Alaska House candidate dressed in blackface at holiday party

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — A candidate for the Alaska House of Representatives wore blackface makeup to a 2012 Halloween party as part of a costume he said depicted an inspiring movie character. KTUU-TV reported that Republican Mike Cronk said he went to the party at the Tok Lodge Bar dressed as Madea, a black character featured in a series of films by actor and director Tyler Perry. The retired teacher is running to replace Republican Rep. Dave Talerico in House District 6, which includes the Fairbanks North Star Borough. Cronk says the party theme called for dressing as an inspiring fictional character.