Senate District O spotlight: An interview with write-in candidate Ron Gillham

Senate District O spotlight: An interview with write-in candidate Ron Gillham

Question: What would your first priority be as the senator, should you get elected?

Answer: One of the first priorities will be trying to get the PFD into the constitution, that way the politicians can’t ever get into it again. I want to save it for future generations.

Q: Why did you start your write-in campaign?

Well, after the primary, I sort of thought it was all over. I had so many people contact me and ask me to do a write-in. And after about three weeks we gathered a bunch of people together and had a meeting on it. And it was unanimous that everybody wanted me to do a write-in. So since there was no Democrat running, we decided to go ahead and pursue it.

Q: Do you support the annexation efforts the city of Soldotna is currently pursuing?

A: No, I do not.

Q: Where do you see the future of the Permanent Fund Dividend?

A: Well, if things don’t change in Juneau then I see it going away. It’s going to take more than just the governor to get it into the constitution. If it doesn’t get into the constitution then I can see it gradually go away.

Q: Would you repeal SB 91?

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A: Yes. That’s my second priority. Get law and order back in the state.

Q: What do you hope to accomplish should you be elected?

A: Well, I’d like to get the crime down. One thing I’d like to do is get more Alaskans to work. There are more people leaving the state now because they can’t afford to stay here. I work on the Slope right now and there’s going to be a lot of work up here and I would like to see it go to Alaskans. About 36 percent of the people up here are out-of-staters and I think that’s too many. I think we should get more Alaskans working.

If you do vote for me, make sure my name is spelled right. I hope to represent the people on the peninsula.

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