Labor committee reports $125,000 in ads for four Alaska candidates

Putting Alaskans First Committee reported $125,000 in Meta advertising supporting four state legislative candidates in a Sept. 17 filing with the Alaska Public Offices Commission.

The committee allocated $40,000 to Gina Wall in House District 24, $35,000 to Ky Holland in District 9, $30,000 to Katherine Simpler in District 5 and $20,000 to Joy Beth Cottle in District 34. All four payments went to Blueprint Interactive of Arlington, Virginia.

The committee reported $55,000 in contributions during the period, including $20,000 from Arrow International, $15,000 from the Alaska Nurses Association Solidarity Fund and a combined $20,000 from three firefighter organizations. Kimberly Hays, political director of the Alaska AFL-CIO, chairs the committee.

Separate filings show Families of the Last Frontier spent $3,934.33 on print and direct mail supporting seven candidates and opposing four, including Holland and Senate Majority Leader Cathy Giessel. Alaska March On reported $2,996.88 for postcards and postage supporting 11 candidates.

The filings report independent expenditures, which must be made without coordinating with the candidates.