Page 4 - ARUBA TODAY

A4 U.S. NEWS
Thursday 19 July 2018

U.S. House hopeful for Alaska seat has never been to the state

By BECKY BOHRER do what I have done,” she
Associated Press said.
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — The Division of Elections
Carol Hafner is on the Dem- said challenges to Hafner’s
ocratic primary ballot for candidacy by Parmley
an Alaska U.S. House seat. and Olsen were received
She doesn’t live in Alaska. after the protest deadline
In fact, she’s never been passed. The division said
to the state. Hafner, who Hafner properly filed to run,
listed New Jersey and a process that includes
South Dakota addresses in submitting a $100 filing fee,
her candidate filing, says and it had no reason to
she’s serious about running, question the veracity of her
though she doesn’t plan to candidacy.
campaign in person. Olsen said she’d like to see
Democratic officials are changes to the process,
questioning her authentic- such as having a candidate
ity and political affiliation. file in person or provide a
Under the U.S. Constitution, phone number or copy of
to serve in Congress one their driver’s license.
must meet age and citizen- Kimberly Slone, of Wasilla,
ship requirements and in- found out about Hafner by
habit the state at the time Googling candidates.
elected. Generally, Alaska Slone said she sent Hafner
candidates in such races via email questions about
are from the state. But not the Arctic National Wildlife
always. In a photo taken Thursday, July 12, 2018, Carol Hafner poses for The Associated Press in Lincroft, and found that she op-
In 2014, a New York man, N.J. Hafner is a congressional candidate running in the August primary election in the U.S. House poses drilling there, as does
who has run in other states, in Alaska. Slone.
challenged then-U.S. Sen. Associated Press “I thought how audacious
Mark Begich in Alaska’s didates: Democrat Dimitri Hafner during a failed run Jersey for a family illness but of her to run for election in
Democratic primary and Shein and independent as a Democrat in an Ore- is “on my way out.” Alaska,” Slone said.
got crushed. Alyse Galvin. Independents gon U.S. House primary ear- She felt compelled to run She donated to Hafner’s
It happens elsewhere, too: who want Democratic sup- lier this year, which caught to share her perspective on campaign, but Slone said
In Wyoming, also in 2014, an port can run in the party the attention of Julie Olsen, the environment, including she’s not sure who will get
Arizona man whose cam- primary. an Anchorage Democratic climate change, educa- her vote. It doesn’t matter
paign consisted almost Shein and Galvin have party leader. She said she tion, health care and oth- to her if a candidate lives
entirely of sock-puppet vid- been campaigning and was worried that Eric Haf- er issues. Hafner said she outside Alaska “as long as
eos, won the Democratic participating in spirited de- ner had “hijacked” Carol was stunned that Alaskans the candidate shows up
nomination for U.S. House bates ahead of the Aug. Hafner’s identity and creat- have kept Young in office to campaign and is knowl-
— unopposed — but lost 21 primary. Republican U.S. ed an online persona to file for 45 years. edgeable about the state
to incumbent Republican Rep. Don Young faces little- for office. Olsen supports “I want to do good in a and will move here as re-
Rep. Cynthia Lummis in the known opponents in his pri- Shein. place that I feel a kinship quired.”
general election. mary. Hafner, 64, said Eric Hafner for,” she said. Suzanne Hudson, an an-
“You may have a right to Hafner listed on her can- is her son. She said she’s angry that tique shop owner in Ju-
run, doesn’t mean you’re didacy filing a home and She said he also ran unsuc- Olsen has been “playing neau, said she hasn’t been
going to be well-received, mailing address in New Jer- cessfully in the Republican Nancy Drew” and ques- paying much attention to
or it’s going to be an easy sey. She also listed an ad- primary for a U.S. House tioning her run. the race but bristled at the
campaign for you,” said dress at a mail-drop loca- seat in Hawaii in 2016. Ef- People must pull together idea of an outsider weigh-
Jay Parmley, executive di- tion in South Dakota popu- forts to reach him were un- to solve problems, Hafner ing in on Alaska issues.
rector of the state Demo- lar with RVers and others successful. said. “If you don’t live in the state
cratic party. “If you’re not with more transient lifestyles The Associated Press “Don’t lock me out just be- and don’t know what’s
from somewhere, that’s a as her campaign contact reached out to Carol Haf- cause I’m not a homeboy,” going on personally, you
pretty tall order.” on Alaska’s website listing ner via the email listed as she said, adding later: “You should stay out of it, be-
Hafner faces long odds and of candidates. Public re- her campaign contact. ought to be thankful that cause you could be mak-
has focused her attention cords show property and She responded by phone. I care enough and I’m in- ing a law or a rule that’s
online, where she boasts voter registration records Hafner said she travels ex- terested enough and pas- going to really hurt a lot of
a comparable number of for Hafner in New Jersey. tensively and considers sionate enough to want to people, even though it’s
Twitter followers to those The New Jersey addresses South Dakota her base. She make things better.” your opinion that it’s going
of the highest-profile can- match those used by Eric said she has been in New “I’m certainly permitted to to be better,” she said.q