A mix of people marched downtown on Saturday in the gay pride parade. State senator and lite gov. candidate, Hollis French, who’s long been an advocate for gay rights, was part of the mélange, as was U.S. Democratic House hopeful Forrest Dunbar. More unlikely: The oilies made a showing. A group of BP employees marched with the best of them, and about 10 people carrying “No on 1” signs joined the rainbow. Libertarian Mark Fish was the only U.S. Senate hopeful to show. He and a handful of fellow Libertarians, including gubernatorial candidate Carolyn  “Care” Clift marched. “Today I marched in the equality parade. A couple of days ago I was with the Conservative Patriots Group in the Valley,” Fish said, whose role is to spread Libertarian philosophy far and wide.

Days until the election: 143.

Happy Father’s Day, to all the wonderful dads out there. Including mine, to whom I owe a batch of cookies.

A “Legislative Appreciation Reception” was hosted by the Mat-Su Borough on Thursday evening in Palmer. Only three members of the borough’s legislative delegation attended – – Sen. Charlie Huggins and Reps. Bill Stoltze and Shelley Hughes. About 100 people in all showed. In addition to the borough mayor and Assembly members, others attending included: the borough’s lobbyist and former speaker of the House John Harris, Noel and Jean Wood, school board members Susan Pougher and Deborah Retherford, local CPA Dan Kennedy, Palmer Mayor DeLena Johnson, Bruce Knowles, and John Combs to name a few. Reports are that everyone was well behaved.

Upcoming Events:

• June 15, 4:00 – 6:00 pm. Byron Mallott for Governor Fundraiser at the home of Annie Calkins, 20139 Cohen Drive, Juneau.

• June 16, 5:30 – 7:30 pm. Campaign kick-off and fundraiser for Kevin Meyer and Charisse Millett at Le Mex Alaska, off Diamond Blvd., Anchorage.

• June 16, 5:00 – 7:00 pm. Byron Mallott for Governor Fundraiser at the home of Jay Nelson and Rachel Stewart, 819 Goldbelt Street, Juneau.

• June 17, 4:30 — 7:30 pm. Fundraiser to Re-Elect Click Bishop at the home of Tom and Kate Lamal, 1734 Becker Ridge Road, Fairbanks.

• June 17, 5:00 – 8:00 pm.  Byron Mallott for Governor Fundraiser at the home of Ralph Kibby, 2456 Brandy Lane, Juneau.

• June 17, 5:30 – 7:30 pm. Treadwell for Senate Fundraiser at Jalapeno’s Restaurant, 11823 Old Glenn Highway, Eagle River.

• June 17, 5:00 – 7:00 pm. Matt Moore for State House Fundraiser featuring Roger Shaw’s famous chili at Cafe Del Mundo, 341 E. Benson Blvd , Anchorage.

• June 18, 5:30 – 7:00 pm. Re-Elect Sean Parnell Fundraiser at the home of Carl and Pam Brady, 2100 Atwood Drive, Anchorage.

• June 19, 5:30 – 7:30 pm. Re-Elect Sean Parnell Fundraiser, New Horizons Hanger, Palmer.

Gov. Sean Parnell submitted three names for nomination to serve on the North Pacific Research Board, which recommends marine research initiatives relating to fisheries and marine ecosystems in the North Pacific Ocean, Bering Sea, and Arctic Ocean. The nominations are: Dorothy Childers, who serves as the associate director of the Alaska Marine Conservation Council; Gerrey Merrigan, of Petersburg, who is currently a member of the commission and a past member of the North Pacific Fisheries Management Council; and Caryn Rae, who is a senior staff biologist with ConocoPhillips. The appointments are made by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce.

The Democratic tracker who works for American Bridge and who follows and films GOP senatorial candidate Dan Sullivan like a pilot fish was tracking Sullivan at the Colony Days parade last week in Palmer. People, generally speaking, aren’t all bad though. After the parade was over, Sullivan and his gaggle of volunteers wanted a group photo. The tracker took it for them.

DHSS Communications Manager Clay Butcher picked up an Emmy Award for a PSA he created on the Safe Surrender Law which was introduced by Rep. Gabrielle LeDoux. The Northwest Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences awarded the 2014 Emmy in the category of Community/Public Service for video PSA. It’s one of those ads that makes you tingle. See it here.

Art Hackney, Anchorage ad man and political consultant, has signed on with American Crossroads as their local spokesperson.

The change of command ceremony for USCG District 17 was held in Juneau on Thursday. The new commandant, Admiral Paul Zukunft, wasn’t able to attend due to a family emergency, but reports are there was no lack of flags and politicos. Sen. Dennis Egan and Rep. Sam Kito III were there. Juneau Assembly member Jesse Kiehl, who is said to be running when Egan decides not to, showed. Mead Treadwell was there. He was shepherded around by Barbara Propes, who, unlike his other staffers, doesn’t seem to be jumping ship. Gen. Thomas Katkus also doesn’t seem to be going out to sea anytime soon. Representatives from all three congressional delegations were there. The outgoing commandant, Rear Admiral Thomas Ostebo, is headed to D.C. Ostebo’s mark was in the Arctic, and at the event, he called Treadwell “a mentor.”

The IBU and State of Alaska reached agreement on contract terms on Wednesday for the ferry workers whose contract was due to expire June 30th. The good news seemed to catch the IBU by surprise. In fact, they were so prepared for things to go wrong that they organized a “solidarity rally” on Friday that appeared to be organized around a strike. They went ahead and held the rally anyway. In Bellingham! Maybe my friend Vince Beltrami, who heads the AK AFL-CIO, needs to give his IBU brethren a lecture on local hire.

Reports from the North on the Bishop v. Miller state Senate race: All accounts so far suggest that Click Bishop is working hard, campaigning everywhere and has already gotten a lot of signs up. Not much activity yet from Mike Miller or his campaign. While Bishop appears to be clicking away, it’s still too early to make any predictions. Remember: Miller is a darling of conservative voters which make up the GOP base.

Contact Amanda Coyne at amandamcoyne@yahoo.com