As the Oct. 7 municipal election approaches, two candidates for borough mayor have far outspent the third contender for the seat.
According to recent reports filed with the Alaska Public Offices Commission, the campaigns for candidates Mike Navarre and Tom Bearup have both made and spent more than $20,000 as of Sept. 27.
In seeking re-election to the seat, Navarre’s campaign has raised $29,195 and spent $24,268. Bearup’s campaign income totals $35,692 and he has spent $30,961, according to a report filed on Tuesday.
Candidate Carrol Martin, who filed to be exempt from campaign disclosure reports, said his campaign has spent about $3,400 on radio and newspaper advertising. He said the campaign received some funds, but returned them because he isn’t accepting donations.
Exempt candidates cannot raise or spend more than $5,000 while seeking election.
According to the commission’s records, Navarre has put $300 toward his campaign.
Bearup has contributed $18,000 to his own campaign. The largest single sum check he filed was for $10,000. However, he filed a notice that he intends to reimburse himself $5,000 of that check, according to commission records.
A candidate can file a candidate reimbursement notification within five days of the expense. After the election, candidates can repay themselves. Alaska statute allows candidates to make payments with personal funds and for the campaign to repay them within three days.
Navarre made $1,917 in other contributions such as buttons, shirts and pens, to his campaign, and Bearup recorded contributions of advertising, food, travel, office rent and supplies totaling $5,458 toward his campaign. Campaign expenditures show both have been reimbursed for non-monetary contributions.
The seven-day report to the commission prior to Oct. 7 was due on Tuesday and accounted for Sept. 6 through Sept. 27. Campaigns must file 24-hour reports now through Oct. 6 when they receive more than $250 from a single source within 24 hours of receiving a qualifying contribution.
Kaylee Osowski can be reached at kaylee.osowski@peninsulaclarion.com.
