Areawide Assembly candidate Laura Martinson McDonnell has reportedly raised almost twice as much money as any other candidate — by nearly $12,000 — so far during this year’s City and Borough of Juneau municipal election as ballots are slated to be sent to capital city residents later this week.
According to her campaign finance records with the Alaska Public Offices Commission, Martinson McDonnell has reportedly raised nearly $25,000 between Feb. 2 and Sept. 1 this year. Following her in most funds raised during that same period are fellow Assembly Areawide candidates Paul Kelly and Ella Adkison, reporting $13,095 and $13,022, respectively.
Campaign finance records — which list who donates to a candidate, and how much a candidate raises and spends — have often been used across all levels of political races to reveal the strengths or deficiencies of a candidate. Finance records can give some insight into what candidates land on top in an election and those who fall behind. Anyone candidate who plans to either raise or spend at least $5,000 while campaigning must register with APOC by filing a letter of intent.
So far this election notable donors to Martinson McDonnell include former and current CBJ Mayors Bruce Botelho and Beth Weldon, Goldbelt President and CEO McHugh Pierre, Bartlett Regional Hospital Board President Kenny Solomon-Gross, Juneau School District Chief of Staff Kristen Bartlett, Alaska Permanent Fund Corp. Chief Financial Officer Valerie Mertz, and fellow election candidates Joe Geldhof (District 2) and David Noon (school board).
Martinson McDonnell has reportedly spent about $22,700 of that funding toward campaign expenses like yard signs, radio advertising and letter mailers.
Following Martinson McDonnell, Kelly also has received donations from some notable donors including state lawmakers like Rep. Cliff Groh and Sen. Forrest Dunbar, both Anchorage Democrats, and Rep. Sara Hannan, a Juneau Democrat. Juneau Board of Education President Deedie Sorensen, member Brian Holst and candidate Britteny Cioni-Haywood also contributed to Kelly’s campaign.
So far, his reported campaign expenses have amounted to about $8,700 with his largest expenditures going toward costs like campaign signs, printed envelopes and stamps.
Notable donors to Adkison include current Assembly member Greg Smith, U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola’s Deputy Communication Director Shannon Mason, numerous legislative aides and staffers, and Juneau Sen. Jesse Kiehl, a Juneau Democrat who Adkison works for as a legislative aide.
Adkison’s largest expenses have been toward digital ads and printing/postage for postcard mailings, and her campaign expenses are reported to total about $4,925.
District 1 candidate Alicia Hughes-Skandijs and District 2 candidate Christine Woll — both incumbents — appear to have both raised more than their respective competitors in their races, according to their filings between Feb. 2 and Sept. 1.
Hughes-Skandijs is recorded to have raised about $4,500, with repeat donors like Weldon, Botelho and Kiehl, along with donations from current Assembly member Michelle Bonnet Hale and former member Carole Triem. She has spent about $1,250 so far on expenses like yard signs and printing.
Woll has raised $6,515 and received donations from Triem, Kiehl, Botelho and Sorensen. She has spent about $1,200 so far on expenses like badges and printing.
School board candidate Paige Sipniewski appears to be the only candidate to file campaign finance records, reporting $1,450 in total income, $550 of which has been spent on a banner and signs.
• Contact reporter Clarise Larson at clarise.larson@juneauempire.com or (651) 528-1807.
