Note: The opinions expressed in commentary on KCAW are those of the author(s), and are not necessarily shared by the station’s board, staff, or volunteers.
Hi – I am Tory OʼConnell Curran, and this is my opinion.
I want to take a minute to cut through the endless political mailers, ads, and social media posts we are all drowning in to warn Alaskan voters about a spoiler candidate for US House of Representatives, Eric Hafner. Hafner is listed on the general election ballot as a Democrat and his name is at the top of the choices for US Representative on our ballot form in House District 2. Don’t be fooled! Eric Hafner has no ties to Alaska and has never been here. He holds a South Dakota address and a NY phone number where he is in federal prison until 2036 for pleading guilty to threatening to kill or injure elected officials, police, judges and their families. He and his mother are known for running in US House offices in states of which they are not residents or have never visited and have run as both republicans and democrats. A dark money GOP SuperPac financed his primary campaign. He is a spoiler!
Fortunately, we have a great choice! Bill Hill is an independent candidate endorsed by the Alaska Democratic Party, Alaska AFL-CIO, the National Education Association, the Alaska Firefighters among many others. Bill was born in Kokhanok and is a lifelong Alaskan, commercial fisherman, former construction worker, and a 25-year educator as teacher, principal, and superintendent. The Alaska Superintendents Association named Bill Hill the state’s superintendent of the year in 2022 when he was working for the Bristol Bay Borough School District.
Bill is running to put Alaskans first. Unlike Nick Begich, our current Representative, Bill will work to ban congressional stock trading, end special tax breaks for billionaires and large corporations, and vote against forever wars lowering costs for working families. I am a registered Democrat, and I am voting for Bill Hill. Unfortunately, because Hafner is listed as a Democrat, recent polling shows he may get 7% of the vote! Outrageous! It is important to get the word out about this – your vote is too precious to waste on someone who couldn’t even serve if elected. High costs and DC corruption are clearly linked, and it is time for a real change in DC. That is why I am supporting Bill Hill for House of Representatives. Early voting starts Tuesday October 20th in Sitka and Election Day is Tuesday November 3rdd. I am voting early this year to ensure my vote counts. With deference to the great Barbara Jordan “the stakes are too high for voting to be a spectator sport”! Thank you and see you at the polls!
