LOGAN – Logan mayoral candidate Alanna Nafziger has denied any involvement with a recent mailer supporting her campaign and attacking rival candidate Mark Anderson.
“Our campaign was not involved in producing or sending a mailer that was recently delivered to Logan voters,” according to Nafziger, in a press release dated Oct. 28.
“My focus has always been on the issues,” she added. “The issues at stake this November include clean air, clean water and lowering our energy costs.”
The mailer, which began arriving in the mailboxes of Logan residents over the weekend of Oct. 25, called Anderson “murky Mark,” claiming that he supports pollution rather than progress.
The anti-Anderson mailer clearly states that it was “paid for by the Fresh Air Political Action Committee, not authorized by any candidate or campaign.”
It proclaimed, however, that Nafziger “stands with the people who live here, not those profiting off pollution.”
In her press release, Nafziger said her campaign has focused on uniting residents around shared values and practical solutions. She emphasized that the challenges Logan faces require thoughtful planning and genuine public engagement.
“As mayor, I want to lead in a way that reflects who we are as a community,” Nafziger said. “That means fighting for a sustainable Logan that answers to its people.”
Adding to the validity of Nafziger’s claim of deniability is the fact that the mailer misspelled her first name.
Recent campaign disclosure statements by Nafziger, however, reveal that the candidate has received a $1,000 contribution from the Fresh Air PAC, the same political action committee that claimed responsibility for the mailer.
The Fresh Air PAC is an arm of O2 Utah, a group that describes itself as a social welfare and social action organization that advocates for clean air policies and environmental protection.
A current member of the Logan Municipal Council, Anderson has been at odds with local environmental idealists since he convinced fellow council members to invest in a 30-year contract to purchase 15 megawatts of electricity from a natural gas fired power plant in Power County, Idaho earlier this year.
“I’m very disappointed that a handful of people in our community and a few political PACs outside of our community and our state have chosen to attack me instead of just focusing on the facts of the mayoral campaign here in Logan,” Anderson said on Oct. 27.
“Does our community think it’s acceptable for a couple of non-local organizations to throw tens of thousands of dollars into negative, personal attacks in an attempt to manipulate our local election?” he argued. “I don’t think they do.”
In that statement, Anderson was referring to donations totaling $10,000 received by Nafziger from the out-of-state Way Back Political Action Committee.
According to the campaign finance data organization OpenSecrets, the Way Back PAC is associated with Democratic, liberal causes and is registered in Wyoming.
Nafziger holds a master’s degree in Landscape Architecture from Utah State University with a background in design research, problem-solving and community outreach.
Her campaign argues that Nafziger’s deep roots in Logan as a farmer, advocate for sustainable growth and experience collaborating with residents and local organizations make the candidate equipped and ready to address many pressing issues in Logan.