Division of Elections clears Southwest Alaska legislative candidate after complaint

Budding trees and bushes are seen successful beforehand of nan Alaska State Capitol connected Wednesday, May 1, 2024. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

The Alaska Division of Elections has confirmed nan eligibility of nonpartisan campaigner Darren Deacon after a title alleged that he didn’t unrecorded successful nan Southwest Alaska territory wherever he’s revenge arsenic a campaigner for authorities House.

Deacon is challenging incumbent Rep. Bryce Edgmon, I-Dillingham, for nan authorities House spot covering overmuch of Southwest Alaska. 

In a missive dated July 2, section Director Carol Beecher said nan section “has wished that Mr. Deacon is an eligible campaigner for House District 37 by clear and convincing evidence.”

Deacon’s eligibility had been challenged by Rep. Zack Fields, D-Anchorage, who suggested that societal media posts and employment records indicated Deacon lives successful Anchorage.

According to nan results of a nationalist records request, Deacon showed copies of location costs records for a location successful Kalskag, wrong House District 37, to elections officials. He besides showed some recreation and employment records indicating that he continues to unrecorded successful Kalskag.

In a missive to nan division, he said his business is “parallel” to that of Sen. Lyman Hoffman, D-Bethel, who has a secondary location successful Anchorage but a superior residence successful his location district.

“This comparison underscores that maintaining a secondary residence does not negate one’s superior residency,” Deacon wrote successful nan missive to nan division.

“Kalskag is my home,” he said, “I person ancestral ties to it, and my imperishable location is wherever I make my residence.”

In a abstracted letter, besides dated July 2, nan Division of Elections denied nan candidacy exertion of nonpartisan campaigner Bruce Wall of Valdez.

In nan letter, elections head Beecher said Wall’s candidacy shape arrived astatine Division offices by message connected June 15 but “was not mailed and postmarked successful time.”

That determination intends incumbent Rep. George Rauscher, R-Sutton, will tally unopposed for re-election successful House District 29.

Of Alaska’s 40 House seats, 9 characteristic uncontested races. Of nan 10 authorities Senate seats up for predetermination this year, 2 are uncontested.