Voting for JKT
Dear Editor: We need representatives in government who do not put corporate interests above the needs and desires of everyday people. Corporations use their money to spread their messages well beyond anything you or I can do, by making large campaign donations and creating super-PACs with TV ads full of lies, exaggerations and misrepresentation, to convince people that they share the same interests as you and I. But they don’t. They don’t care about clean oceans and safe fish to eat. They don’t care about clean air, safe food or your ability to afford health care or have safe and effective medication and medical treatment. In fact they don’t care about anything except profit.
I am voting for Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins.
Bill Thomas supports Gov. Parnell’s giveaway tax cut to the oil corporations when they are making record profits. Those taxes can help us in these times of economic difficulty. We need visionaries who will help us grow our economy without destroying our health or our environment. We need representatives who will put the needs of everyday people, working to keep their homes, health, families and incomes. Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins will work tirelessly to put Alaskans first.
Libby Stortz, Sitka
Vote for Kreiss-Tomkins
Dear Editor: “Of the people, by the people, and for the people…”
That’s Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins.
Zach LaPerriere, Sitka
Dog Ordinance
Dear Editor: Yup we called it puppy time. I was first introduced to this group of responsible dog owners about eight years ago as we met on the old Kimsham baseball fields. This activity had taken place noontime during the summer where we would take our dogs to socialize with other dogs, and, yes, not to mention us adults even having good time. Time was spent talking about our dog breeds and their characteristics, learning from each other.
I believe it was the late Ben Grussendorf that had put it together. Ben would make the noontime stop after many hours of walking his own dog on almost every square inch of Sitka. It was a good time for dog and master.
I find it appalling that the city thinks they can point their fingers at the responsible dog owners who use that facility. If the city wants to enforce something, perhaps Swan Lake after it freezes.
R.I. Eliason Jr., Sitka
Stedman and Thomas
Dear Editor: I currently live in Haines, but was a Sitka resident for more than 40 years. During my years in Sitka I have known and become friends with Sen. Stedman and his family, both in Sitka and Petersburg. Mr. Stedman has proven himself to be a fine senator and will receive my vote on Election Day. Please understand that with redistricting, Haines falls in to the redrawn Senate District Q and House District 34. I hope you will also vote for Sen. Stedman this Election Day.
Having been a Haines resident now for several years I have been able to witness firsthand how hard that Rep. Bill Thomas works for Haines and the rest of his district. Bill Thomas’ hard work and powerful position in the House of Representatives shows with the professional representation and capital projects that he has helped to secure in his district over these past years.
No matter which party you are associated with, as you think who to vote for please give thought to how powerful that Sen. Stedman and Rep. Thomas will be together for the Southeast region. To put a freshman representative who will be in the minority in a House seat is to put representation, money and capital projects up north into the Railbelt again, leaving Southeast with little influence on the legislators from Anchorage and Fairbanks for several years in the future. We the residents of House District 34 simply cannot afford to place a freshman minority representative in the House of Representatives. I hope you will join me in voting for Southeast Native, Vietnam veteran and commercial fisherman Bill Thomas this Election Day.
Mike Binkie, Haines
Blue Lake Project
Dear Editor: It is arrogant for any political group to declare with certainty its control or organization in advance of an election. Especially an election that involves new district boundaries, competitive candidates, new legislative members and new legislative committee assignments.
My choice for new state representative is Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins. Jonathan is aligned with Sitka and Southeast. He respects the Southcentral and oil power-bases but he’s with Sitka. Jonathan’s “compromise bank” is empty and he can be objective in his work. And by the way, the Senate drives the capital budget, thank you and due credit to Sen. Bert Stedman.
As Jonathan points out, if Alaska forgoes $2 billion in oil revenue without commitments to produce the oil we own, there will be a whole lot less money to fund Blue Lake hydro. Jonathan opposes that tax cut, and that’s good for the Blue Lake project, Sitka, and Southeast.
Blue Lake is reasonable, sensible and responsible. It has overwhelming local support. It fits into the Southeast power strategy. A great case is made for Blue Lake that any Legislature and administration can embrace, no matter who holds the “me too” chairmanship of the finance committee of a yet-to-be elected or organized legislative house. Having a representative as dynamic and driven as Jonathan, you can bet that there will be no better spokesman for the Blue Lake project.
John Stein, Sitka
Politics
Dear Editor: As we get ready to either re-elect or elect our senator and representative to Juneau, please consider this. Vote for the person, not the party. What we are watching at the national level is political paralysis. Sitka has historically found a way to do things that are in the best interest of the community.
I would offer up that Southeast Alaska, and more importantly Sitka, stand to benefit greatly even as the population and political numbers continue to tilt toward the Railbelt.
This election, we currently have already in place, elected officials who are in very key positions in the state Legislature. Sen. Stedman is the well-known co-chair of Senate Finance and writes the capital budget for the state. We benefit tremendously from his position. Rep. Bill Thomas is co-chair of House finance and writes the operating budget for the state.
With redistricting, we now have Rep. Thomas from Haines vying for your vote to also be our representative in Juneau. His party has close to a super majority in the House. With his re-election, Sitka stands to gain direct representation from the person writing the operating budget for state – the same budget that gives us our funding levels for the Department of Fish and Game, the university and so on.
Just as important, as pointed out by Sen. Stedman, Rep. Thomas can defend key projects that are in the capital budget, when the budget is given to the House for debate. As already seen, Rep. Thomas has done a great job in working with Sen. Stedman for Sitka’s interests in recent budgets. The challenge for Sen. Stedman, as he further stated, is that one needs to be in the majority, with a seat at the finance committee table, and more so – as one of the chairs – to have any chance to influence the budgets. ‘‘Try getting $30-$40 million in capital funds for a town of 9,000 if you don’t have a seat at the table’’ is how he stated it.
I like that Reggie Joule-D, longtime respected rural legislator from Kotzebue, is endorsing Bill Thomas. That tells me Bill can, and has worked across the aisle. Bill worked with Rep. Les Gara to increase funding for foster care kids programs. He’s also worked with Rep. Chris Tuck to pass Parents as Teachers legislation which helps prepare youngsters for school. He’s had a history of working across the aisle on issues which make sense for all Alaskans.
Personally, I like all three candidates and their energy to serve. I’ve known Bill for many years. I will support the person, not any party line, and vote to keep a seat at the table for Sitka and Southeast Alaska. I will support Bill Thomas as well as Bert Stedman to represent Sitka’s interests. It’s a critical time for Sitka’s future.
Keith Perkins, Sitka
Re-Elect Thomas
Dear Editor: Hello my fellow Alaskans. My name is Victoria Moore, I want to share with you about our support to re-elect Bill Thomas! My husband is a commercial fisherman, I’m a bookkeeper, and active volunteer in our community in Haines. We have a 6-year-old son, Alex. Our son was diagnosed with autism when he was 2 years old. I’m very proactive in his treatment.
Couple years ago I started to learn how to advocate for our Alaskan children. I have gone to our capital and started advocating the importance of Head Start, Parents as Teachers, Infant Learning and Autism Resources are. I shared my story with Bill’s staff about how important early intervention is, how it has given us hope for Alex. I personally sent Bill an email sharing our story. Bill responded to me the same day, he let me know he heard me by taking action. He first made sure Autism Resources received funds, next was the HB 49: Early Childhood Ed: Parents As Teachers. Also what he is doing for our veterans and commercial fisherman. We need to re-elect Bill Thomas.
Victoria Moore, Haines
