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Anchorage Mayoral Race Fundraising: Sullivan Leads Honeman

February 16, 2012|By Matthew Simon | Channel 2 News

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Anchorage mayoral race fundraising is showing a strong tilt toward incumbent Mayor Dan Sullivan, with campaign finance reports showing him outraising his closest opponent, Anchorage Assembly member Paul Honeman, by nearly $90,000.

According to Alaska Public Office Commission records on Sullivan's campaign, from Feb 2 of last year through Feb. 1 this year, 763 Sullivan campaign donors contributed $169,115.94.  With less than two months until the Apr. 3 election, Sullivan reports having $123,802.41 left to spend.

The mayor's biggest donation was a maximum contribution of $1,000 from the Associated Builders and Contractors of Alaska's political action committee. The trade association represents 154 construction-related companies across the state.

Union groups say ABC of Alaska's PAC represents anti-union interests, a charge denied by Suzanne Armstrong, the group’s president. The Sullivan campaign says 300 of its donations came from small business owners and 110 from retirees, with 126 reported small contributions of $50 or less.

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Honeman's APOC records say his campaign raised $79,537.34 from July 22, 2011 through Feb. 1, 2012. Of that, the former Anchorage police officer has spent $61,930.04, leaving him with only $11,587.30 cash on hand.  Honeman's campaign manager, Kris Pierce, says 16 of Honeman's 442 donations came from union political action committees.

Sullivan questioned the implications of the union donations to his opponent, which Honeman refuted.

"I think a lot of folks have concern about having such strong support from the labor sector, when you have to negotiate with those people on the other side of the table once you are a mayor," Sullivan said.

"I think it's important that you're talking about real people," Honeman says. "Labor, in my opinion, is just men and women working hard to get the job done in our city government."

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