36.0°

Age: 63

Occupation: Retired¿¿

Family: Wife, Sharon, (married 42 years); children, Kyle (Dottie) and Sara (Jeff); grandchildren, Joy, Denali, Orion

Education: Bachelor of Science, Elementary Education, University of Minnesota, Duluth, 1967; Master of Science, Guidance and Counseling, University of Wisconsin, Superior, 1974

Organizations and special interests: Teach, supervise and mentor local hockey officials, officiate hockey from youth through adult; various community volunteer activities; board of directors, Central Peninsula Hockey Officials Association¿¿

Ways for voters to contact you: Phone: 262-6298; e-mail: hockref@acsalaska.net

1. How should Alaska position itself to ride out, or perhaps benefit from, the stark financial realities of the current economic crises, and what steps do you think the Legislature should take to help protect constituents?

As much as Alaska is isolated geographically, it is still influenced by U.S. markets as well as world-wide markets as witnessed by the losses in the permanent fund recently. Certainly, Alaskans are also victimized by the greed on Wall Street, and CEO's who are using the money of every citizen for their personal benefit. Alaskans have enjoyed positive returns on the investments of the permanent fund because the board has invested in diversified accounts.

The legislature should not get involved in micro-managing the Permanent Fund, leave it to the experts. No one is failure safe, but, the legislature should make sure that Alaskans are aware of risky business practice, and develop more awareness so people don't fall for scams. ¿¿

While it is impossible to pass laws to prevent people from making foolish investments, legislation should be in place to make sure there are fair and honest practices.

2. Alaska is a resource state, but relatively little in the way of processing infrastructure has been built here that would allow Alaska to add value to those raw materials. What can and should the state do to change that?

The state has tried to promote infrastructure, but, success has been elusive; witness, the grain elevators in Seward, Mat Maid Dairy, etc. Agrium was a successful operation until factors determined by energy companies closed it.

The state has to evaluate their spending well before investing in infrastructure that is not practical, but, also, the state should be open to new ideas and provide incentives.

Also, when a plant like Agrium is built, legislators should be more active in seeing to it that the needed resources remain available. I am still puzzled by shipping gas to Japan, and, closing Agrium. The state should take a more active role in assessing rate structures that results in fairness, equitability and certainly keeps business open.

Tax incentives as well as low interest financing are areas to be explored to promote infrastructure that would add value as well as jobs to our economy.

3. Surpluses from high oil prices have allowed the Legislature to increase funding to schools. What is your opinion of the current level of education funding and why?

Since the first studies were done on the equability of the Area Cost Differential Factor, the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District has been shown to be consistently under funded. Several school board members as well as the ex-borough mayor have claimed that we have lost between $100 to $200 million over the years.

In this past year alone, according to Representative Chenault, we were underfunded by $11 million. Finally, some relief is coming our way, but we are still over $5 million short of what is considered "equitable funding." Because of this shortfall, we have seen our vocational programs cut and our class sizes increase.

We are losing students in high school and, we need to make sure we are funding programs that will help them be ready for the world of work. It is the responsibility of the state to make sure educational needs are met.¿¿¿¿

4. What are you prepared to do to advance alternative energy efforts in Alaska, should you be elected?¿¿

Alternative energy has become a desired and viable option since fossil fuel prices have skyrocketed. The technology could have been in place years ago, if the government had supported it. Instead, tax incentives were given to owners of gas guzzling vehicles by the Bush administration.¿¿¿¿

Alaskans living in rural areas have found ways to live off the grid successfully using solar power, wind energy, etc. However, the initial outlay is expensive. We should promote alternative energy programs by offering financial incentives. More energy raters should be available for home evaluations.

Arctic homes designs should more effectively reduce energy waste and use alternative energy. Energy credits should be utilized as well.

Additionally, alternative energy should focus on that which includes the natural forces available, whether it's wind, hydro-power, geo-thermal, tidal, solar. We should encourage a climate where creative ideas are welcome as we work to provide alternative energy.