Anchorage candidate can’t run for two offices at once, clerk rules

Retired Anchorage math teacher and perennial political contender David Nees said Friday he's sticking with his Anchorage Assembly bid but dropping plans to run simultaneously for the Anchorage School Board after the city clerk's office told him that wasn't allowed.

About a week after Nees registered his candidacies, city clerk Barbara Jones told him he could not run for two local offices at once.

Jones cited city election code that says candidates need to declare the "office" they are seeking. She also pointed to laws against serving on the school board and Assembly simultaneously.

"My position is that since 'office' is singular, and dual office holding is prohibited, we encouraged Mr. Nees to select an office," Jones said.

Jones at first told Nees that the clerk could pick the first office he filed for, but his paperwork for each was stamped at the same time.

Then Jones suggested a coin flip. At that point, Ness said, he made a decision.  

"I said, 'No, I'll go ahead and pull out of school board,' " Nees said over the phone Friday.

That leaves Nees as currently the sole challenger to incumbent West Anchorage Assemblyman Tim Steele.