By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
Candidate for U.S. House Alyse Galvin says her concern for Alaska is driving her to make a second attempt to unseat 47-year incumbent Rep. Don Young.
“I’m very worried about Alaska, and the stakes have never been higher,” said Galvin, an independent candidate. “We’ve never faced the challenges we have ahead of us, not only with the pandemic but of course with the economy. Economically we’re in a crisis, the likes of which we’ve never seen in our lifetime.”
Election Day is Tuesday, November 3.
Galvin, 55, has restricted her campaign this year to visits to the road system, with the exception of one trip to Juneau, due to the pandemic. Her contacts with Sitkans have taken place mainly through four Zoom meetings, including one on small businesses, and another on fisheries.
Although she lost her first bid to unseat Young two years ago by a 53-47 margin, she said the circumstances are even more critical this time around, given Young’s limitations and the challenges of today. Young is the longest serving member of Congress.
“My concern is we cannot meet these unforeseen challenges with solutions that have been tried and failed,” Galvin said. “We can’t afford to spend the next two years having someone not only working part-time but outside the rooms where decisions are being made.”
Alyse Galvin. (Sentinel Photo)
She said Young in 2015 reached his term limit for committees and subcommittees in Congress, and is in the minority of the House as well.
“We have only one representative (for Alaska) in Washington and we can’t afford to have someone who is not delivering or advocating for Alaska because he’s not in a position to do that,” she said.
She said Young’s ethics violation has also harmed his position in Congress. “He can’t be there for us anymore, so it’s time to elect someone new,” she said.
Galvin said her status as an independent puts her in a position to do more good than Young has over the years on fronts such as transportation, energy, fisheries, internet access and health care.
“He’s taken over $300,000 from health care industry and repeatedly voted to take coverage away from thousands of Alaska families,” she said. “He instead voted for an insurance industry bill that increased the premiums; and failing to stand up to the pharmaceutical (industry) when he could’ve reduced prescription drug prices significantly.”
Galvin believes her “independent voice” will be helpful in weighing in for Alaska’s infrastructure needs, making health care more affordable and getting residents back to work. Improving infrastructure for the internet, and service, particularly for rural areas, will help make health care more affordable and accessible, she added later.
“It will help keep costs in check, and provide opportunities to stay connected,” she said. “We’re learning that people can work from home ... this opens the door for many to be living in Alaska if we open those opportunities through technology.”
As to her chances in this election, Galvin said she doesn’t know how the vote’s going to go, but said it could be “razor-thin,” and “encourages all in Sitka to take advantage of their opportunity to vote. This is a historic time for us, to be able to unseat a representative who’s been in for 47 years – and create the kind of change Alaska’s ready for –is something I encourage everybody to be a part of.”
Asked why Sitkans should vote for her, she said her main goal in running is to help Alaska families “take care of their own.”
“Sitka’s suffering through some really tough times right now,” she said. “Whether it’s the fisheries, or the ferries, or any other job that depends on the cruise ships or tourism. I hope Sitkans recognize the opportunity to have somebody at the table, in the room, raising the ‘people’ flag – not a red or blue flag ... .”
Galvin has lived in Alaska for 37 years, and currently resides in Anchorage. She is married and has four children. She has never held elective office, but has served as an advocate for children’s education statewide, and worked on the transition team for Gov. Bill Walker in 2014-15.
A town hall teleconference is scheduled for Sunday evening, with an updated time posted on the campaign’s Facebook page.
An interview with Rep. Don Young appeared in the October 7 edition of the Daily Sitka Sentinel.
