Alaskan Campaign Finance Violations Lead to Major Fine

The recent ruling declared by the Alaska Public Offices Commission has resulted in a substantial fine of nearly £95,000 imposed on Anchorage pastor Art Mathias and several affiliated organizations under his leadership. This penalty was issued following the commission’s determination of multiple violations of campaign laws in their efforts to overturn Alaska’s open primaries and ranked choice voting.

The decision, released on Wednesday, addressed a range of infractions, including the failure to register, non-submission of campaign disclosure documents, and the absence of “paid for by” labels on their campaign materials and videos. As a result, civil penalties totalling £94,610 were enforced on Mathias and the affiliated groups.

An active promotion of a ballot initiative aimed at repealing the voting system approved by Alaska voters in 2020 has been undertaken by Mathias and his associated organizations. This system incorporates nonpartisan primaries, followed by a general election ballot enabling voters to rank up to four candidates.

Anchorage lawyer Scott Kendall, who filed the complaint on behalf of Alaskans for Better Elections, indicated that the commission upheld almost every allegation made. The largest portion of the imposed penalty, amounting to £45,000, was specifically directed at Mathias himself. This penalty was a result of channelling a personal campaign contribution of £90,000 through a church-affiliated nonprofit that he oversees, without disclosing himself as the true source of the funds.

Kendall characterised this as “money laundering” and commended the commission for appropriately sanctioning it at such a significant level. However, Mathias denied any wrongdoing, claiming that the £90,000 was not improperly passed through an intermediary. His attorney, former Alaska Attorney General Kevin Clarkson, argued that the contribution was combined with other donations within a church auxiliary group. Consequently, when the auxiliary donated a similar amount to Alaskans for Honest Elections to support the repeal campaign, it was impossible to discern whether the funds originated from Mathias or another specific donor.

While Mathias and the anti-ranked choice groups he oversees have the option to appeal the commission’s findings in state court, their efforts to appeal do not in any way block the ballot initiative aiming to repeal the voting system. Opponents of ranked choice voting are preparing to submit signatures this month in an attempt to bring the question to voters.

In a separate development, APOC dismissed allegations against former U.S. Senate candidate Kelly Tshibaka and Preserve Democracy, an anti-ranked choice voting group with which she is associated.

This decision comes as APOC is expected to soon rule on another complaint filed by Kendall against groups seeking to repeal ranked choice voting.