to retire the debt and $0.76 to pay for new annual operations and maintenance costs (O&M). The new O&M costs would increase the Municipal tax cap by up to $235,000. Only property owners in the APRSA would be taxed for these bonds. There would be no cost to property owners in Eagle River/ Chugiak, Birchwood, Peters Creek, Eklutna, Girdwood, Indian, Bird Creek, and portions of Glen Alps, Stuckagain Heights, Rabbit

League of Women Voters | Ballot Review

Creek, and Bear Valley. However, because State law requires the full faith and credit of the whole Municipality to be pledged for the bonds, passage requires approval by voters residing in the entire Municipality as well as by voters in the APRSA. To be voted on by qualified voters residing in the Municipality of Anchorage. Projects expected to be funded include, but are not limited to: Project Estimated Cost All-inclusive playground development $250,000 Mountain View Community and Neighborhood Park Improvements 150,000 Mountain View and Fairview Community Garden Improvements 50,000 Taku Lake Park Re-development & Safety Upgrades 400,000 Town Square Park Safety and Maintenance Improvement 100,000 Valley of the Moon Park Safety Upgrades 150,000 Campbell Creek Trail Rehabilitation 650,000 Fish Creek Trail Rehabilitation 175,000 Multi-Use Trail Bridge Upgrades 400,000 Coastal Trail Shoreline Stabilization 400,000 Lake Otis & Campbell Creek Parking Improvement 300,000 Spenard Rec Center – Generator Replacement 250,000 Delaney Community Ctr (Pete’s Gym) – Utility Improvements 85,000 Total $3,360,000

Estimated Annual O&M $17,500 10,500 3,500 28,000 7,000 10,500 45,500 12,250 28,000 28,000 21,000 17,500 5,950 $235,200

*Estimated O&M costs vary due to rounding.

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Election Day

Tuesday, April 5, 2016

The Municipality of Anchorage is exploring a Vote by Mail election system, proposed for April 2017, to simplify and streamline the election process in Anchorage. The goals of a Vote by Mail option are to increase voter turnout, maximize voter protection, and safeguard community resources.

Prop. 5: $36,585,000 Anchorage Roads and Drainage Service Area Road and Storm Drainage Bonds These bonds would pay for roads and storm drainage capital acquisition, construction, renovation, upgrades and related capital improvements in the Anchorage Roads and Drainage Service Ares (ARDSA). The ARDSA includes much of the Anchorage Bowl. It does not include Girdwood, Indian, Bird Creek, Eagle River/Chugiak and most of the Hillside. For property in the ARDSA assessed at $100,000, estimated annual costs are $9.76 to retire the debt and $0.94 to pay for new annual operations and maintenance (O&M) costs. The new O&M costs would increase the Municipal tax cap by an amount not to exceed $265,000. Only property owners in the ARDSA would be taxed for these bonds. There would be no cost to property owners in Girdwood, Indian, Bird Creek, Eagle River/Chugiak, and most of the Hillside. However, because State law requires the full faith and credit of the whole Municipality to be pledged for the bonds, passage requires approval by voters residing in the entire Municipality as well as by voters in the ARDSA. To be voted on by qualified voters residing in the Municipality of Anchorage. Projects expected to be funded include, but are not limited to:

Project Estimated Cost Local match for federally funded projects $285,000 Street light improvements 800,000 Arctic Boulevard reconstruction phase III – 36th Avenue to Tudor Road 6,800,000 Downtown/Midtown area alley paving 100,000 Glacier Street area resurfacing 200,000 Intersection resurfacing 100,000 Recycle asphalt pavement (RAP) and subbase rehabilitation 600,000 Road and storm drain improvements program 2,000,000 Spenard Road reconstruction phase II – Hillcrest Drive to Benson Boulevard 13,800,000 Spring, Briarwood, and Greenwood Streets resurfacing 150,000 Thurman Drive area resurfacing 200,000 Pedestrian safety and rehabilitation program 800,000 Briarwood and East 74th Avenue drainage improvements 100,000 Bugle, Travis, Henderson Loop area drainage improvements 150,000 East 66th Avenue and Greenwood Street area drainage improvements 150,000 Flooding, glaciation, and drainage projects 500,000 Lakehurst Drive area drainage improvements 200,000 Ravensbruch Subdivision storm drain main rehabilitation 800,000 Storm drain condition assessment and rehabilitation program 250,000 Wesleyan Drive area drainage improvements 800,000 Windflower Circle area drainage improvements 100,000 Sylvan Drive – Old Seward to Fairweather 4,500,000 Campbell Airstrip Road mile 0.3-0.7, with pedestrian facility 2,700,000 Traffic calming and safety improvements 500,000 Total $36,585,000

Estimated Annual O&M

$118,600

111,600

25,700 9,200 $265,100*

* Estimated O&M costs vary due to rounding.

Prop. 6: $1,050,000 Anchorage Fire Service Area Fire Protection Bonds These bonds would pay for capital improvements related to fire protection within the Anchorage Fire Service Area (AFSA), which includes the Anchorage Bowl, Eagle River and most of the Hillside, but does not include Chugiak, Birchwood, Peters Creek, Eklutna, Indian, Bird Creek, Girdwood and portions of Glen Alps and Rabbit Creek. For property in the AFSA assessed at $100,000, estimated annual costs are $0.24 to retire the debt. There are no new costs for operations and maintenance (O&M).

Only property owners in the AFSA would be taxed for these bonds. There would be no cost to property owners in Chugiak, Birchwood, Peters Creek, Eklutna, Indian, Bird Creek, Girdwood and portions of Glen Alps and Rabbit Creek. However, because State law requires the full faith and credit of the whole Municipality to be pledged for the bonds, passage requires approval by voters residing in the entire Municipality as well as in the AFSA. To be voted on by qualified voters residing in the Municipality of Anchorage. Projects expected to be funded include, but are not limited to: Project Replace a fire engine – heavy rescue Replace boiler at Fire Vehicle Maintenance Facility Total

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Estimated Cost $900,000 150,000 $1,050,000

Estimated Annual O&M $0 0 $0

League of Women Voters | Ballot Review

Prop. 7: $3,800,000 Anchorage Metropolitan Police Service Area Facilities Bonds These bonds would pay for capital improvements within the Anchorage Metropolitan Police Service Area (AMPSA). The AMPSA includes all areas of the Municipality north of McHugh Creek. It does not include Indian, Bird Creek, Portage, and Girdwood.

requires the full faith and credit of the whole Municipality to be pledged for the bonds, passage requires approval by voters residing in the entire Municipality as well as by voters in the AMPSA.

For property in the AFSA assessed at $100,000, estimated annual costs are $0.82 to retire the debt. There are no new costs for operations and maintenance (O&M). Only property owners in the AMPSA would be taxed for these bonds. There would be no cost to property owners in Indian, Bird Creek, Portage, and Girdwood. However, because State law

Project

To be voted on by qualified voters residing in the Municipality of Anchorage. Projects expected to be funded include, but are not limited to: Estimated Cost

Rehabilitate Anchorage Police Department (APD) uninterrupted power supply (UPS) Replace roof at APD Headquarters Upgrade APD Training Center APD evidence freezer Total

Estimated Annual O&M

$500,000 2,100,000 900,000 300,000 $3,800,000

0 0 0 0 $0

Prop. 8: Charter Amendment – Tax Increase Limitation Proposition 8 is placed on the ballot through a citizen’s initiative petition. This proposition asks voters to amend the Anchorage Municipal Charter, Article XIV, Section 14.03: Tax Increase Limitation (“Tax Cap”) to add a new subsection.

If approved by a majority of voters voting on the question, the amendment would take effect upon certification of the election. To be voted on by qualified voters residing in the Municipality of Anchorage.

If approved, Subsection 14.03(a)(2) would state: “the total amount of tax approved by the Assembly for the preceding year shall be the total amount of the taxes and payments in-lieu of taxes approved by the Assembly for collection in the preceding year.”

Pro and con statements on this proposition are included on page 7.

Prop. 9: A Proposition Authorizing the Girdwood Valley Service Area to Provide for Police Protection Services Beginning 7/1/16 at the Sole Expense of the GVSA Only voters residing in the Girdwood Valley Service Area vote on this proposition. This proposition would allow the Girdwood Valley Service Area (GVSA) to provide for police protection services, beginning July 1, 2016, at the sole expense of property owners in the GVSA. The proposition would amend Anchorage Municipal Code 27.20.110 and 27.30.020.

For property in the GVSA assessed at $100,000, new estimated annual costs would be $118.00 to pay for police services contracted from the Whittier Police Department. Only property owners in the GVSA are taxed for this service. There is, and would be, no cost to property owners in other areas of the Municipality.

The means of providing police services would be approved by the GVSA Board of Supervisors. One option that may be available to the GVSA is contracting with the Whittier Police Department. Under that option the additional mill rate is estimated to be 1.18 mills. This addition together with existing taxes in GVSA may not exceed the existing maximum 6.0 mill rate for GVSA services.

Only qualified voters residing in the Girdwood Valley Service Area vote on this proposition.

BONDED INDEBTEDNESS The current General Obligation (G.O.) bonded indebtedness of the Municipality of Anchorage, including authorized but unissued bonds, based on bonds outstanding as of December 31, 2015, is as follows:

General Obligation Bonds Issued and outstanding Authorized but unissued Total Bonds paid off in 2015 Debt Service Payments To be made in 2016 on all G.O. bonds

League of Women Voters | Ballot Review

General Purpose

School

Total

$439,950,000 47,924,000 487,874,000 $35,650,000

$581,935,000 48,350,000 630,285,000 $61,860,000

$1,021,885,000 96,274,000 1,118,159,000 $97,510,000

Principal

Interest

Total

$92,755,000

$45,475,982

$138,230,982

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CANDIDATE PROFILES Candidates for Assembly and School Board were invited to submit a 100-word biographical profile for inclusion in the Ballot Review. Each submission was provided by the candidate and is not endorsed by the League of Women Voters or the Municipality of Anchorage. Candidates’ names appear in random order on the ballot and are listed here in the order shown on the ballot.

CANDIDATES FOR ASSEMBLY District 2- Seat A - Chugiak/Eagle River Amy Demboski – Amy currently serves as an Anchorage Assembly member representing Chugiak, Eagle River, and JBER. Amy is a graduate of Chugiak High School (1994), the University of Alaska Anchorage with degrees in Justice and History, as well as Columbia Southern University with a Masters degree in Business with an emphasis in Finance. Prior to being elected to the Assembly, Amy served as the Chair of the Anchorage Budget Advisory Commission, Mayor Sullivan’s appointment to the Chugiak-Eagle River Parks & Recreation Board of Supervisors, the President of the Chugiak Community Council, and a Commissioner on the State of Alaska Judicial Conduct Commission. Contact: [email protected] • 907-301-9179 amy4assembly.com • Facebook: Amy Demboski for Assembly Nicholas Begich – Proud Alaskan. Life-Long Conservative. Father and Husband. Graduated from Baylor University (Bachelor of Business) and Indiana University (MBA). Professionally, I have held positions in Finance, Marketing, Product Development, and Technology, with budget responsibility at times exceeding 200 Million USD. As the founder of a global company with over 150 employees and with investments in some of the Nation’s top startups, I understand what it takes to build businesses. Anchorage is headed for challenging times, but with the right leadership we will emerge more resilient than ever. I will help to make Anchorage a stronger, more secure, and more vibrant community. Contact: [email protected] • 907-350-5838 • www.nicholasbegich.com

District 3 - Seat D - West Anchorage Ira Perman – West Anchorage resident 40 years. Married Virginia Rusch 1980. Daughters Esther and Sara, West High School graduates. Career: Atwood Foundation, Trustee, CEO since 2010; Anchorage Concert Association, CEO 20 years; Alaska Humanities Forum, CEO, six years. Community Work: Governor Hickel’s Institute of the North, Board Member, Past President; North Star Community Council, Member, Past President; Shining Lights Award Committee, Former Member, Chair; Anchorage Rotary, Former Member and Youth Exchange Chair; Staff to Assembly Member Ernie Hall; Led initiative for Alaskan high school students to study Alaska History. Assembled coalition encouraging voluntary Pre –K education. Block party grill master. Contact: [email protected] • 907-764-6040 Dustin Darden – I’m applying to be a Assembly member in the soon approaching election, representing the West Anchorage district. I’m just a regular person that will listen to any ideas you may have for moving this city into a direction that will be best for all of us as a community. I have put blood, sweat, and tears into building up and maintaining this city. I understand and respect what a hard days work is. I’m currently employed by the Municipality of Anchorage. I Love this city, and all the people that call it home. Thank you for your consideration. Contact: [email protected] • 907-884-5784 www.facebook.com/dustin.darden.5.com Eric Croft – Born in Spenard and graduating from West High, Eric Croft has lived and served in West Anchorage his entire life. Spenard’s State Rep for 10 years, Croft partnered on legislation to protect domestic violence victims. Frustrated with political corruption, Croft authored and led statewide initiatives to reinstate campaign finance limits and require elections for US Senate vacancies. Most recently Croft served as President of the Anchorage School Board, building a bipartisan coalition to defend Anchorage schools against massive budget cuts. Croft is an Assembly candidate with the courage of his convictions, who will work with the administration to move Anchorage forward. Contact: [email protected] • 907-258-1693 • www.croftforassembly.com Adam Trombley – I am a 3rd generation, life-long Alaskan; married to Stephanie, have two daughters, Tatum and Tess. I am a former Assembly member and a current Board Member of Akeela, which is a non- profit organization offering an array of services for the prevention and treatment of substance abuse throughout Alaska. I also serve on the Board of Governors for the Alaska Bar Association, appointed by Gov. Parnell and re-appointed by Gov. Walker. During my time on the Assembly I limited the growth of property taxes and introduced robust competition into local government. I would appreciate your vote on April 5th.

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District 4 - Seat F - Midtown Anchorage Ron Alleva – No information received. Contact: [email protected] • 907-229-3232 • www.allevaforassembly.com Dick Traini – Dick first served on Anchorage’s Assembly in 1991, elected by his peers to lead in the role of Assembly Chair more than any other member in Anchorage history. He has worked effectively with six mayors and more than 35 Assembly members. Dick also served our country in the US Airforce for over 20 years. Despite his experience, Dick never stops learning, earning a BA in Political Science, Masters in Public Administration, and Certification in Urban Planning, all after his first Assembly election. Dick Traini is proud to run for one final term of service for the people of Midtown Anchorage. Contact: [email protected] • 907-250-6832

District 5 - Seat H - East Anchorage Forrest Dunbar – I’m a lifelong Alaskan, originally from Eagle on the Yukon and Cordova on Prince William Sound. My parents both graduated from UAF, and still live in Cordova. I moved to Anchorage during my law school summers, and remained here after passing the Bar Exam. I’m honored to serve as an officer in the Alaska Army National Guard, as well as the on the Scenic Foothills Community Council. I recently helped found the Muldoon Farmers Market and Forget-Me-Not, Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to reducing homelessness. I am a member of Congregation Beth Sholom, and hope to meet you at your door! Contact: [email protected] • 907-570-2554 • www.forrestdunbar.com Terre Gales – Hi, my name is Terre Gales. My wife (Alyssa) and I have three children. Our daughter Vivian is 12, our son Santino is 6 and our youngest son Bronsen is 3. We have three dogs and three guinea pigs. We own our home in the North East Anchorage area. I grew up in a single mother household along with my two sisters. I am an Iraq War Veteran, a former police officer and currently work as a safety officer for the Municipality of Anchorage. I am an active member of my church and enjoy mentoring youth. Thank You. Contact: [email protected] • 907-230-6253 • www.galesforanchorage.com

District 6 - Seat J - South Anchorage Mark Schimscheimer – Mark Schimscheimer, PE, is a long-time Anchorage resident and business leader, community volunteer, and pro-business conservative candidate for Assembly District 6. He has extensive public and private sector experience. He and his wife Ramona are the proud parents of one daughter, Sabrina, who attends Goldenview Middle School, and is a volunteer ski coach with the Special Olympics. For the last 8 years Mark has served as Board Chair for the South Goldenview Road Service Area where he’s worked tirelessly to promote better quality infrastructure. As an assembly member, he will fight to control Municipal spending and maintain a strong, healthy economy for Anchorage’s next generation. Contact: [email protected] • 907-830-7322 www.markschimscheimer.com John Weddleton – With 30 years as a business owner and 20 years of active public service, John balances a conservative pro-business ethic with a strong understanding of neighborhood issues. As a life- long Independent, John has consistently focused on the mechanics, not the politics, of our community problems. John owns BOSCO’s, is on the board of Credit Union 1, co-founded the Spenard Chamber of Commerce and is active in the Anchorage Chamber. He was a Planning & Zoning Commissioner, Chair of the MidHillside Community Council and HALO. Experience, proven commitment and balanced decision-making matter. That’s why John is South Anchorage’s choice for Assembly. Contact: [email protected] • 907-770-0685 • www.weddletonforassembly.com Treg Taylor – No information received. Contact: [email protected] • 907-952-0610

Contact: [email protected] • 907-830-0378 www.trombleyforassembly.com

League of Women Voters | Ballot Review

CANDIDATE PROFILES CANDIDATES FOR SCHOOL BOARD SEAT A

CANDIDATES FOR SCHOOL BOARD SEAT B

Bettye Davis – Bettye Davis has been a resident of Anchorage for over 40 years. Education is her passion. Bettye currently serves on the Anchorage School Board and supports equity for all students, funding for pre-kindergarten education, increasing the Base Student Allocation Formula and reducing the dropout rate. As an Alaska State Senator, Bettye sponsored Senate Bill 6 – Pre- Kindergarten Program; Senate Bill 3 - Funding Act for School Lunch & Breakfast; Senate Bill 9 – Compulsory School Attendance (a bill to increase graduation rates by extending school age to 18). Bettye is Committed and Experienced. She Cares, Listens, and Acts.

Kay Schuster – I was born and raised in Alaska, and graduated from the Anchorage School District (ASD) and the University of Alaska. I’ve worked at the ASD for 17 years. My husband and are raising three children who all attend public school. Like other students, they are Alaska’s future. Alaska’s achievement gap and our fiscal gap are my two priorities. I have ideas on what to cut and make more efficient, and how to make our kids successful. My lifelong experience here makes me uniquely qualified to serve on the Anchorage School Board.

Contact: [email protected] • 907-351-5208 Brent Hughes – Throughout my life I have favored students over teachers and teachers over administrators. For me, kids are absolutely EVERYTHING. My life-long mission to “lighten the load in life” for kids has always started with a dream of major breakthroughs for KIDS, working backwards, determining a “fastest way” to achieve that result. Consequently, I have been exceptionally lucky in pioneering math instruction strategies that have been repeatedly showcased on TV, Radio and the newspapers while offers to freely pilot these teacher acclaimed revolutionary breakthroughs have been repeatedly ignored by administrators, school board members and politicians. Time to inform the public! Contact: [email protected] • 907-276-2467 www.timestabletricks.com/testimonials/ as well as www.timestabletricks.com/about-the-author/

Contact: [email protected] • voteschuster.com David Nees – David Nees was born in England the son of a US Air Dad, And English mom. Air Force life had stops in to Japan, Florida, D.C. and finally Niagara Falls. Junior High was at London central. High School was in Dallas Oregon and graduation from Perrydale It was here David discovered running and earned a scholarship to Pacific University. After a earning a in BA History, and setting the school mile record, David followed his new wife to her home of Alaska in 1979. Teaching degree from UAA, began a 28 career in the ASD, teaching and coaching every day. Contact: [email protected] • 907-522-1118 http://nees4schoolboard2016.weebly.com Starr Marsett – I am proud to be a passionate advocate for education and children and have been for over 30 years. My educational roots run deep and I have volunteered extensively in and for our schools. I’ve been president of the PTA in many schools and currently serve on three Anchorage School District Committees, including the Capital Improvement Advisory Committee, making recommendations to the school board about school bonds. Volunteering in classrooms and substituting have expanding my insights into students’ needs. In addition to being a mom and a grandmother, I have a BS in Business Management and sixteen years experience in the financial industry. Contact: [email protected] • 907-240-1310 • www.starrforschoolboard.com

STATEMENTS REGARDING PROPOSITION 8 PRO STATEMENT

CON STATEMENT

Vote YES on Proposition 8 to Save Our Tax Cap. This proposition will reverse a recent change to the Tax Cap calculation adopted by the Anchorage Assembly, allowing taxes to increase faster than previously allowed. Passing Proposition 8 will also keep the Assembly from increasing taxes in this way again, without a vote of the people.

The Taxman Cometh – likely more terrifying than the title of any film or book ever conceived. If you’re like us you’re slowly gathering the dizzying number of documents necessary to prepare your 2015 tax return and, with a little luck, receive a tax refund. Painful though this exercise may be, can you imagine a scenario where you were due a refund but didn’t receive it?

Background: In 1983 Anchorage voters approved a Tax Increase Limitation provision to the city charter, commonly known as the “Tax Cap”. In simple terms, the Tax Cap limits the amount of taxes the Municipality can collect each year. The Tax Cap limits tax increases each year based on new construction and voter approved debt and average change in inflation and population from the previous five years.

Unfortunately, with respect to your municipal taxes, that scenario would become reality if ballot measure 8 is approved. Here’s why:

In October 2015 the Anchorage Assembly changed the way the basis for the Tax Cap was calculated for follow-on tax years, permitting taxes to increase more rapidly, without a vote of the people. Under this new basis, calculating next the years maximum taxes allowed would hinge on the amount of taxes that could have been collected, instead on the amount of taxes that were actually collected, (the method used prior to the change).

Each year the Municipality of Anchorage approves a budget and each year it is closely monitored. Departments are challenged to beat their budgets by spending less than they’re authorized. For example, given the dearth of snow this winter we expect Street Maintenance to come in under budget. That will allow the Assembly to refund that surplus for the following year’s property tax bill – unless ballot measure 8 passes.

With the state currently considering adding new state income taxes and/or sales taxes and reducing the amount of PFD payouts to solve the state budget crisis, it’s especially important that we limit the ability of local government to dramatically increase our property tax burden.

While proponents of ballot measure 8 speak of fiscal discipline there are two ugly side effects upon which they remain silent.

The Tax Cap has served Anchorage well for over 30 years, through both robust and challenging economies. The change implemented by the Assembly is merely an attempt to extract more money from Anchorage residents without justification. Please vote YES to Save Our Tax Cap. Submitted by former Mayor Dan Sullivan taxcapdefenders.org

First, should it pass, departments would no longer have an incentive to underspend as that would result in lower tax capacity in future years. Anybody who’s been involved with a bureaucracy, public or private, has seen that sort of behavior. In short, ballot measure 8 incentivizes waste and inefficiency. That’s not good government. Second, ballot measure 8 eliminates the ability for the municipality to provide one-time tax relief. Here’s a specific example; during the Great Recession the federal government provided money to local governments via state governments. Then-Governor Palin initially resisted accepting those dollars but acquiesced due, in part, to the Assembly’s pledge to use Anchorage’s share for tax relief. Had ballot measure 8 been in place that would not have been possible. Neither of us are much beloved among municipal agencies. We ask tough questions, we don’t suffer fools gladly and we demand accountability. That’s harder than passing feelgood legislation. We concur you’re better off without this ill-conceived proposal.

League of Women Voters | Ballot Review

Submitted by Ernie Hall and Patrick Flynn, former Anchorage Assembly Chairs and current members of the Anchorage Assembly

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Ballot Review: Anchorage Municipal Election The League of Women Voters of Anchorage is a non-partisan organization that promotes political responsibility through informed and active participation in government. This Ballot Review was prepared by the League of Women Voters of Anchorage, with funding from the Municipality of Anchorage, Municipal Clerk’s Office – Elections. League of Women Voters of Anchorage • PO Box 101345 • Anchorage, AK 99510-1345

907-274-8477 • www.lwvanchorage.org • Facebook: League of Women Voters of Anchorage

On Tuesday, April 5, 2016, qualified voters within the Municipality of Anchorage will:

This Ballot Review is available at www.muni.org/elections and at www.lwvanchorage.org, as well as on Facebook: League of Women Voters of Anchorage or Facebook: Municipal Clerk’s Office. Like both – and share the Ballot Review.

ECRWSS

Ballot Review: Anchorage Municipal Election

PO Box 101345 Anchorage, AK 99510-1345

League of Women Voters of Anchorage

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Please recycle after the election

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Elect five Assembly members

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Elect two School Board members

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Vote areawide on six bond propositions and two proposed Charter Amendments

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In some service areas elect board members, vote to amend powers and vote to establish additional service

April 5

, 2016

This Ballot Review presents information about the ballot measures, as well as the candidates for Assembly and School Board. It also describes opportunities for voting by mail, fax, early in- person or by personal representative.