By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
Republican candidate for governor Christopher Kurka says he’s running to stop the overreach of federal government in such areas as health care, land management and economic development.
Christopher Kurka. (Sentinel photo)
“The reason people should vote for Christopher Kurka for governor and Paul Hueper for lieutenant governor is because they want a governor who’s going to stand up for Alaska, not just talk about it,” he said in an interview here today.
“They want a governor who’s going to stand between them and federal overreach,” Kurka said. “They want a governor who is an Alaskan at heart and is passionate about our future and passionate about making this the best place to live for their children and their children’s children.”
Kurka, 35, currently represents central Wasilla in the House of Representatives, a position he has held for the last two years. He spoke to the Sentinel during his campaign swing through Southeast. While here he participated in meet and greets, attended a public screening of the film “2000 Mules,” and went to a campaign event in a private home.
Kurka is one of five Republicans in the open primary for governor on August 16, and one of 10 from all parties in the race. Voters will pick their top choice, regardless of party, in the primary, and the top four in the statewide tally will be on the Nov. 8 general election ballot, which is ranked choice.
“I’m a third generation Alaskan and I’m passionate about Alaska’s future and our potential,” Kurka said. “For us to even remotely realize that, we have to have economic freedom, we have to be North to the Future.”
He said for the past several years those principles “have come under attack.”
“Especially in healthcare freedom, and the ability of individuals to make their own decisions,” Kurka said. “Whether or not they get a jab, whatever treatments they want, is between them and their doctor. We’ve seen that come under attack, and having bureaucrats high up make those decisions. It’s not OK.”
Kurka said the federal government has had a “massive overreach” in Alaska since before statehood, in areas such as parks and land management, and natural resource development. He said the state should have the responsibility to determine whether a project – “whether it’s a road or mine or oil or timber harvesting” – is safe and preserves the land.
“We’re going to tell the Army Corps of Engineers, and the EPA and the Forest Service – whoever it is from the federal government – to pound sand,” Kurka said. “They don’t have a right to operate in our state.“
Kurka said he believes he offers a good alternative to Republicans and conservatives who have been disappointed with Dunleavy.
“Dunleavy’s base is livid with him, largely over some of the lockdowns of the last two years,” he said. “We’re one of only a handful of states that actually told churches they have to shut down. We picked and chose which businesses were essential. We trampled all over the constitution. ... His base is livid about that, and that Dr. (Anne) Zink is still chief medical officer. They elected someone who ran on a certain conservative platforms, and that’s not what they’ve seen.”
Kurka said many conservatives are so angry that they won’t even rank Dunleavy in the ranked choice election.
Kurka grew up in Eagle River, and is a homeschool graduate. Besides his work in the Legislature and on the campaign trail, he and his wife, Haylee, own Noble Business Services, Gladheart Acres (soaps and lotions), and The Salt Cave of Alaska, which is a spa. Before he was a business owner and entrepreneur, he was a commercial fisherman, construction worker, and arborist. For five years, he was executive director of Alaska Right to Life, and remains passionate about that issue.
“The opening words of the Alaska constitution is dedicated to the principle that all persons have a natural right to life, and that’s something we’re not taking seriously in this state,” he said. As governor, he would work to stop any Medicaid payments for abortions “on day one.”
Kurka’s other areas of focus are related to ensuring election integrity, assuring that Alaskans receive the “full statutory Permanent Fund Dividend,” protecting gun rights and criminal justice reform.
Kurka said for the last two years he has kept his promises to voters, and would continue to do so if elected governor.
“My mandate as governor is one, my directive to follow the constitution and two, to pursue with everything in me, my promises I made to voters, the people who elected me,” he said. “That’s my marching orders, that’s my agenda. This is my job interview. I’m here to make commitments to voters and if they like those commitments they can voter for me. Voters have to look at who’s kept their promises.”
Kurka and his wife, Haylee, have four sons, ages 2 through 8, in Wasilla, and extensive family in the state.
Absentee in-person voting in the August 16 special general election, and primary election, is currently open, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, at Harrigan Centennial Hall.
