Ever heard of
Forrest Dunbar? Probably not. Forrest is the Challenger to long time Alaska Representative and fulltime embarrassment Don Young. He's a remarkable young man and would be the first Representative born and raised in Alaska.
According to his website biography Forrest Dunbar attended American University with a Harry S. Truman scholarship, served in the Peace Corps, has a Masters from Harvard Kennedy School, and JD from Yale, and serves in the Alaska National Guard. While in DC he interned with then Alaska Senator Frank Murkowski and was a staffer for Madeliene Bordallo (D-Guam).
Don Young has been in the House since March 1973 after losing to Nick Begich in the November 1972 election but then winning the special election after Nick Begich was lost in a plane crash in October.
From the wiki:
Congressman Young was included in the annual listing of the most corrupt members of Congress compiled by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington in reports on Congressional corruption. CREW said he had been investigated for a 2005 earmark which benefitted a campaign donor, and for using campaign funds for personal expenses. No charges have been brought at any time for any criminal wrongdoing after investigations by the FBI.[53][54] The House Ethics Committee found he had improperly used campaign funds for personal expenses.[55]
In March 2013, the House Ethics Committee created another special committee to investigate more allegations that Young improperly accepted gifts, used campaign funds for personal expenses, failed to report gifts in financial disclosure documents, and made false statements to federal officials.[51] ...
The Ethics Committee is now forming a sub-committee charged with the duty of determining whether or not Young broke the law. There is no timeline for either the sub-committee, or the Ethics Committee, to release its findings.
I could go on and on about what a boob Don Young is - even the people who vote for him do so reluctantly. (Did I mention his office in DC is stuffed to the rafters with dead animals he has shot in non-sporting venues all over the world on junkets paid for by friendly lobbyists?
Did I mention his recent use of the word "wetbacks" to describe Hispanics or his famous use of the term "butt-f***ing" to denounce NEA support for the Arts to an audience of high school students? Or his recent physical assault of a Congressional staffer who blocked his entry into a meeting?) He has to be the single most useless Congressman in office -- well at least in the top 3. He is very vulnerable if sensible folks would just get out and vote.
My main point here is that Democratic Senator Mark Begich, former mayor of Anchorage and Rep. Nick Begich's son, is currently behind in the polls to retain his seat in November. His challenger is heavily funded by the Koch Brothers and Karl Rove's American Crossroads. Ridiculous amounts of money are being poured into the campaign but the Republicans have the funding edge. The only thing that will make a difference will be a strong GOTV operation for Democratic voters.
I think that a close race to oust Don Young by an appealing newcomer might be just what the chronically depressed Democratic voters in Alaska need to motivate themselves to vote.
Check out Forrest Dunbar's forrestforalaska.com and if you can, donate $5.00 which goes a long long way in this market.
You can also donate at Act Blue:
Forrest Dunbar at ActBlue