Now hiring: Alaska's new conservative watchdog

When Sen. Tom Wagoner, a Kenai Republican, argued last month against the state building a $93 million crime lab, he drew his talking points from a 35-page report produced by the Alaska Policy Forum.

The report criticized the crime lab, calling it a waste of state money -- a thesis that dovetails with APF's stated values of fiscal responsibility and limited government.

APF's report on the crime lab was the first time many had heard of the new nonprofit think tank, part of an emerging national trend of conservative groups funding research and news outfits aimed at influencing state government. Incorporated about a year ago, APF is a member of the State Policy Network, an umbrella organization of free-market think tanks.

But while APF says it wants to investigate and influence Alaska politics, the group refuses to release details about who's paying their bills. Conversations with APF's executive director and two board members about the think tank's finances revealed only three facts.

-- APF has a confidentiality agreement with its donors and will not release the names of individuals or organizations that gave it money.

-- The total donations so far are under $100,000, and likely closer to $50,000.

-- The majority of the donations came from outside Alaska.

APF's entrance onto the Alaska media scene comes on the heels of other websites that have broken news and driven the political conversation. You've got The Mudflats on the left and The Alaska Standard on the right. The "Troopergate" controversy, which became a national issue during the 2008 presidential campaign, was first reported on Andrew Halcro's blog, and Dennis Zaki offered up plenty of Sarah Palin news before he shuttered Alaska Report in December.

APF's board members include David Cuddy, of the prominent family behind First National Bank Alaska. Cuddy, who dabbled with politics in both 1996 and 2008 with unsuccessful primary challenges to then-U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens, declined to release information about APF's donors, but said the "lion's share" of its funding comes from out-of-state nonprofits.

"The idea is to have a nonprofit that can look into some of the issues of public note that don't seem to be getting looked into by other types of media," Cuddy said.

For example, one issue important to Cuddy is what he calls the taxation of less than half of Americans to support the rest of the population.

"Somehow you've got to have people understand that you can't take your neighbor's paycheck and expect to live off it," he said.

Also sitting on APF's board are Tom Senter, an Anchorage dermatologist, and David Boyle, an Air Force veteran of 20 years who twice ran unsuccessfully for an Anchorage School Board seat.

According to a search of political campaign donations over the last few years, Boyle gave to John McCain, Sean Parnell, and the Alaska Republican Party, while Cuddy gave to the Alaska Libertarian Party, U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn of Oklahoma, and the Citizens Club for Growth, a group that's been critical of Congressman Don Young and backed Parnell's 2008 run against Young.

Jeremy Thompson, APF's executive director, is one of two employees at the nonprofit. Thompson also declined to provide details about APF's funding, citing the confidentiality agreement the think tank has with its donors.

He said APF is focused on fiscal policy, educational choice and government transparency. APF will also conduct research and analysis to help state legislators make decisions, but won't support any political candidate or party, he said.

Part of the mission is to deploy journalistic talent to examine issues from a conservative or free-market point of view. APF recently posted an online ad for an experienced investigative reporter to cover the Alaska Legislature, offering a salary of up to $75,000. Boyle said APF will hire its reporter within a month.