An article in the March 11 Anchorage Daily News called, "Salmon politics may uproot managers," stated new language being discussed that would "close the commercial and sportfishing offices in Soldotna," moving the managers from Soldotna to Anchorage.

The Senate president, from the Mat-Su Borough, is supporting this language change for numerous reasons including, "Fish and Game offices in Soldotna are in the same building as a commercial fishing trade group."

The Fish and Game Office has been in the same building for decades. More than 25 permanent employees work from there, as well as an additional 50 during the summer. It would not be healthy policy to move these workers and their families to Anchorage away from the people and geographic area they are managing. It would have a significantly negative financial impact on the Kenai Peninsula economy, our schools and the principle of local control of local resources.

Why is there no discussion of moving the Mat-Su Fish and Game offices to Anchorage? What is true for the Kenai should be true for Mat-Su. And should the areas of the Bush with Fish and Game offices also be considered, not only Soldotna and the Kenai Peninsula?

Also, the $80,000 a year savings in lease space mentioned in the article from Senate budget writers must not realize that rental space in Anchorage is much more expensive.

The Legislature authorized and extended the lease on the Soldotna-area building for 10 years when the owner of the building agreed to a 15-percent reduction for the term of the lease. Do the Mat-Su legislators really believe it is in the taxpayers' best interest to relocate our residents to Anchorage, pay higher lease rates in Anchorage and pay the lease for an empty building down here?

Something is very fishy with this proposal, but I can't get my hook into it.

Mayor Dave Carey

Soldotna