Ahead of the Nov. 3 runoff for borough mayor, Luke Hopkins leads in the money game
Published Wednesday, October 14, 2009
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Stumble It!FAIRBANKS — Money-wise, Tammie Wilson has work to do if she wants to catch her opponent, Luke Hopkins, in the race for mayor of the Fairbanks North Star Borough.
Financial disclosure reports show Hopkins began the second stage of the campaign with about $25,000, while Wilson had less than $1,000.
The runoff is in three weeks.
Rick VanderKolk, Wilson’s campaign manager, said he’s not worried.
“My assessment is that we have a groundswell of support,” VanderKolk said. “We have a multitude of contributors every day coming by and mailing checks. What we are seeing is a coalition that’s forming behind Tammie.”
The latest records were filed Sept. 29, and new reports aren’t due to the Alaska Public Offices Commission until Oct. 27, one week before the Nov. 3 runoff election.
The records show that Hopkins, a six-year veteran of the Borough Assembly, has been raising money consistently since February and has amassed upward of $60,000.
Wilson, who was elected to the assembly last year, began raising money in earnest in June. As of Sept. 29, she had raised about $22,000.
Hopkins has support from about 500 individuals, according to the reports.
“Contributions are still coming in,” he said. “That hasn’t stopped. People are calling me up and saying, ‘What’s your address?’ They want to send me money. Am I pursuing it? I am talking to people. That’s what I am doing.”
Hopkins’ financial support has come from multiple state and municipal leaders past and present, including high profile Democrats such as U.S. Sen. Mark Begich and former Anchorage legislator Ethan Berkowitz, who is running for governor next year.
At least six state lawmakers have contributed to Hopkins’ campaign. From Fairbanks, Rep. Scott Kawasaki, Rep. David Guttenberg and Sen. Joe Thomas, all Democrats, gave money. Hopkins is married to Guttenberg’s sister. Three Anchorage Democratic legislators also contributed,
The executive director of the Alaska Democratic Party also gave to Hopkins’ campaign and so have at least three of Hopkins’ assembly colleagues — Kelly Brown, Joseph Blanchard and Mike Musick.
Fairbanks City Councilmen Bernard Gatewood and John Eberhart contributed to Hopkins’ campaign. So did out-going North Pole Councilman Jeff Jacobson.
Hopkins has enjoyed support from trade unions, including laborers along with plumbers and pipefitters. Unions gave Hopkins more than $7,000 as of Sept. 29.
Also, almost 19 percent of Hopkins’ money has come from outside of the borough, primarily Anchorage, the reports show.
“A lot of people wanted to support me,” he said. “I have friends in Anchorage who wanted to support me. My daughter is down there. I have known people for years and years and years around the state.”
All but five of Wilson’s estimated 120 contributors live in the Fairbanks North Star Borough.
Wilson enjoys support from Gabrielle LeDoux, a former state legislator and former mayor of the Kodiak Island Borough; Bill Boswood, owner of Auto Trim Design; dentist Craig O’Donoghue; North Pole Councilman Doug Wilson; Rynnieva Moss, an aide to Rep. John Coghill; former Borough Assemblyman Ladd McBride; Fairbanks City Councilwoman Vivian Stiver; Lynette Clark, chairwoman of the Alaskan Independence Party; Sue Hull, who sits on the Fairbanks school board; attorney Lynn Levengood; and evangelist Rick Sikma, who ran unsuccessfully against former U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens in the Republican primary last year.
Merrick Peirce, who is a member of the Alaska Gasline Port Authority Board of Directors, contributed money to both Wilson’s and Hopkins’ campaigns.
“It’s not special interests, and it’s not establishment,” VanderKolk said of the contributors, although he said Wilson is cultivating support from members of the Republican Party.
“We’ve had scores of people on board since the last disclosure,” VanderKolk said. “She is the more conservative candidate.”
Community Discussion
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Wilson is the most conservative, but realistic, of the two. And I like to see a candidate who has local support.
Must be you fairbanks folk keeping hopkins in the race, every one I know in NP supports Wilson, she'll still have our votes...
"every one I know in NP supports Wilson, she'll still have our votes...
And that's the most damning indictment of her I've heard. I mean, besides her voting record.
"Hopkins is married to Guttenberg’s sister."
Need we wonder how he will govern. Hopkins tries to sell us using conservatism. Obama tries to sell socialized health care by saying buzz words like "competition". Hopkins (who is a big Obama supporter) tries to sell his slick self to us by saying he listens and will restrain the growth of government, et cetera. Well, actions do actually speak louder than words. Hopkins has always jumped at the chance to grow his power at the expense of our liberty. Wilson has always done what she has said and stood by her beliefs.
Also, in regards to the News Miner story, it is not a surprise that the liberal hack (Fluke Flopkins) has a bunch of special interest support while almost all of Wilsons support is grass roots. Hopkins will have a lot of people to pay off is he gets elected.
I will once again vote for Tammie Wilson for mayor. I like honesty and common sense conservatism over slick, statist liberalism.
Im sorry Amanda Bohman I really dont think Tammie Wilson needs to raise money to get elected with the support she already has. Heck even 3/4th of this town already supports her. She realy dosnt need the money to get elected. Im voting for her.
I was somewhat undecided until I read the listing of Wilson's supporters and saw there Lynn Levengood, Gabrielle LeDoux, and Lynette Clarke. Good lord, if ever I needed a reason NOT to vote for Wilson those three just provided a trio of them!
dobieman you're a phoney. You were never undecided. You are a well-known lefty and it's obvious to everyone who you would vote for.
Gee, NativeSon...have you always had these delusions of telepathy or is it a new manifestation of a chronic pre-existing condition?
I voted for Jay Hammond when he ran for gov and would have voted for him again had he run again. Hardly a "lefty" vote, wouldn't you say? There have been other "righties" for whom I have voted over the years though they don't come readily to mind likely for being local politics. But, while I may often vote "lefty" instead of "rightie-tightie" it's not something set in concrete.
Up until recently, I knew nothing about Wilson and was willing to give her the benefit of the doubt. But now that I see she attracts the extremist element like LeDoux and Clarke it tells me something for as the aphorism goes, "Birds of a feather flock together."
Of course, we know for whom you will be voting....the most fanatical conservative possible. Heck, if George Lincoln Rockwell was still alive and running for borough mayor, I bet your lawn would be peppered with his signs...although somewhat reluctantly on your part for I am sure you would consider him too liberal. *Grin*
Say, NativeSon....I know what you can do! (Well, concern my comment might be deleted keeps me from expounding on the first few things that come to mind.) See about exhuming ol' Joe Vogler and running him as borough mayor!
Oh..wait...that's right. He was always against the American government, no matter who was in office, be they "lefty" or "rightie-tightie". Hated the flag, etc. Gee...sounds like your sort of conservative! And I see Lynette Clarke is supporting Wilson so you know ol' Joe probably would think her peachy-keen.
Course...they supported Hickel when he last ran for gov, got him in the mansion in Juneau, and then pretty quickly (though not nearly as quickly as the rest of Alaska who did not vote for him but did see the joke being played on the AIP) disowned him. So, who knows? *Shrug*
Well, when the unions say jump, the rank and file jump.....Hence we end up with tax and spend , rules and regulation Liberals trying to run our lives.
The big test is can we (the little people ) defeat The Union Liberal Luke Hopkins...
dobieman: You've managed to degenerate to the position predicted by Godwin's Law in record time.
I was somewhat undecided until I read the listing of Hopkins' supporters
and saw there Mark Begich, Ethan Berkowitz, Scott Kawasaki, David Guttenberg, Joe Thomas, Kelly Brown, Joseph Blanchard, Mike Musick, Bernard Gatewood, John Eberhart, Jeff Jacobson, three Anchorage Democratic legislators, and the executive director of the Alaska Democratic Party. It's pretty obvious that Hopkins is running a partisan Democrat campaign, even collecting a lot of his money from Democrats outside the borough. We don't need that kind of person as mayor. I'm going to have to go with Tammie Wilson.
Im with ya on that one NativeSon.
Merrick Peirce, who is a member of the Alaska Gasline Port Authority Board of Directors, contributed money to both Wilson’s and Hopkins’ campaigns.
----------------------------
Wow...who would have guessed. Put_Alaska_First is playing both sides of the table. I am betting that his contribution to Hopkins (fellow Port Authority Scam Board of Director) was a little bit larger.
I was expecting an article from the Newsminer on what the numbers were on the Hopkins/Wilson run off.
NOT an entire article on how well off Hopkins is money wise...
maybe this just shows when it comes right down to it money counts....well not this time.
I believe the "groundswell" of support mmoneywise for Wilson is well under way.
This woman is campaigning the way Sarah started years ago, out of the back of her truck with a BBq grill and hot dogs..
Tammy is "Going Rogue" and we will all quietly give her our full support while Hopkins 'shows off' his $ through the newspaper.
It seems as though the Newsminer already is stating Hopkins wins because he has all the marbles.
Where is the fair journalism???
Once again we will have the best money can buy, untill they end up in jail. The Unions have money to burn, so they just buy who they choose and the hell with rest of us... When did the borough races become a party thing???
Please don't hold a contribution from Gabrielle LeDoux against Tammie Wilson! Gabrielle spent a little time in Fairbanks over the summer, and I have been told that her delusional political aspirations are to run against Don Young in the next election. She likely made a donation to Tammie just to support a fellow conservative. In reality, I'm guessing that they hardly know each other.
you can drop off checks at the IACC Northgate Square beside Siam Dishes, Tammi will appreciate all the help, a lot of small donations add up to large pot to help defeat Luke. Please Vote and also you will be able to vote early starting next week. Its the ordinary man or women's vote that will win the election.!!!!! Do you really want Luke...................................!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Vote.......................!!!! Vote Early.............You never know how the weather will be on election day.or what kind of family emergency comes up that keeps you away from the polls. Thank you again your Vote counts...................
When you say unions, Do you mean Public Employee Unions?
Here's something to consider: Wilson was outspent by just about everybody in the race and was only 150 votes behind Hopkins and all his purchased union support.
You can go the the APOC website and see who has contributed to each of the candidates--Donna Gilbert contributed $500 to Tammie--this should have been mentioned as it is a large contribution by someone with ITA ties. But to me the bigger question is--who can manage a complex operation with lots of employees, grants, complex legal issues. I don't see where Tammie has a track record to take that on. She's a valued voice on the Assembly and would be fine in the State House in Juneau--but I don't see her as a mayor or governor. Not at all. Mayor of North Pole, maybe--but the borough is another matter. When I look at the list of supporters for Hutchinson and Boddy, I don't see a lot of those folks alining behind Tammie to vote her in as borough mayor for the reason I stated.
Hopkins raised 3 times as much as Wilson for the first election, and still basically tied as far as percentage goes. It goes to show that the money didn't really buy that many votes.
And dobieman... everyone knows that there's no way you would have voted for Wilson to begin with. You're basically the definition of left-wing liberal. Trying to pretend that you were on the fence is just manipulative to those that don't know your record.
"The Good Ol' Boys" = Listenin' Luke
Happy with your current NON-representation?
Tax proposals, money grabs, make-work projects for friends ?
Lukes your man!
If you want a voice in your local government who will pay attention to what you say, represent you with honesty & integrity, and doesn't sell her loyalty to the highest bidder........
VOTE FOR TAMMIE WILSON !
Reading the list of supporters for Wilson should be enough to scare eveyone with an IQ that exceeds the number of teeth in their mouth to vote for Hopkins.
Someone asked about the voting numbers… here’s a link to the election results updated as of yesterday
http://co.fairbanks.ak.us/ClerksOffice/E...
"Tammie supporters should not count their chickens before the eggs hatch."
-----------------
The Democrats are a well oiled, disciplined block voting group!
Anyone notice! The bag lady got elected!!!
I don't see a single campaign sign around town; to my knowledge she was not on the radio nor did I hear any radio advs.
AND SHE STILL WON!
The democrat voting block is around UAF.
3/4 of the voters live elsewhere and DON'T vote!
------
If all the Tammie supporters who voted for her get 2 more friends to vote for her she might win.
This means you go talk to them now and make sure they VOTE!
I forgot was a lame excuse!
The average voter does not care for the radical left views of those contributing to the Hopkins campaign.
I am interested in learning more about the candidates, their backgrounds and how their backgrouds will make them the best mayor and why. Would the campaign managers or better yet the candidates please answer my questions/requests below?
When did the candidate move to Alaska?
Please provide a detailed bios for the past twenty years. Where did you work, your position and when? Please list a detailing of your community involvement for the past twenty years.
What was the candidate's greatest professional accomplishment?
What was the candidate's greatest professional failure?
Specific question for Tammy:
You want to shrink the borough budget. Make government smaller. Specifically, how do you plan to do this? Do you plan to cut services and if so which ones and how do you decide which ones?
Specific question for Luke:
You have a lot of support from the unions. How does this support translate to the operation of the borough? How will they benefit for providing your campaign with support?
Final question for both candidates:
Currently the borough is in the process of cutting a 15 foot wide "running" trail through the yards of three homes in a neighborhood off Sheep Creek Road. There is an accessible road that has been used by the runners for many years less than 30 feet away from this trail. Would you as mayor allow the borough to destroy home values in such a way? Once this trail is made, who is going to maintain it?
Thanks for your time.
A concerned voter.
What the flip has it got to do with money?
Really.
So one guy's collecting cash. From who, I wonder. And why. Payolla for favors?
And his opponent. What's she doing? Oh, yes. Going door to door to talk issues with people. That's right, you and I, the people she's looking to represent.
This distinction alone is enough for me to vote for one over the other. I want representation for a change, rather than another swindler.
Wilson for mayor!
I think Tammie Wilson just needs to high light where Hopkins is getting his money from; Democrats, Unions, and Anchorage. Why is Anchorage donating money to a local Fairbanks election?
That is great Tammy gets her support going door to door. That is how it should be. But, don't forget to mention that she also gets free support from a local radio talk show host during his program. Tell me the name of a local radio talk show host that gives the same amount of support to Luke that Tammy gets with hers. Most candidates don't enjoy the free support from radio that Tammy does. Hence, the need to raise money to pay for getting their message out on radio and TV.
The question really is do you want a special interest candidate who will be working for his chosen few or someone who will begin to turn the system in this town by actually talking to people of all opinions prior to making a choice. Hopkins is a sheep in wolf clothing. He has his agenda being dictated to him by others and is now acting like a man of the people to get elected. Face it people are going to vote their paychecks and retirements. After all they want all the money they can get so they can leave here eventually. In the meantime the people who will die here are stuck paying their bills.
levysunflower
Tammie gets her "free support" from KFAR because she promised as an FNSB assembly member to be on the show once a week so citizens could call in their questions, and have them answered, about what was going on in the FNSB.
She is one of the very few politicians who has KEPT her promise.
"Listenin' Luke" could have done the same thing, but I guess he didn't want to spend the time. No money in it, you know?
inaleh
Did you vote?
If so, you should have been asking these questions a long time ago.
If not, research the back issues of the DNM, go to the candidates websites, or call them on the phone. All of your questions have already been answered. You just need to pay attention to ALL of the media and also do your research (before you Vote). :)
Anchorage politicos and the unions may buy Hopkins but he won't have much to pay back when Northstar Borough voters have had their say.
Thank you, Hilda. Absolutely right.
FIGURE IT OUT FOR YOURSELF! Luke Hopkins is David Guttenburg's brother in law, They both have large Union support in money & block voting, He is also the Sect. for the Port Authority Board & like wise one of the "Good Old Boys", representing various "special interest" groups. Hopkins has been "hand picked" by the out going Mayor Jim Whitaker as his replacement, look at their voting records. Who do you think Hopkins really represent? FIGURE IT OUT FOR YOURSELF!!
Didn't Luke write the Gospel?
Wow, Luke Hopkins has been called everything from a "liberal hack" to a "swindler" to a "wolf in sheep's clothing". Actually, he's a really nice, hard-working man who's done a lot for the community. Why don't you guys stop with the insults and stick with the issues? We have two viable, reputable candidates running for office, each of whom deserve to be treated with respect.
I vote for the candidate with the most respectful supporters. As obviated by this comment section, supporters speak volumes about their candidates.
Hilda,
I did vote. I attended two forums. I have done my research. I would like the candidates to answer my questions here. What is wrong with that? I don't think it hurts to continue to hear their messages. This is a perfect forum for that.
levysunflower-
In addition to the above, most people aren't listening to KFAR anyway.
If it was that influential, we wouldn't have the current borough assembly and the various sad results of the recent election.
Many of you are far more optimistic than me. The overall election results don't bode well for the run-off. Tammie is the bright spot though; she got this far against the big names.
For example, I do read the signature ads. Garry Hutchison had all the usual suspects for his "side" and Luke Hopkins had all the usual suspects for his.
I think many of Garry's supporters just couldn't stand to see Tammie get elected because she isn't one of the "in" crowd, one of the bought and self-serving good ol' boys Chamber Pot crew. I don't think the R's could stand to have someone they're not in control of running this show. Both R's and D's have better control with eachother than they would with a Tammie.
I know, I know. Borough elections are non-partisan. Yeah right.
I have no doubt that Tammie can run the borough just fine--better than any of the candidates that ran. This perceived "experience" factor is crap. I could run the borough, and I know exactly where I would begin the cuts.
All these so-called experienced people get us is self-serving government.
We truly need fresh blood, and we haven't been getting it through elections (except Matt Want) and appointments.
I wonder why Hopkins won't reveal his very close and long-standing ties with the Northern Alaska Environmental Center?
(Actually I don't wonder, but it's something to be aware of...)
My Personal experiences
Wilson - I asked her one very simple question and she basically attacked me. Total turn off.
Hopkins - I asked him one very simple question. He paused, thought and answered my question in a clear, calm, concise fashion. Impressive.
dukit22
What were the questions you asked each of them?
Bag lady won and I puked.
dukit22's question
As mayor would you be willing to increase my Borough Union contract by 50 percent!
Doris is you based who you vote for by the people who support them,. you should say home on election day. look at their voting record, either you are for big taxes, big goovernment or you are not. I have heard alot of stupid reason why people vote, your's ranks right up their with the dumbiest of them. Do you know anything about his or her voting record on issues.
My money is on Tammie Wilson.
Luke rhymes with puke.
Tammie rhymes with clammy.
I'm not really sure what that means, but I couldn't think of anything else to say.
I'm pretty appalled at the inference that money drives an election. This article did remind us that we need to look at who is contributing and consider whether we consider our politicians as already bought and paid for. Tammie has my vote.
Who is Rick VanderKolk? It did not seem like a familiar Fairbanks name--could not find him in the phone book but maybe he is unlisted. There is a Rick VanderKolk who is a staffer in Juneau for Wasilla and Valdez legislators--is this the same guy? If so, why doesn't Tammie have a local campaign manager given her emphasis is on grassroots support? Just asking
Rick VanderKolk is local.
What about Tammie's Union ties?
Let's see, 500 contributors to Luke's campaign, with borough residents donating 81 percent of the money. Wilson: 120 borough residents contributing. Hard to read those data and not conclude that Luke had more local financial support at the time of last reporting. Total money received does not always correlate closely with degree of popular support, but total number of local contributors often does.
Luke Hopkins has my vote and votes of my friends. Good luck, Luke.
What I'm curious about is who the people who voted for someone else in the main election will be voting for in this one.
Luke Hopkins, will you be another Mayor like Begeich. Look at the contracts he got so he could be elected to the Senate. Only now is the truth coming out about these contracts, is this borough going into the same direction contracts that in the future there will be no way to cover. Even those who think they may get a few bucks more today might find themselves with nothing in the future. Look at Anchorage union contracts and ask yourself is this where this borough is heading. A politician can promise you the moon, but if there is no one there to pay the bill what are you left with. Ask auto workers, steel workers, public employees around the country how long their contracts worked when the money dried up. Hopkins showed his flip flopping, those who vote for him may find that they were sold a bucket of rotten fish in the form of promises. Ask Anchorage how they feel about their public employee contracts now. Does this community need another Begeich want to be Mayor.
Golly, dobie would have been kicked off the board of the Alaska Wildlife Alliance had he endorsed Wilson. *shrug*
I would like to know if Tammie Wilson has ever earned a paycheck besides borough assembly. Anyone out there know if she has ever earned one?
Hopkins and all his money garnered only 150 more votes than Wilson's grass roots campaign, with a fraction of the money.
Yes, Wilson has held a job. What kind of question is that? Go look it up!
Wow look at all of the new posters whoose only comments have been negative statements about Tammy.
This reeks of the strategy that the Obama campaign used during the presidential election.
It's easy to donate to Tammie http://www.tammiewilson.org/volunteer.ph...
I just did
I'm goimg to wait until Hutch's family,wife and pets tell me who to vote for.
For commenters who seem to have difficulty finding info on Tammie...
Website...www.tammieformayor.com
From the website...
Press info.........www.tammiewilson.org/media.php
Issues.............www.tammiewilson.org/issues.php
Background.........www.tammiewilson.org/bio.php
Her phone number is listed on the website and she WILL answer any
questions you may have.
This is a link to a recent DNM story on the candidates...
http://newsminer.com/news/2009/oct/09/qu...
I donated and will keep donating to Hopkins. =)
I think mr_one_time is Hutch, because he always mentions how his wife agrees with him.
Another voter for Tammie Wilson here. I'd rather elect a candidate who keeps her promises to the voting public.
Luke's voting history shows he listens to campaign contributors, close friends, and family before entertaining ideas from other people. Oops, I forgot it is an election year, he's listening to everyone right now...
Her past employment record is very vague. What paid experience does she have with budgeting? What sort of paid supervisory experience does she have? I looked at her website and I do not see where she worked or for how long she stayed with a job or any real specifics. I want a candidate with a more transparent background. Just my opinion.
nopogal
Call Tammie at 590-7602 and ask her!
If she can't answer her phone, leave her a message. She will call you back!
I have a friend who works for the state who has had dealings with Tammie Wilson when she was at Love Inc. Tammie tried to get someone axed from the non-profit so she could advance. She kept hounding the state, the word used was "relentless".
Another friend lives in her area, he told me about a road service meeting they went to where Tammie was a total bully, they were in disbelief over her antics.
Her bio is razor thin in substance. What property does she manage? A look at the borough property database will show you her family owns a vacant lot, and the two decades old trailers that they live in, that's it.
What was the business she owned, Avon? How about her bankruptcy, what was that about?
Things that make you go hmmmmmm.....
alaska4obama
You relayed a lot of "2nd hand, heresay" info.
Any reason your "friend" can't post his thoughts himself?
How do we know this is not just your interpretation of what your friend said happened? Any documentation? Minutes of meetings. Anything?
I attended the service meeting. Tammie was a total bully. I have never witnessed a ruder person at any meeting.
nopogal
I wasn't at the service meeting, but I will be asking Tammie for her side of the story. At this point I am thinking she was probably not the only person being rude. Some of those meetings can get pretty heated.
I had a friend who had a friend who had a friend that said Tammie was mean to her.
Luke on the other hand is very nice.
I am going to vote for Luke!
This routine would be funny if it wasn't the same people who got our current president elected.
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