Juneau’s Republican representative to the Alaska Legislature will face a relative unknown in this fall’s election.
Before Wednesday’s 5 p.m. deadline, Mendenhall Valley Democrat Justin Parish submitted his name to the Alaska Division of Elections as a challenger to Rep. Cathy Muñoz.
Parish and Muñoz are in the only contested Juneau-area election on this fall’s state ballot. Rep. Sam Kito III, D-Juneau, is running unopposed for his seat representing downtown Juneau, Haines and Skagway. Sen. Dennis Egan, D-Juneau, will not face election for another two years.
“I’m running because Alaskans deserve a functioning Legislature and we don’t have one right now,” Parish said during a brief interview at the downtown Heritage Coffee.
Parish, an active Democrat employed as a paraeducator at Floyd Dryden Middle School, pinpointed the state’s subsidy of oil and gas drilling as a particular concern.
He said it’s “absurd” that the subsidy is the state’s third-largest budget item.
“I’d further say that it is a result of the actions the majority coalition that my opponent is a part of,” he said.
For her part, Munoz said she isn’t yet familiar with Parish.
“I look forward to a robust debate. I think it’s great when people get involved in the community, and running for public office is certainly one way to do it,” she said.
“I don’t know him personally, but I wish him well,” Egan said of Parish. Kito said he has not yet met Parish either.
As a newcomer to the political scene, Parish will face the challenge of getting his name out to voters and political donors alike. According to filings with the Alaska Public Offices Commission, Muñoz began the year with $21,640 in her campaign account. Parish has registered with the commission but has reported no contributions or expenses.
Parish said he comes from the Bernie Sanders wing of the Democratic Party.
“Yes, I think Sanders has shown us that honest, consistent people have a place in politics,” he said, adding that he doesn’t want that comment to be read as a dig at Hillary Clinton or her supporters. “Really, it’s an indictment of a political system as it exists rather than any individual politician.”
Parish said he will be setting up a campaign website at Justinforjuneau.org in the next few weeks, but interested Juneauites may contact him on Facebook in the meantime.
Kito said that even though he will not face an opponent (other than any write-in candidates), he “will still be trying to get out to the communities and talk to constituents.”
He added that if there are any other places he can contribute to this fall’s elections, he will be there.
