10.0°

As a husband, parent, retired small business owner and founder of a program that involves youth in habitat restoration projects for everyone's benefit. I've experienced the up and downs that life throws out, with four children. With our oldest having downs syndrome I can personally relate with the heart ache, immense joy and love which comes from raising one of God's children. Also having a son currently serving his second enlistment in the United States Army, while his first saw him spend nearly 16 months in Iraq I've experienced the fear, tears and pride parents have watching their children grow up and become adults.

Still with two teenagers in the nest, I sometimes feel that my wife and I have earned PhD's in "life" from the University of Hard Knocks. Incorporating the golden rule I was taught and I have worked to teach my children. "Never be afraid to stand up for what is right or what you believe in, ask questions when in doubt, say what you mean and mean what you say and if your wrong; always apologize."

With this understanding, I feel that I can best represent all the people of the Kenai as your voice. Should the people of district 33 once again place their trust in me as their State Representative, I promise to represent them in Alaska's Legislature with honor and integrity as a non-partisan voice. As I believe elected officials are also role model representatives of our community and our youth and should conduct themselves accordingly.

Six years ago, the people of 33 district sent me to Juneau as their Representative in the republican majority. There I quickly discovered that as a member of the majority caucus, the Republican caucus leadership directed how many important votes on the house floor were to be cast, and to rail against that meant certain reprimand by leadership.

After serving one term in office; family needs required me to not run again and I felt someone needed to make a stand against Murkowski's percent of market value plan (POMV). That would have simply raided the permanent fund dividend and capped everyone's PFD check at $ 1,000.00 for the sake of funding government services. Since that time, the legislature has continued to grow the states budget, with surplus from high oil prices.

Now Alaska is facing a possible economic train wreck and we need to be preparing for it. In the last four years government has continued to grow while now corporate America is lying off thousands almost daily. Regulations, and a environmental strangle hold on Alaska's resource development has done more to harm the economy than it has done good at any level. I personally have spent more on ground time in the last twelve years restoring and protecting the environment than any one individual or even some groups, simply put; "action speaks for its self."

With my a proven track record of standing up to pressure and special interest I believe I can best represent you the people, and not party politics. My ability and backbone to work across party lines will ensure the people's voice will be heard loud and clear.

So on November 4th I would ask for your support for action as a non partisan voice in Juneau. Can 61 percent of the registered voters statewide be wrong when they check non-partisan or undeclared? Its time for old "club" of party politics to start representing the people not the elite, wealthy or special interest as they have done for years.