Fair Elections
Dear Editor: We’ve heard it for several years now – starting about 2015 or so. If I win elections are fair, but if I lose elections are fraudulent/crooked. Alaska Republican Lt. Gov. Meyer recently stated Alaska elections are fair and are well-managed.
But, Sarah Palin (on the losing end) called “Alaska ranked choice voting, UnAmerican!’’ Alaska Supreme Court deemed it legal. Alaskans voted overwhelmingly for this system. Palin also suggested Alaska election officials taking extra time to count all votes (as stated in Alaska legal statutes), “The delay was some kind of ‘glitch.’” Whew! Since she is losing I guess it’s crooked. Wonder what she would say if she were winning!
Kelly Tshibaka isn’t conceding either. Now that her lead over Murkowski has shrunk to a near tie and it appears that Sen. Murkowski will possibly defeat her with the final count – she went on to Steve Bannon’s (soon to be in jail) podcast ‘‘Warroom’’ to state, “And that’s where I need your help. Our race is not over and I’m not going to give up this fight.” Apparently, she feels the same as Palin. If I win all is okay, but if I lose – oh my, I am going to sue, I am going to fight and it’s all crooked.
Jason Grenn, executive director of Alaskans for Better Elections, said there’s no evidence of fraud or corruption of the vote. He stated, “I think Alaskans should be proud of the Division of Elections and proud of the Lt. Governor’s office for handling this so well, and also feel confident in the security of our system.”
Tshibaka has a degree from Harvard. Palin never whined – she celebrated – when she won the governor election. It is a sad commentary on our times that some of these LOSERS complain, whine, go to court and create distrust among the American public. It’s a sad commentary on our times that losses cannot be accepted graciously.
Election Day is a thing of the past. Voting by different means (including drop boxes) and voting by mail are not only acceptable, they are increasingly popular all over the nation. All of this takes time – sometimes a week or two to count all the votes. Time to move on. AND, if they can’t handle Alaska’s voting system perhaps Tshibaka and Palin should MOVE AWAY.
Harvey Brandt, Sitka
Our Wild Gratitude
Dear Editor: We left Harrigan Centennial Hall this past Sunday with our hearts full of gratitude and our bellies full of wild foods. After two years, it was a pleasure and honor for us at the Sitka Conservation Society to bring back our Wild Foods Potluck and celebrate the connections that bind us: community, place and, of course, delicious wild foods. It was truly special to come together with our community and partners, and to share so many delicious dishes harvested from the lands and waters of the Tongass on Lingít Aaní.
Hosting this gathering is truly a community endeavor, and we are only able to do it due to the heart and time put in by so many dedicated community members and volunteers. We thank our guest speakers, Khaaswóot Gloria Wolfe and Aliyah Merculief, for inspiring attendees through their powerful and thoughtful words on weaving their cultural practices, gathering of food, and connection to place to mental health and well-being.
Thank you to Daanaxh.ils’eikh Chuck Miller for leading a blessing of our meal and time together. We thank Seafood Producers Cooperative for their donation of the delicious coho and halibut, and to Chef Edith at Our Town Catering for donating her vast kitchen expertise and delicious contributions to this meal.
Thank you to Summerfall (Jim Shepard and Debby LeVeck) for their beautiful music; to John Herchenrider and Jeanne Stolberg for their production assistance; and to the many volunteers from our supportive members, to Outer Coast, Mt. Edgecumbe High School, AFS Intercultural Exchange program, the Jesuit Volunteer Corps, the Sitka Fellows Program; and to Jen, Wayne, and all of the Harrigan Centennial Hall staff!
We also want to thank everyone involved in helping Sitka 4-Hers make the cedar woven centerpieces that graced our tables: Frank Peratrovich and Sealaska for donating the cedar bark that our 4-H Alaska Way of Life Club used to make these beautiful woven centerpieces on your tables, Ed Peele for teaching the youth how to weave, Zach LaPerriere for donating the hemlock log rounds, and to Del Company Trucking and Excavation for the cedar boughs!
Last, but certainly not least, we want to express our wild gratitude to all the community members who filled the halls and brought tasty dishes for sharing this wonderful meal and time together with us! This potluck has always been meant as a way for us to show our appreciation and deep gratitude for our community and partners who make all of our work possible in Sitka and across the region. Thank you, gunalchéesh. We are so grateful to be in community with you all.
Sitka Conservation Society
Staff and Board
