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Paul Seaton

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Paul Seaton
Image of Paul Seaton
Prior offices
Alaska House of Representatives District 31
Successor: Sarah Vance

Elections and appointments
Last election

November 6, 2018

Education

Associate

Ventura Community College, 1965

Bachelor's

University of Alaska, Fairbanks, 1968

Graduate

University of Alaska, Fairbanks, 1969

Personal
Religion
Christian: Methodist
Profession
Owner, K-N-S, Marine
Contact

Paul Seaton is a former Independent member of the Alaska House of Representatives, representing District 31 from 2015-2019. He lost the general election on November 6, 2018, after advancing from the primary on August 21, 2018. Seaton filed to run for re-election as a nonpartisan candidate but gained the Democratic nomination after he won the Democratic primary.

Following the 2016 elections (where Republicans won 21 of 40 seats), Seaton joined a majority coalition that included all 17 Democrats, two independents, and Republicans Gabrielle LeDoux and Louise Stutes. The coalition elected Bryce Edgmon (D) as speaker and Seaton became the Finance Committee co-chairman.

Following the formation of the coalition, Alaska GOP Chairman Tuckerman Babcock invited LeDoux, Seaton, and Stutes to leave the party and said they would face challengers in the Republican primaries on August 21, 2018. Seaton filed to run for re-election as a nonpartisan candidate and ran unopposed in the Democratic primary. Three Republicans filed to challenge him in the general election: Jon Cox, Sarah Vance, and Hank Kroll.

Visit this page to learn more about the primaries: Alaska state legislative Republican primaries, 2018

Biography

Seaton's professional experience includes working as the owner of K-N-S Marine, and has as a cook inlet keeper, fisherman, teacher and in the tree clearing business.

Committee assignments

2017 legislative session

At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:

Alaska committee assignments, 2017
Finance, Chair
Legislative Budget and Audit

2015 legislative session

At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Seaton served on the following committees:

2013-2014

At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Seaton served on the following committees:

2011-2012

In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Seaton served on these committees:[1]

2009-2010

In the 2009-2010 legislative session, Seaton served on these committees:

The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.


Elections

2018

See also: Alaska House of Representatives elections, 2018

General election

General election for Alaska House of Representatives District 31

Sarah Vance defeated incumbent Paul Seaton in the general election for Alaska House of Representatives District 31 on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Sarah Vance
Sarah Vance (R) Candidate Connection
 
54.8
 
5,243
Image of Paul Seaton
Paul Seaton (D)
 
44.3
 
4,236
 Other/Write-in votes
 
1.0
 
91

Total votes: 9,570
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Alaska House of Representatives District 31

Sarah Vance defeated John Cox and Hank Kroll in the Republican primary for Alaska House of Representatives District 31 on August 21, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Sarah Vance
Sarah Vance Candidate Connection
 
44.6
 
1,222
Image of John Cox
John Cox
 
40.9
 
1,122
Image of Hank Kroll
Hank Kroll
 
14.5
 
398

Total votes: 2,742
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Alaska Democratic, Libertarian, and Independence parties primary election

Alaska Democratic, Libertarian, and Independence parties primary for Alaska House of Representatives District 31

Incumbent Paul Seaton advanced from the Alaska Democratic, Libertarian, and Independence parties primary for Alaska House of Representatives District 31 on August 21, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Paul Seaton
Paul Seaton
 
100.0
 
1,490

Total votes: 1,490
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary overview

Did the incumbent file to run for re-election?

Yes (running as a nonpartisan candidate)

What made this a battleground race?

Paul Seaton held this seat heading into the 2018 elections. He was one of three Republicans to leave their party and join the Democratic-led majority coalition after the 2016 elections.[2]

After the Alaska Supreme Court ruled that independents could run in party primaries, Seaton filed for re-election as a nonpartisan candidate and chose to run in the Democratic primary.[3] No other Democrats filed to run, while Republicans John Cox (who unsuccessfully challenged Seaton in the 2016 primaries), Sarah Vance, and Hank Kroll filed to run.

2016

See also: Alaska House of Representatives elections, 2016

Elections for the Alaska House of Representatives took place in 2016. The primary election took place on August 16, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was June 1, 2016.

Incumbent Paul Seaton ran unopposed in the Alaska House of Representatives District 31 general election.[4][5]

Alaska House of Representatives, District 31 General Election, 2016
Party Candidate
    Republican Green check mark transparent.png Paul Seaton Incumbent (unopposed)
Source: Alaska Secretary of State



Incumbent Paul Seaton defeated John R. Cox and Mary E. Wythe in the Alaska House of Representatives District 31 Republican Primary.[6][7]

Alaska House of Representatives, District 31 Republican Primary, 2016
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.png Paul Seaton Incumbent 48.13% 1,531
     Republican John R. Cox 27.32% 869
     Republican Mary E. Wythe 24.55% 781
Total Votes 3,181

2014

See also: Alaska House of Representatives elections, 2014

Elections for the Alaska House of Representatives took place in 2014. A primary election took place on August 19, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was June 2, 2014. District 30 incumbent Paul Seaton was unopposed in the Republican primary and was unchallenged in the general election.[8][9][10][11]

2012

See also: Alaska House of Representatives elections, 2012

Seaton ran for re-election in the 2012 election for Alaska House of Representatives District 30. He defeated Jon Faulkner in the Republican primary on August 28, 2012. The general election took place on November 6, 2012.[12][13] Seaton won re-election in the general election.[14]

Alaska House of Representatives, District 30, General Election, 2012
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngPaul Seaton Incumbent 71.8% 6,287
     Democratic Elizabeth R. Diament 27.5% 2,413
Total Votes 8,762
Alaska House of Representatives, District 30 Republican Primary, 2012
Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngPaul Seaton Incumbent 54.8% 2,044
Jon Faulkner 45.2% 1,686
Total Votes 3,730

2010

See also: Alaska House of Representatives elections, 2010

Seaton won re-election to the 35th District seat in 2010. He had no opposition in the August 24 primary election or the November 2 general election.[15][16]

2008

See also: Alaska House of Representatives elections, 2008

In 2008, Seaton was re-elected to the Alaska House of Representatives District 35. Seaton (R) finished with 5,827 votes while his opponent Philip Alderfer (D) finished with 2,886 votes.[17] Seaton raised $36,162 for his campaign fund.[18]

Alaska House of Representatives District 35
Candidates Votes
Green check mark transparent.png Paul Seaton (R) 5,827
Philip Alderfer (D) 2,886

Campaign themes

2012

Seaton's website highlighted the following campaign themes:[19]

  • Education
Excerpt: "Education should be one of the State's highest priorities. I was a member of the Legislative Education Funding Task Force which came to consensus on how to adequately fund our schools and equitably implement the district cost factor."
  • Permanent Fund Dividend
Excerpt: "I support protecting the Permanent Fund Dividend program. The Permanent Fund Dividend provides economic stabilization to a great many Alaskan families and great economic stimulus to all sectors of our retail economy. Raising revenue by reduction of the PFD means that only resident Alaskans are 'taxed'."
  • Pebble Prospect
Excerpt: "The Pebble Prospect is unique in Alaska because its estimated value and size would make it one of the largest mines in the world. It is also located in the headwaters of the largest and most valuable salmon run in the world. Infrastructure created in a Pebble development may open the entire Bristol Bay mining district to otherwise non-economic mining claims."
  • Taxes
Excerpt: "At this time of high oil prices and the restructured oil tax, which I supported, there is no need for any new citizen-based tax."
  • Prop 2
Excerpt: "We all know there are differences in the resources and impacts of development in different localities. Without ACMP, big government agencies apply a one-size-fits-all standard to development and do not recognize the uniqueness of local area concerns. This is true for federal agencies such as the EPA or Dept. of Interior. The ACMP is a states' rights issue, giving the state authority to impose conditions on federal development, and giving local communities a voice against big government."

Political courage tests

2006

Seaton's answers to the Alaska State Legislative Election 2006 National Political Awareness Test are available. When asked his legislative priorities he replied:

  • 1. Education funding across the State is not equitable because the Geographic Cost Differential factors that have twice been identified and studied under legislative contract have not been incorporated into the school Foundation Formula.
  • 2. We must find a mechanism to fairly fund the debt of the State run PERS/TRS System. The current method of only raising employer contribution rates is unsustainable if services are not going to be drastically curtailed.
  • 3. Municipal revenue sharing or Community Dividends are a necessity if we wish to have sustainable communities. However, we need to establish an automatic and sustainable revenue stream or the State will cut this vital program first in time of fiscal constraint.[20]

Campaign finance summary


Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.


Paul Seaton campaign contribution history
YearOfficeStatusContributionsExpenditures
2018Alaska House of Representatives District 31Lost general$92,128 N/A**
2016Alaska House of Representatives, District 31Won $46,933 N/A**
2014Alaska State House, District 31Won $12,925 N/A**
2012Alaska State House, District 30Won $30,509 N/A**
2010Alaska State House, District 35Won $17,270 N/A**
2008Alaska State House, District 35Won $36,161 N/A**
2006Alaska State House, District 35Won $38,610 N/A**
2004Alaska State House, District 35Won $55,246 N/A**
2002Alaska State House, District 35Won $43,263 N/A**
** Data on expenditures is not available for this election cycle
Note: Totals above reflect only available data.

Scorecards

See also: State legislative scorecards and State legislative scorecards in Alaska

A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.

Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.

Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of Alaska scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.




2022

In 2022, the Alaska State Legislature was in session from January 18 to May 18.


2021


2020


2019


2018


2017


2016


2015


2014


2013


2012

|PreG=

See also: State legislative scorecards and State legislative scorecards in Alaska

A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.

Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.

Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of Alaska scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.








2018

In 2018, the 31st Alaska State Legislature was in session from January 16 through May 13.

Legislators are scored by the Alaska Business Report Card on "how supportive they are of Alaska’s private business sector."[21]
Legislators are scored on their votes on specific legislation.
Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.


2017


2016


2015


2014


2013


2012

Personal

Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Seaton and his wife, Tina, have two children.

He is a member of a number of organizations, including the National Education Association, Alaska Marine Conservation Council, Homer Little League Board, National Research Council Board - Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association, Kachemak Bay Conservation Society, Kachemak Bay Rotary Club and the Kachemak Heritage Land Trust.[22]

Recent news

This section links to a Google news search for the term "Paul + Seaton + Alaska + House"

See also

External links

Footnotes

  1. Alaska House of Representatives, "House Majority Members" accessed September 18, 2012 (dead link)
  2. KBBI, "Republican Party has a contender to run against Rep. Paul Seaton," February 14, 2018
  3. name=seatonAlaska Public Media, "Seaton files to run as independent in Democratic primary," June 1, 2018
  4. State of Alaska Division of Elections, "November 8, 2016 General Election Candidate List," accessed August 22, 2016
  5. Alaska Secretary of State, "General Election Official Results 2016," accessed December 2, 2016
  6. State of Alaska Division of Elections, "August 16, 2016 Primary Candidate List," accessed June 8, 2016
  7. State of Alaska Division of Elections, "2016 Primary Election results," accessed September 12, 2016
  8. Alaska Secretary of State, "Official primary candidate list," accessed June 4, 2014
  9. Alaska Secretary of State, "Official primary election results," accessed January 1, 2015
  10. Alaska Secretary of State, "Official general election candidate list," accessed September 11, 2014
  11. Alaska Secretary of State, "Official General Election Results," accessed November 25, 2014
  12. Alaska Division of Elections, "2012 Primary Candidate List," accessed March 12, 2014
  13. Alaska Division of Elections, "Official 2012 Primary Results," accessed March 12, 2014
  14. Alaska Election Division, "Official 2012 General election results," accessed November 16, 2012
  15. Alaska Division of Elections, "Official 2010 Primary election results," accessed March 12, 2014
  16. Alaska Division of Elections, "Official 2010 General election results," accessed March 12, 2014
  17. Alaska Division of Elections, "Official 2008 General election results," accessed July 2, 2015
  18. Follow the Money, "Campaign funds," accessed March 12, 2014
  19. votepaulseaton.com, "Issues (Archived)," accessed March 12, 2014
  20. Project Vote Smart, "Issue Positions," accessed March 12, 2014
  21. 21.00 21.01 21.02 21.03 21.04 21.05 21.06 21.07 21.08 21.09 21.10 Alaska Business Report Card, "About," accessed November 5, 2019 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "abrc" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "abrc" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "abrc" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "abrc" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "abrc" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "abrc" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "abrc" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "abrc" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "abrc" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "abrc" defined multiple times with different content
  22. Project Vote Smart, "Biography," accessed March 12, 2014
Political offices
Preceded by
Cathy Munoz (R)
Alaska House of Representatives District 31
2015–2019
Succeeded by
Sarah Vance (R)
Preceded by
-
Alaska House of Representatives District 30
2013–2015
Succeeded by
Kurt Olson (R)
Preceded by
-
Alaska House of Representatives District 35
2003–2013
Succeeded by
Alan Austerman (R)


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