FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 09/05/2023

ANCHORAGE — The National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) released two nearly identical television ads today attempting to discredit Mark Begich’s two successful terms as the mayor of Alaska’s largest city, Anchorage. The ads are another attempt by Outside groups to buy Alaska’s senate seat for Dan Sullivan, who is currently facing an investigation of his residency in Maryland.

“Mark Begich is born and raised in Anchorage and he’s proud of his record of delivering for his hometown. This is another flood of attacks from Outside groups that want to buy power in Washington without listening to the needs of Alaskans. It’s clear Outside groups are set on talking on Dan Sullivan’s behalf because he won’t look Alaskans in the eye,” said Max Croes, Communications Director for Alaskans for Begich.

Alaska’s largest newspaper, the Anchorage Daily News (now Alaska Dispatch News), reported on Mark Begich’s tenure as Anchorage’s mayor:

Anchorage Daily News Editorial: “Our view: Fine job, Mr. Mayor.” [Editorial, Anchorage Daily News, 1/3/09]

Anchorage Daily News: “Anchorage maintains its high rating on short-term bonds.”[Anchorage Daily News, 2/8/10]

Anchorage Daily News Ad Analysis Confirmed City Of Anchorage Added More Than 9,000 Jobs During Begich’s Tenure As Mayor. [Anchorage Daily News, 8/17/08]

Anchorage Daily News 2008: For First Time In 10 Years, Taxes Paid By Average Anchorage Homeowner Dropped By 3%. [Anchorage Daily News, 3/30/08]

The Anchorage Daily News editorialized on Begich’s tenure in 2008:

“He proved to be a highly competent mayor, one of the city’s best. He made the city run well, from ensuring its finances are sound to making sure the sidewalks were plowed. Begich used the office to improve the quality of our lives in many ways — staffing up the police department, for example, and making downtown more attractive…When Begich came into office, the city faced a $33 million shortfall. He cut expenses, partly by winning concessions from city unions. He went after additional revenue sources, from collecting on delinquent fines, to increasing fees for such services as building permits…When Begich came into office, the city faced a $33 million shortfall. He cut expenses, partly by winning concessions from city unions. He went after additional revenue sources, from collecting on delinquent fines, to increasing fees for such services as building permits…Begich was a highly competent mayor, and his successor will take over a city that is in excellent shape. BOTTOM LINE: Mayor Begich could be a tough act to follow.”

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Sullivan Identified Residency Five Ways in Five Years

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 09/05/2023
CONTACT: Max Croes — 907-570-2065

ANCHORAGE -Amid news of a Maryland investigation about Dan Sullivan’s residency controversy, Alaskans for Begich is sharing a memo for concerned parties about Dan Sullivan’s “Maryland Problem.” Sullivan collected thousands of dollars in tax breaks while living in Maryland as a political appointee at the State Department and declaring his million dollar Maryland home his “principal residence.”

Meanwhile, Sullivan has made five differing declarations about his residency in the last five years while he claimed 17 years of continuous Alaska residency while filing paperwork for the U.S. Senate. In private communications Sullivan has acknowledged thathe did not live in Alaska between 2002 and 2009, while doing the same when applying for a non-resident fishing license in 2009.

From: Alaskans for Begich, Campaign Manager Susanne Fleek-Green

To: Concerned Parties

Date: 9/5/2023

Subject: Dan Sullivan’s Maryland Problem

1. Sullivan is under investigation:

Maryland Tax Authorities Confirmed Investigation Into Sullivan Tax Benefits. Reported APRN in September 2014, “Maryland tax authorities said this week they’ll investigate whether Republican U.S. Senate candidate Dan Sullivan improperly benefited from tax breaks intended for Maryland residents for a house he owned in the suburbs of Washington, D.C.” [APRN, 9/4/14]

2. Sullivan collected tax breaks on his $1.3 million “principal residence” in Maryland:

Sullivans Received A County Property Tax Credit on Bethesda Home as “Principal Residence” in 2007. According to Montgomery County tax records, the Sullivans received the County Property Tax Credit on their home in Bethesda, MD in the 2007 tax year. [Montgomery County Tax Records, Accessed 5/16/13]

Sullivans Received County Property Tax Credit on Bethesda Home as “Principal Residence” in 2008. According to Montgomery County tax records, the Sullivans received the County Property Tax Credit on their home in Bethesda, MD in the 2008 tax year.” [Montgomery County Tax Records, Accessed 5/16/13]

3. Sullivan declared Maryland his “principal residence” in 2006

December 2006: Sullivan Purchased Maryland Home For $1.3 Million, Designated As “Principal Residence.” According to Montgomery County Department of Assessments and Taxation, the property located at 6212 Maiden Lane was purchased on December 29, 2023 for $1,362,000. The Sullivans signed a rider to the December 2006 deed on the Maiden Lane property that indicated the property would be used as a principal residence. [Montgomery County Department of Assessments and Taxation, accessed 12/10/13;Montgomery County Land Records – Deed 33556/ 00304, 12/29/06]

4. Sullivan declared Maryland his “principal residence” in 2010

2010: Sullivans Sold Maryland Home For More Than $1.3 Million, Certified House Was A Principal Residence. According to Montgomery County Department of Assessments and Taxation, the property located at 6212 Maiden Ln in Bethesda was sold by Daniel S. Sullivan and Julie F. Sullivan on May 25, 2023 for $1,325,000. The Sullivans each signed a certification indicating the property was a principal residence. [Montgomery County Department of Assessments and Taxation, 6212 Maiden Ln; Deed 39334/ 00288, 5/25/10]

5. Collecting Maryland Tax Breaks While Voting in Alaska - Sullivan continued to vote in Alaska while living at a “principal residence” in Maryland:

Sullivan Continued To Vote In Alaska, Claimed He Was An Alaska Resident During That Period. “‘The bottom line is, Dan’s an Alaskan,’ [Sullivan spokesman] said, noting that Sullivan has owned a house in Alaska for more than a decade, had an Alaska driver’s license since 1997 and has a voting history in Alaska.” [AP, 12/18/13]

6. Sullivan was denied a Permanent Dividend Fund check in 2004 – Sullivan’s failure to live in Alaska for more than a year in 2003 caused him to be denied his PFD, a hallmark of Alaska residency.

State Of Alaska Rejected Sullivan’s Permanent Fund Application After He Moved To DC. “2003: Applies for permanent fund dividend while living in Washington, D.C. Dividend applications for Sullivan and family rejected, though past White House fellows from Alaska kept their residency and received PFDs, his campaign says.” [Anchorage Daily News,4/19/14]

Sullivan called himself an “Outsider” in email to Mead Treadwell

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 08/28/2014
CONTACT: Max Croes — 907-570-2065

ANCHORAGE — U.S. Senate candidate Dan Sullivan pitched himself as a potential Alaska Attorney General by calling himself an “Outsider” and stating “I have not lived in Alaska since 2002″ in a 2009 email to Mead Treadwell.

The statements in the email stand in stark contrast to Sullivan’s current claim to be a 17-year resident of Alaska.

“Dan Sullivan won’t look Alaskans in the eyes and answer questions about important issues, including his residency. If Dan Sullivan acknowledges he didn’t live in Alaska between 2002 and 2009, then how can he currently claim to be a 17-year resident of Alaska?,” said Susanne Fleek-Green, Campaign Manager for Alaskans for Begich.

Since calling himself an “Outsider” in the email Sullivan has claimed to be a non-resident, one year of Alaska residency, two years of Alaska residency, ten years of Alaska residency, and seventeen years of Alaska residency.

See the email here:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 08/27/2014
CONTACT: Max Croes — 907-570-2065

Statement on tonight’s United For Liberty debate from Alaskans For Begich Campaign Manager Susanne Fleek-Green:

“Dan Sullivan made clear he represents a dangerous special interest agenda that wants to cut Social Security and end Medicare as we know it. Sullivan avoided talking about Alaska issues like fisheries and the Flint Hills refinery opting instead for talking points provided by Outside groups.

“Mark Begich’s record is clear. Mark Begich kept the F-16’s at Eielson Air Force Base, delivered historic agreements to allow Alaska veterans to receive care at a local clinic and advanced Alaska energy production in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska.”

Leaked Secret Koch Brothers Call on Secret Agenda

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 08/27/2014
CONTACT: Max Croes — 907-570-2065

ANCHORAGE — A leaked transcript of a secret conference call between Koch brothers groups proves their intent to buy Alaska’s senate seat for Dan Sullivan to support the Koch brothers own dangerous agenda. The Koch brothers are dumping millions of dollars into Alaska to prop up Sullivan, who hasn’t been seen or heard from in a week.

The groups also proved they still haven’t learned much about Alaska by awkwardly stating that Alaska is a “peninsular” state.

“The Koch brothers are happy to spend millions of dollars to speak on Dan Sullivan’s behalf while he avoids meeting face to face with Alaskans. This call might as well be Dan Sullivan’s campaign, shadowy groups that don’t know Alaska discussing how to spend millions of dollars on attack ads,” said Max Croes, Communications Director for Alaskans for Begich.

Earlier this year the Koch brothers eliminated 80 Alaska jobs by closing the Flint Hills refinery. Residents of North Pole are now facing higher taxes after the closure of the facility.

Calls like this are made possible by the Citizens United Supreme Court ruling that allows anonymous spending by billionaires and states corporations are people. Sullivan has endorsed the court ruling and the practices that allow anonymous attack ads. Call attendees noted that the Koch Brothers money is changing the political landscape as they attempt to buy Senate seats for their own corporate interests.

The secret conference was leaked to the Huffington Post with redacted statements and focuses heavily on the Koch brothers building “infrastructure” in Alaska. Talk of investing in Alaska comes after the Koch’s closed a refinery in North Pole, killing 80 Alaska jobs and causing increased taxes on residents.

The transcript features Americans for Prosperity’s president, Tim Phillips, and Freedom Partners’ president, Marc Short. Both groups have supported Dan Sullivan by running attack ads in Alaska, many of which have been labeled false by independent fact check groups.

“MARC SHORT: [TYPING IN THE BACKGROUND.] The next up is Alaska. Alaska (inaudible). It’s a state that is very Republican. It’s a state that (inaudible), and we think this is going to be (inaudible). Of all the Democrats running right now, Mark Begich is (inaudible).

—CUT IN AUDIO—

“TIM PHILLIPS: Well, Marc, we are just hiring Americans for Prosperity staff in Alaska. We have a long way to go. You know, peninsular states, whatever you do now or whatever (inaudible) the lower 48 (inaudible) Alaska. So this is an uphill state, even though it is still red.

“And it points out that (inaudible) the success of the model that you helped build because we don’t have anything. And so what should be more of a, a (inaudible) we don’t have the infrastructure like we do in Arkansas, or North Carolina, or Louisiana.

Mark Begich supports a constitutional amendment to permanently overturn the Citizens United ruling and has signed the We The People Alaska pledge stating his belief that corporations are not people.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 08/27/2014

ANCHORAGE — U.S. Senate candidate Dan Sullivan garnered barely 40% of the primary vote last week, a fact being noted by media outlets. Sullivan’s lackluster performance in the primary has been followed by Sullivan’s suspect disappearance from the public eye.

“After losing 60% of the vote in his own primary election, Dan Sullivan has disappeared, locked Alaska reporters out of events and continued to avoid answering questions on issues critical to the state like the Violence Against Women Act while letting Outside groups like Karl Rove and the Koch brothers do the talking for him,” said Max Croes, Communications Director for Alaskans for Begich.

In the primary Sullivan benefited from millions of dollars being spent on TV and radio by Outside groups including a last minute infusion of $300,000 from his parents and brother. Sullivan has been preparing his U.S. Senate bid for years.

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KTVA: “No sign of women getting paid less for performing the same role”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 08/26/2014

ANCHORAGE — Senator Mark Begich joined Alaska women and equal pay supporters at the YWCA in Anchorage to discuss the importance of equal pay for women and his support for the Paycheck Fairness Act, a bill that would put tough safeguards in place to end pay discrimination for women.

An investigative report from KTVA Channel 11 found ads being run by Outside groups misleading and reported “there is no sign of” Begich paying his female staff less.

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