The campaign business - running for Alaska's legislature.

• Author: Baker, Allen

Think it costs money to get elected? Look at what these Alaska candidates are spending to get to Juneau.

Want to go to Juneau and show people how this state can really run? Think you've got the brains, guts and stamina to serve in the Legislature?

Getting elected may be a lot less complicated than you might think. And it may be a lot more work than you could ever imagine, say people who've fought in political campaigns, won them, and lost a few.

First, forget those warm and fuzzy television ads. And don't spend a lot on campaign managers, offices and cheap pens.

Just get in your car, drive to the nearest neighborhood in your district, and start knocking on doors.

Candidates for the Alaska Legislature are pressing the flesh, selling people their drive and personality more than any particular position on issues.

"The way I'm really reaching people is door to door, and going to all sorts of events on the base (Elmendorf Air Force Base)," says Max Gruenberg. He's a former Democratic House member from Spenard who moved into the district of Rep. Terry Martin. Martin is a Republican who was first elected to the House in 1978, and has been there since. His current district starts at Elmendorf and spreads south to DeBarr Rd., west to Pine and east to Turpin.

LOCAL POLITICS

Even in Anchorage, says Gruenberg, and even in a district with a comparatively transient population, people's concerns are very local.

"Sure, some people are concerned about the economy, about keeping the base open. ... But the issues on people's minds are schools, whether there is playground equipment in the parks, and maybe crime if they've had a car broken into recently."

Gruenberg is a bit nervous about laying out his strategy before the vote. He says he'll probably spend about $80,000 all told, and television, radio and newspaper advertising will figure into the program. One campaign flyer has already gone out, and he's planning more.

Martin figures to spend a lot less, and he's just now beginning his finance drive for what he calls a "kind of laid-back campaign." He's generally spent in the neighborhood of $25,000 on campaigns in the past, and has gone up to $40,000, Martin says.

The first couple times he ran, Martin says he hired a campaign manager, consultants and such -- and lost. He says he was definitely spending a lot of time begging people for money, and that drew energy from actual campaigning.

Martin is planning mostly to mail out campaign materials to voters in his district. Everybody gets the same message from him, he says, with no fancy stuff.

"A lot of people get involved with computer processing, detailed personal letters. ... I'd rather stay away...