The two are competing in Tuesday's Anchorage election to represent Midtown on the Assembly, the city's budget-approving, law-writing body.
Under "things to consider avoiding this year," Clary's mailed campaign brochure lists: "Politicians who seem to believe they deserve to stay in office forever" over a fake photo of Traini wearing a crown and elegant robes.
Traini served 10 1/2 years on the Anchorage Assembly in the 1990s and from 2001 to 2008. He wants back in.
"We're not all ready to be sent to the glue factory yet," he said. His own mailer cites a long list of accomplishments, including an ordinance that banned smoking in bars and bingo halls.
Joshua Whittaker is a third candidate for the Midtown seat. He is spending little money against two better-known and financed competitors.
Experienced hand vs. newcomer is one way of defining the Midtown race. The main candidates' relationships to conservative Mayor Dan Sullivan are another.
On an Assembly that's been fractious over Sullivan's leadership, Clary makes it clear he is allied with Sullivan, who became mayor last July. He served on Sullivan's transition team, held a fundraiser at McGinley's, the pub Sullivan co-owns, and says of Sullivan, "Generally, I like what I've seen."
Traini said he donated $100 to Sullivan's campaign for mayor, but the mayor didn't reciprocate. "I have a good relationship, I think, maybe not the best."
"I work with both sides," said Traini.
TECH BACKGROUND
Both candidates say they'll deliver budget efficiencies.
Clary, 32, owns a consulting service, Think IT Alaska, and works for GeoNorth developing Internet software.
One idea to save money is to rent to the state space that's not needed for the city's data center, said Clary. He's also heard a city human resources and financial software system is performing poorly, and is costing the city time and money. He'd like to get that fixed.
Clary's father, Glenn Clary, is an assistant pastor at Anchorage Baptist Temple and has been a Republican Party activist. Andy Clary belongs to the same political party but a different church, ChangePoint. When asked at a candidate luncheon how he has served the community, he cited church work. He taught Sunday school, led men's studies and cooked food for different events, for example.
NO SACRED COWS
Traini, 61 and a disabled veteran, works at Elmendorf Air Force Base as a family consultant and teaches college history and political science classes part-time.
He lost a re-election bid for the Assembly in 2008 amid confusion over whether he had exceeded term limits. The state Supreme Court ruled five days before the election that Traini could serve another three-year term. This time, with a two-year break since he held office, there's no question.
Traini says he will find budget savings because of his experience and knowledge about city government.
Examples: He suggests the Anchorage Convention & Visitors Bureau could help pay for city flower baskets because it gets part of the city hotel-motel room tax; the library could get electronic books instead of paper.
"I don't think there are any sacred cows you cannot take a look at."
TRAINI'S RECORD
On the Assembly, Traini was chairman for six years.
He was the driving force behind creation of Anchorage's popular off-leash dog parks. He sponsored tougher laws for uninsured and unlicensed drivers.
He backed more serious penalties for DUI offenders, a tobacco tax to discourage young people from smoking, and an anti-stalking law.
Traini also tried to get rid of emissions testing for vehicles, arguing that Anchorage no longer needs such testing because our air meets federal quality standards.
But the Assembly ended up reinstating the testing.
Now, both Traini and Clary are campaigning to get rid of I/M testing. That's one point they agree on.
They are running for a seat now held by Dan Coffey, a businessman and retired attorney, whose term expires next month.
Find Rosemary Shinohara online at adn.com/contact/rshinohara or call her at 257-4340.
Important warning about e-mails purporting to be from the adn.com staff.