Photo by Alex Hundertmark
Joe Blanchard, a former ASUAF president, has declared his intention to run for Borough Assembly seat A.

University of Alaska Fairbanks student body president from 2005-2006 and current Government Relations Director Joseph Blanchard has stated his intention to run for Seat A of the Fairbanks Northstar Borough Assembly in this fall’s election.

Blanchard considers increasing Borough education funding to 100 percent of the state-approved total the driving issue behind his bid for election.

“I have always been an advocate of education and in today’s world education is more important than ever” said Blanchard, who referred to his high school experience in the Kenai School district, which is 100 percent funded, as a model for Fairbanks Northstar schools.

To meet the increased cost of schooling, Blanchard supports property tax hikes so long as they are approved by referendum. He also points to increasing commercial and local energy development as a means to garner sufficient Borough funding.

Blanchard and his campaign manager, Heather Hundertmark, are looking to fellow UAF students for a base support early on in the election process. They are currently scheduling an event at the Wood Center to formally announce the campaign and discuss pertinent issues with students.

“Whenever we hold the event, we will be assisting students in changing voter registration and helping unregistered voters register,” said Hundertmark.

The current sitting assembly member of Seat A is Bill Stringer, who was appointed for a one year term last year when the elected member decided to retire. The term for Seat A elected this fall will cover only one year before the seat will stand election for a full three year term.

Blanchard applied to gain the appointment to Seat A last year and considers the seat’s abnormal status a significant element in his decision to run.

“I am a young candidate so I want to take a year to prove myself to the electorate rather than sit on a three year term,” said Blanchard.

Stringer, who has not yet decided if he will seek election for Seat A, recognizes Blanchard in positive light from the appointment process, but still cautions any would-be opponents.

“He’s a good guy and I hope he applies for one of the three other seats up for a three year term,” Stringer said.

With official filing for the election set for August 15, Blanchard intends to manage contacts he’s developed over the past five years working in university politics, which included direct contact with the Borough Assembly while serving an advisory role on Borough Mayor Jim Whittaker’s Recycling Task Force last year.