Yes on Measure 1
Dear Editor: We’re voting yes on Ballot Measure 1.
Have you asked yourselves how much Conoco Phillips ‘‘Alaska’s Oil Company’’ has spent on TV advertising trying to protect the big bucks that our governor handed them by reducing their tax burden. By the way ‘‘Alaska’s’’ oil company has its headquarters in Texas.
In 2011 Conoco’s CEO received a $140 million compensation package plus $19.2 million in stock options. In 2012 the poor guy only got $132 million but did manage to scratch out a $68 million payout from his pension plan plus $52 million in deferred compensation, whatever that is. Yep, the poor guy made $252 million in 2012.
I was unable to find what their CEO made in 2013 because it probably takes a pretty long time to count that high. Oh, yeah, and their stockholders were paid something like $7 a share also. All this information came off the Internet, and several sites agreed on the numbers.
We have to ask ourselves what our governor will receive when he decides to retire to some sort of tax adviser position for the oil industry.
Sour grapes on our part? You bet!
We’re voting yes on Proposition 1 for sure.
Bill and Frenchie Paden, Sitka
New Director
Dear Editor: There has been news about Sarah Lawrie, the new executive director for the Greater Sitka Arts Council, and as noted I am thrilled.
I am not completely leaving the arts council. I will be responsible for producing several upcoming events: the ‘‘Paris of the Pacific’’ melodrama, a Sitkans Can Dance event, and the wearable art show, all of which I look forward to. One last big, massive, enormous, monumental, gargantuan thank you to all of the Sitka audiences that have been so generous with your support, sense of humor, willingness to go see something different, and your generosity in supporting these programs. I look forward to more and hope to see familiar and new faces at the events.
I would be remiss if I did not thank Faith Lee and the Sitka AmeriCorps program and the arts council board of directors, past and present, for their support as well. Thank you, thank you, thank you – to all of you.
Jeff Budd, Sitka
