In a new campaign mailer touting Sen. Mark Begich’s work to stem sexual assault and domestic violence in Alaska, the Alaska Democratic Party invokes a nonprofit organization committed to tackling the issue.
There’s just one problem: the group, the Alaska Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, has not endorsed a candidate in the race between Begich and Republican Dan Sullivan.
Alaska Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Executive Director Peggy Brown said in a statement Monday that she “was incredibly surprised to see the flyer.”
“ANDVSA is a 501(c)3 nonprofit and does not endorse candidates. We are legally prohibited from doing so,” Brown said. “We are absolutely nonpartisan and work well with all parties on the issue of domestic and sexual violence because, quite frankly, domestic and sexual violence are nonpartisan issues and it takes all of us working together on this issue to make any headway.”
The use of the ANDVSA’s name without the group’s knowledge was “very disappointing,” Brown added.
Most of the mailer includes Alaska Democrats’ standard message on the issue of sexual assault and domestic violence, which has been at the forefront of discussion in the Alaska Senate race.
“Too often and for too long, sexual assault has dominated headlines in Alaska, and Mark Begich is the only U.S. Senate candidate who has a record of standing up for survivors,” the mailer reads.
The ad also attacks Sullivan’s record on addressing sexual assault and domestic violence as the state’s attorney general.
“As the chief law enforcement official in Alaska, what leadership role did Attorney General Dan Sullivan take to combat sexual violence?” the mailer reads, above an empty timeline.
On the opposite side, next to the recipient’s address, is a message of support for the Alaska Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault. “To do more to combat sexual violence, go to” the group’s website, the mailer says.
Predictably, Republicans have responded to the ad with outrage. Rhonda Boyles, president of the Alaska Federation of Republican Women, called the mailer “absolutely repugnant.”
“Sexual assault and domestic violence are serious issues in our state and Begich should be ashamed for reducing them to a partisan prop.” Boyles said. “Begich needs to issue an immediate and unequivocal apology to ANDVSA and the women of Alaska. This is nothing short of craven political pandering at the highest order, and Alaskan women will see through it.”
On the campaign trail, Sullivan and Begich have frequently discussed the rate of sexual assault and domestic violence, one of Alaska’s gravest problems. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 44.2 percent of Alaskan women have been victims of sexual assault or domestic violence, one of the highest rates in the country.
Sullivan often touts his work with Gov. Sean Parnell to start the Choose Respect campaign to raise awareness about the issue and require harsher sentences for offenders. Begich, meanwhile, argues Sullivan did not do nearly enough.
One attack by Begich in that vein stirred controversy earlier this year, tying Sullivan to the early release of Jerry Active, a convicted sex offender, from prison, which in fact was the result of a database error. Active then committed a gruesome crime, murdering two seniors and sexually assaulting their young granddaughter.
The victims’ family was not consulted by Begich’s campaign before the ad was released and demanded it be pulled from the airwaves. Begich’s campaign complied, but not before the controversy played out for the public.
It is not clear whether the Alaska Democratic Party will continue to distribute its mailer invoking ANDVSA. A party spokesman did not respond to a request for comment.
