A review of campaign disclosure reports submitted by candidates to the Alaska Public Offices Commission shows that James Baisden, who is running against Ron Gillham for Alaska’s State House District 30 seat, has more financial contributions from people on the peninsula than Gillham.
Baisden is running as a petition candidate against Gillham for the seat, which represents Kenai and Soldotna. Baisden, who currently serves as Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Charlie Pierce’s chief of staff, has previously said he feels disadvantaged running as a petition candidate because he does not have the same party support as Gillham, who is the Republican nominee for the seat.
From Feb. 2 to Oct. 24 of this year, Baisden has reported 67 income entries totaling $30,542.40. These include donations to his campaign made by individuals and PACs, as well as contributions from himself and non-monetary sources of income, such as refreshments he purchases for a campaign event.
Six of Baisden’s income entries are from either him or his wife, Rhonda, and most are non-monetary. Baisden donated $5,000 to his own campaign on Sept. 23, which is about 16% of his campaign’s total income.
Sixty one, or around 91%, of the contributions made to Baisden’s campaign are from people with addresses on the Kenai Peninsula, including Kenai, Soldotna, Nikiski and Sterling.
Some of his contributors are local community leaders. Baisden received two $50 contributions from Michelle Blackwell, who is U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski’s regional special assistant in Kenai, on Sept. 17 and Oct. 1. Erin Micciche and Sherrie Saner contributed $200 on Oct. 1. The same day, Richard Derkevorkian and Kurt Olson donated $250 each. Charlie Pierce contributed $250 on Oct. 2.
Baisden has also received $500 from the Road Sprinkler Fitters LU 669 PAC on Oct. 2, $250 from the Alaska Build P.A.C. on Oct. 19 and $1,000 from the Alaska Realtors Political Action on Oct. 19. PACs are also known as political action committees.
Ron Gillham is the Republican nominee for Alaska’s District 30 State House District.
From Feb. 2 to Oct. 24, Gillham has reported 21 income entries totaling $14,630. Pamela Gillham contributed $10,000 to the campaign on Oct. 2, accounting for about 68% of the campaign’s total income.
Seventeen, or around 81%, of the contributions made to Gillham’s campaign are from people with addresses on the Kenai Peninsula, including Kenai, Soldotna, Nikiski and Sterling.
Gillham received $100 from Teea Winger on Aug. 18, $500 from Republican Women of the Kenai on Sept. 2 and $500 from Capital City Republicans on Sept. 16.
Reach reporter Ashlyn O’Hara at ashlyn.ohara@peninsulaclarion.com
James Baisden, who is running to represent Alaska’s 30th District in the State House of Representatives, is seen here in Kenai, Alaska on Oct. 14, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
