Former Representative Harry Crawford Takes on Fellow Democrat, Incumbent Senator Bettye Davis

Crawford says electability is his motive

Tools

By Bill McAllister
Bio | Email

Story Created: Aug 2, 2012 at 4:40 PM AKDT

Story Updated: Aug 2, 2012 at 6:15 PM AKDT

ANCHORAGE - She has been his senator for 12 years, and he was her representative for 10.

They used to hold constituent meetings together.

But now Bettye Davis and Harry Crawford are opponents.

Both of them believe in the bipartisan coalition in the Senate, which some prominent Republicans are trying to splinter.

They just differ on who should be in it.

"I felt that some respect should have been given to me,” Davis said.

Davis faces an uphill battle because of redistricting, which removed Airport Heights and the U-Med area from her district and added part of more conservative Eagle River.

So she says she is dismayed to face a challenge from another Democrat in the August 28 primary election. "Well, he sent this letter out, and I don't really know what he meant by it, but he said he fit the demographics better than I do, and that he felt he should be the one to run."

Crawford, who gave up his state House seat two years in an unsuccessful bid for Congress, says he would be the stronger candidate against presumptive Republican nominee Anna Fairclough, who now serves Eagle River in the House.

"If it were just Senator Davis and myself in this race, I wouldn't be in the race. But the race is November 6 against Anna Fairclough. And in that race, I think I match up really well."

Crawford suggests he is a more vigorous campaigner than Davis.

"I’ve set the standard pretty much. And I continue to do that: I go door to door seven days a week."
Davis, the only African-American woman ever elected to the Legislature, emphasizes education issues and health and social services, and has pushed to expand eligibility for Denali Kid Care.

"I don't want anybody to vote for me because i'm a female, necessarily, or because i'm the color that I am, because i'm proving I am doing the work that I should be doing."

Crawford has staked out a reputation as a protector of the permanent fund dividend and an advocate for an all-Alaska natural gas pipeline. "Let the state go ahead and build it now."

But in this race, issues aren't the issue. Electability is.

To see the full interview with Senator Bettye Davis, click here.

To see the full interview with Harry Crawford, click here.


 

Add a comment

Name:

Comment: 1000 Characters Left

KTVA CBS 11 | Anchorage, Alaska News and Weather and its affiliated companies are not responsible for the content of comments posted or for anything arising out of use of the above comments or other interaction among the users. We reserve the right to screen, refuse to post, remove or edit user-generated content at any time and for any or no reason in our absolute and sole discretion without prior notice, although we have no duty to do so or to monitor any Public Forum.
This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.