Anchorage businessman Ron Alleva, the owner of Grubstake Auction Co. in the Ship Creek area and a longtime critic of social service agencies near his property, is challenging Assembly Chair Dick Traini for his Midtown seat.
Alleva registered as a candidate with the city clerk's office before the Friday deadline. He ran unsuccessfully for a downtown Assembly seat in 2011.
Alleva did not return phone messages seeking an interview. In an emailed statement late Friday night, Alleva characterized his candidacy as a "Disturbance in the Force."
Alleva said in the statement that he supports "a just taxation of religious institutions and nonprofit agencies" and "police training and effective streamlining of municipal services."
Over the years, Alleva has been outspoken in his opposition to social service providers like Brother Francis Shelter and Bean's Cafe, which he has said enable street alcoholics rather than help them. He has registered frequent complaints with public officials, and even filed a lawsuit in 2012 against the city and the nonprofits for creating what he called a "public and private nuisance."
Alleva is one of two candidates hoping to unseat Traini, who is seeking his third consecutive term. Don Smith, a former South Anchorage assemblyman, also filed this week for the Midtown seat. The city election is April 5.