Q&A with 2022 Alaska U.S. Senate candidate David Darden

The Alaska Beacon asked Alaska’s 19 U.S. Senate candidates to answer a 15-question survey about their positions on a variety of issues. Read all of their responses here. Answers have not been edited.

David Darden, undeclared candidate from Anchorage

Yes/no questions

Do you believe former President Donald Trump’s claims that the 2020 presidential election was fraudulent?

Did not answer

Should Election Day be a federal holiday?

Yes

Don Young was a longtime supporter of statehood for Puerto Rico. Do you support statehood for Puerto Rico?

Did not answer

Should marijuana be legalized federally?

Yes

Would you vote in favor of a bill that codifies abortion rights in US law?

Did not answer

Open-ended questions

What do you think about the overturning of Roe, and what actions should Congress take on abortion and contraception?

I will request input on actions on Roe, abortion and contraception from Alaskans via AlaskaDAO, a Decentralized Autonomous Organization composed of eligible Alaskan voters. I will present any legislation on the matter to AlaskaDAO and vote according to the will of the people.

What’s Alaska’s biggest need, and how would you address it?

Alaska’s biggest need is a resolution to the issue that has defined Alaskan politics since 2016, the reduction in the Permanent Fund Dividend below the statutory formula, beginning with the veto by Governor Walker. Governor Dunleavy ran on and won in 2018 with a platform of restoring the full statutory PFD and paying back the reduced PFDs.

I had my own plan to pay back the full statutory PFD, which is why I was the only candidate (following the withdrawal of Governor Walker to run as an Independent) to file to run against Mark Begich in the Democratic Party Primary for Governor, as an Undeclared candidate, as allowed in the Alaska Democratic Party’s lawsuit to allow non-Democrats to compete for and win the Democratic nomination, which was decided in their favor in April 2018. Unfortunately, Lt. Governor Byron Mallot’s Division of Elections, under the direction of Director Josie Bahnke, refused to notarize my properly presented Declaration of Candidacy at the deadline on June 1st, 2018, with my APOC disclosure ready to submit on my iPad, as documented by the intrepid reporter Jeff Landfield. After going down the street and getting my Declaration of Candidacy notarized at a branch of Alaska USA Federal Credit Union and emailing the notarized document and a picture of the $100 filing fee to the Division of Elections, they decided that I was my brother, a candidate for State House, and ruled him ineligible. Then, after I had filed with APOC, the Division of Elections went back and changed the candidate list to my name, ineligible for not having filed with APOC.

My plan in 2018 to pay back the full statutory PFD to Alaskans is the same as my plan now. That is, to implement a cryptocurrency/token, with a proposed name of AlasKoin, to be distributed to all Alaskans who received less than statutory Permanent Fund Dividends between 2016-2022. All Alaskans will get crypto wallets. AlasKoin will be encouraged to be widely accepted around the state as a medium of exchange. AlasKoin sales could rival the annual PFD sales and the Alaskan economy could benefit greatly. Alaska could become a leader in Web3 development. ‘Los Anchorage’ and the surrounding area could potentially rival Silicon Valley. Starlink and other technologies will enable high-speed internet access and high paying remote tech jobs in the Bush and around the state. The University of Alaska System will be restored and could potentially surpass all other universities on the West Coast as a leader in technological innovation.

How will AlasKoin gain the value of the close to to $10,000 per Alaskan that has been cut to fund the state government? Maybe the oil companies that have benefited greatly under the current tax structure and are planning to use natural gas on the North Slope to mine Bitcoin could divert some to funding AlasKoin. There are a myriad of other potential ways to come up with the approximately $6.5 billion worth of utility to add value to the token and pay back Alaskans their PFDs and I will be seeking input from all Alaskans on how to do so.

AlasKoin will be implemented outside of my governmental duties, but Congress and the SEC are currently implementing rules and introducing legislation that would impact AlasKoin and I will work to protect it when in office.

How should Congress reduce the threat of gun violence and mass shootings?

I will request input on how Congress should reduce the threat of gun violence and mass shootings from Alaskans via AlaskaDAO, a Decentralized Autonomous Organization composed of eligible Alaskan voters. I will present any legislation on the matter to AlaskaDAO and vote according to the will of the people.

What steps should Congress take to balance Alaska’s status as an oil state with the need to address climate change?

Congress should allow the maximum possible amount of environmentally responsible oil and gas development in Alaska to enable the best possible economic outcome for Alaskans and the faithful implementation of the State Constitution. Funds should be provided by the federal government to assist with all areas of Alaska impacted by climate change.

I will request input on how to make this happen from Alaskans via AlaskaDAO, a Decentralized Autonomous Organization composed of eligible Alaskan voters. I will present any legislation on the matter to AlaskaDAO and vote according to the will of the people.

What changes or updates do you want to see in fisheries management?

Reduced trawler bycatch. Improved opportunities for subsistence, sport and non-trawler commercial fishing. The return of 90+ lb Kings to the Kenai. Restored runs of Chinook and Chum to the Yukon and Kuskokwim Rivers.

I will request input on how to do so from Alawkans via AlaskaDAO, a Decentralized Autonomous Organization composed of eligible Alaskan voters. I will present any legislation on the matter to AlaskaDAO and vote according to the will of the people.

Should Congress act to protect voting rights and encourage voting, and if so, how?

Yes, all citizens should be encouraged to be informed and responsible voters. I will request input on how to do so from Alaskans via AlaskaDAO, a Decentralized Autonomous Organization composed of eligible Alaskan voters. I will present any legislation on the matter to AlaskaDAO and vote according to the will of the people.

Alaska has the highest health care costs in the nation. What will you do to reduce costs and improve access to services?

I would ask for input from my opponent in the 2020 US Senate Democratic Primary (prior to my withdrawal). After all, who would know better how to reduce healthcare costs and improve access to services than the Bear Doctor?

I will also request input on reducing healthcare costs and improving access from Alaskans via AlaskaDAO, a Decentralized Autonomous Organization composed of eligible Alaskan voters. I will present any legislation on the matter to AlaskaDAO and vote according to the will of the people.

How should Congress protect the rights of LGBTQ Alaskans?

Congress should protect the Constitutional rights of all Americans. I will request input on how Congress should protect the rights of LGBTQIA+ Alaskans from Alaskans via AlaskaDAO, a Decentralized Autonomous Organization composed of eligible Alaskan voters. I will present any legislation on the matter to AlaskaDAO and vote according to the will of the people.

Alaska families say they’re struggling financially in a variety of ways, including with child care. What actions should Congress take to support families with children?

When I successfully implement AlasKoin and Alaskans are paid back their full statutory Permanent Fund Dividends from 2016-2022, they will be much better off financially.

I will request input on how to support families with children from Alaskans via AlaskaDAO, a Decentralized Autonomous Organization composed of eligible Alaskan voters. I will present any legislation on the matter to AlaskaDAO and vote according to the will of the people.

What criteria would you use to judge the fitness of a judicial candidate?

Integrity, legal knowledge, experience, demeanor, professionalism, ability to apply the law and history of administering justice fairly and without prejudice are good criteria.

I will present all judicial candidates to Alaskans via AlaskaDAO, a Decentralized Autonomous Organization composed of eligible Alaskan voters, and vote according to the will of the people.