From a profile in CQ Politics:

Wealthy real estate developer David Cuddy, who lost to Stevens in the 1996 GOP primary after spending more than $1 million in personal funds, publicly announced last week his plans for a rematch against the six-term senator.

 

Cuddy told CQ Politics that his drive to restore fiscal conservatism as well as combat widespread federal corruption prompted him to enter the race.

 

“There’s a growing awareness that we can’t keep spending ourselves to the extent we are,” Cuddy said Wednesday, speaking by phone from Anchorage. “We can’t continue doing business the way we’ve been doing business.”

 

Cuddy formerly served as a state representative for one term in the early 1980’s and is the current president and founder of Ranch Studios, a Texas film studio. Much of his wealth stemmed from a lucrative banking career.

 

From a profile in Anchorage Daily News:

Cuddy spent roughly $1 million, most of that from his own bank account, in an unsuccessful effort to wrest the party nomination from Stevens in 1996. Cuddy got just 27 percent of the primary vote then.

 

Cuddy, 55, ran that race as a conservative who said he wanted to shrink government and cut taxes. It turned into a hard-hitting campaign in which Cuddy accused Stevens in a series of advertisements of breaking the law and abusing the perks of power. The Federal Election Commission ended up dismissing a claim by Cuddy that Stevens' 1990 campaign committee improperly spent campaign contributions on him and his staff. 

 

DAVE CUDDY ON THE ISSUES:

Dave Cuddy on Federal Spending :

In a speech to Alaska Republican delegates on Saturday, former Representative Dave Cuddy called for a reduction in the size of the Federal government and a return to the core Republican principles of smaller government. 

 

In his speech, Cuddy spoke about the federal deficit and the need for a small and efficient government. Cuddy pointed out that the Federal government has raised the national debt level to more than nine trillion dollars.

Dave Cuddy on The Second Amendment:

"We must...protect our 2nd Amendment rights against infringement by the courts and others."

 

"Dave Cuddy supports full recognition of your 2nd Amendment rights to keep and bear arms." (link)

 

Dave Cuddy on  Illegal Immigration:

"Dave Cuddy is against amnesty and preference programs, as well as providing social services to illegal immigrants beyond emergency humanitarian aid and medical care. Dave is for increased border security and increased penalties for hiring illegal immigrants, once a working ID system is in place. The ID system must be fixed to eliminate fraud. " (link)

 

"We must stop illegal immigration by:

     Securing our borders.

     Removing the incentives that encourage illegal immigration, in particular birthright citizenship for children of illegal immigrants.

     Strictly enforce existing immigration laws.

     Rejecting amnesty for illegal immigrants."

 

Dave Cuddy on the  The Right to Life:

"We must...recognize the inalienable human right to be born alive."

 

"Dave Cuddy opposes abortion, except in cases where the life of the mother is in danger, or in cases of incest or rape." (link)