ANdi On the Issues

I passionately believe that Alaska deserves a healthy economy and healthy people. Four years ago, I ran to represent House District 3 because I saw how years of cuts, high cost of living, a prolonged recession, and the lack of leadership for a fiscal plan were hurting Juneau families. It has been my honor to represent you in the Legislature, but we are still confronted with many of those problems. More tough choices need to be made and they need to be made now. We know Alaska desperately needs a sustainable path forward, and I am not one to leave a job unfinished. With your support, I will continue to work with all citizens, legislators and the Governor to do what’s best for Juneau and Alaska.

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TOP ISSUES

rebuilding a healthy economy

It’s time for Alaska to grow again. Alaska’s boom-and-bust economy and deep budget cuts are hurting our children, community safety, and decimating jobs throughout Alaska’s economy – driving families away from our great state. It is more important than ever to balance our budget and fund the things we value: good jobs, education, a stable workforce, and safe neighborhoods. A sensible fiscal plan pays for these priorities and provides economic certainty so that Alaska can rebuild. My commitment to stabilize the economy and create jobs includes:

  • Advocating a sensible, sustainable fiscal plan that provides stable funding for priorities like education, public safety, healthcare, housing, reliable transportation and more;

  • Preserving the Permanent Fund and guaranteeing a sustainable dividend;

  • Rebuilding our economy and putting Alaskans to work by proposing a bond package to invest in local projects: roads, bridges, harbors, school repairs, and water and sewer systems;

  • Finding efficiencies in healthcare and continuing the expansion of Medicaid, to improve the health of our communities, reduce spending, and create good jobs in the healthcare industry;

  • The return to a defined benefit pension option, to attract and retain quality teachers, police officers, and other employees, reducing training costs, improving quality of services, and providing economic certainty for retirees and seniors;

  • Supporting our outdoor economy and creating jobs with outdoor restoration projects;

  • Working with communities and the private sector to encourage economic innovations; and

  • Addressing unnecessary roadblocks in state government that can make it harder to start or sustain a business in Alaska.

QUALITY EDUCATION FOR OUR CHILDREN AND SKILLS FOR OUR NEIGHBORS

Quality education is one of the highest priorities of any thriving community or state. Every single child deserves to succeed and families have a right to count on an equitable and quality system of education. Education is an economic driver of jobs, innovation, small business, and expanding industry. During my 15 years on the Juneau School Board I learned that there are some very specific proven strategies that strengthen educational success. A decade of reductions has diminished districts’ ability to deliver on these.

While there is plenty of vocal support for education, that is not enough. We are short changing our children’s education by failing to adequately invest in K-12 and early learning and slashing University spending.

I am a champion of:

  • Implementing a sustainable fiscal plan that provides timely and predictable funding for education;

  • Strategically investing in programs that get children reading at grade level by 3rd grade (a critical benchmark of future success);

  • Provide place-based, culturally relevant learning;

  • Expand opportunities for career and technical education with training programs for high-demand fields, ensuring that Alaskans can get a good job;

  • Providing quality pre-K programs so our children are ready to learn upon entering kindergarten;

  • Ensuring a strong and coordinated K-12 and university system that prepares our graduates for further education or job skills after high school; and

  • Ensuring a stable university system that encourages young adults to stay in-state and in Juneau.

Social, Economic and racial Justice

I have been passionate about these issues my entire adult life. It’s why I became a social worker and a school board member. For too long, voices have been left out or ignored, and not everyone has had access to decision makers. Government serves our community best when all perspectives are valued. The systems by which we govern can be exclusive and have negative, often invisible, consequences. Equity involves changes in those systems to identify barriers and eliminate unjust practices. Every action we take should be evaluated in terms of actual impacts on real people. I am committed to the principle that everyone has a right to thrive. Elected leaders must wholeheartedly and persistently work with their communities to guarantee that all people have equitable opportunities in education, housing, health care, and jobs — and I promise to do that.

WOrking together to find real solutions

We are better when we work together. There are plenty of issues that require solutions, but none are beyond our ability to solve.

Hearing diverse perspectives from all stakeholders, working together collaboratively regardless of political affiliation or philosophy, and engaging in honest, open dialogue will help us craft policy that improves the lives of all Alaskans. I’m proud to be a member of the Tripartisan House Coalition, caucusing with a Republican, Independents and Democrats to do what’s right for Alaska.

Why I Am the Best-Qualified Candidate

My current experience, makes me the candidate with the strongest knowledge of what matters to families and people in our district and region. For 38 years, Mike and I have lived and raised our three children here, who now our adults (plus two son-in-laws). Three of the five live in Juneau and one of my three grandchildren. I’ve worked hard for 21 years to balance budgets and develop relationships with leaders and people around the state. As a former social worker (with Catholic Community Services), five-term School Board member, and a representative in the Alaska House of Representatives for the past six years. I have a deep understanding of what matters to our families and people. I’ve listened to yours and their concerns during hundreds of hours on the phone, zoom, in-person visits, state committee meetings, town halls, innumerable school board meetings, community events – and more than a few hours at the grocery store.

Transportation

The ferry system will always be our region’s main highway and must be strengthened, not cut further. We cannot afford another winter without ferry service, and I support the creation of our new Alaska Marine Highway Operations Board to have more powers to administer the ferry system, protect it from political decisions, and preserve it as an affordable, publicly- owned utility. 

Health Care

Every single person deserves quality, affordable health care. Right now, costs are too high for some families and too high for the state. Voluntary pooling, posting rates so that consumers can shop around, and free primary care clinics can help reduce costs.  I believe that all women have a right to make their own health care decisions. Continuing Medicaid expansion is the best option for the state’s economy and the health of Alaskans.

Mining

Healthy places are right up there with a healthy economy and healthy people. Hecla Greens Creek and the Kensington mines are good neighbors to Juneau and provide hundreds of well-paying jobs. Other mines are being considered in our district and state. I support responsible new resource development. There is a process that the mining industry must follow in order to meet permitting, exploration and environmental standards. In our district 3 we know that the Chilkat River must be protected for our salmon and subsistence way of life as well as commercial and sports fisheries. I am opposed to the proposed Pebble Mine near Bristol Bay. It is too risky to be in the middle of a fishing reserve at the headwaters of the home of half the world’s sockeye fishery.

Protecting the Dividend and the permanent fund

The corpus of the Permanent Fund is protected by the Constitution and can never be touched without a vote of the people. Some of the earnings are being used to help support services to Alaskans, as was the original intent of the fund: this year, about 90% of our budget came from the Earnings Reserve. This is our nest egg, and we must protect it; we have an opportunity in the Permanent Fund to provide the services that form the backbone of our economy in perpetuity with a minimal tax burden for Alaskan businesses and families. Alaskans should receive a dividend every year, as it is each resident’s share of the state’s oil wealth. The budget should not be balanced only by cutting the PFD.

Alaska Native Cultures and Languages

We live on the land of Alaska’s original peoples and must always remember that. Our state government finally has acknowledged that our institutions took part in the destruction of Alaska Native language and culture. Alaska Native leaders and educators are working hard to revitalize Native languages and cultures, and the Legislature must have a positive role in this. I am committed to gaining bi-partisan support for revenue measures, such as Learning Opportunity Grants, to support this important work. I also support the creation of alternative teacher certificates to facilitate language revitalization programs in schools.

Seniors

Our district population is getting older. Our fastest growing population is over 60. Many seniors want to “age in place,” and remain in their home community their entire lives. Alaska must be affordable and offer services and infrastructure for tiered care, as well as caregiving resources to their families.

Climate Change

Climate change, accelerated by human activity, is happening at a rapid pace unknown in history. This is having disproportionate impacts on the Arctic, with consequences that will be costly to Alaska. Diversifying to renewable energy, such as hydro, solar, and wind is having positive results in parts of Alaska. Energy efficiencies and costs to users must be taken into account as we plan energy investments.