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            The polls are open today for the Alaska Primary Election. Voting in town will be at Bayside Fire Hall, Teen Center, the Harbormaster’s Office, Women’s Bay Fire Hall, the Chiniak Library, as well as in village offices. 

            Depending on which ballot one chooses, you can vote either in the open primary, which includes Democrats, Alaska Independence and Libertarian party candidates, or in the closed Republican primary. To choose the closed primary ballot, you must be registered Republican, Undeclared or Non-Partisan.

            For the U.S. House race on the Republican side is Kodiak’s Gabrielle LeDoux, who, along with Sean Parnell, is challenging incumbent Representative Don Young.

            On the other ballot are Democrats Diane Benson and Ethan Berkowitz, and Alaska Independence candidate Don Wright.

            U.S. Senator Ted Stevens is also facing challenges from within his own Republican party, including Rich Wanda, Vick Vickers, Rick Sikma, Jerry Heikes, David Cuddy and Michael Correy.

            Running for U.S. Senate on the Democrat side are Frank Vondersaar, Ray Metcalfe and Mark Begich, as well as A-I-P candidate Bob Bird and Libertarian David Haase.

            For State House District 36 there is one race, on the Democrat side, with two political newcomers seeking the nomination. They are Dave Kaplan and Andy Lundquist.

            Voters will also have to give thumbs-up or thumbs-down to a quartet of initiatives.

            Ballot Measure Number 1 would establish a state gaming commission, which would have the power to expand charitable gaming to include casinos and lotteries.

            Ballot Measure Number 2 would ban same-day shooting of grizzly bears and require that predator control be carried out by Fish and Game employees rather than be farmed out to private citizens.

            Ballot Measure Number 3 is the Clean Elections Initiative, which would establish a voluntary program of public funding of political candidates in an effort to cut down on financial influence of elections.

            Ballot Measure Number 4 is the Clean Water Initiative, which would return Alaska’s water quality standards at large-scale mines to pre-Murkowski Administration levels. It’s designed to ensure that very large mines to not pollute salmon streams or drinking water supplies.

            Polls opened at 7 a.m. and will close at 8 p.m. Tune into KMXT tonight for coverage of the statewide issues with APRN’s Steve Heimel, and of local issues with Casey Kelly. We’ll have complete results starting with tomorrow morning’s 7:20 newscast.