Here we go! An Alaskan political season like no other. If you stick with me for three minutes, I’ll tell you the good, the bad, and the ugly of this election cycle and my take on the candidates, specifically why I am supporting Shelley Hughes.
GOOD
— With 12+ serious candidates, you have your pick. Left to right, no experience to a lot, soundbites to theses. It’s all here.
— I hope that every person who cares about politics, the future of Alaska, or even just their kids, can find a candidate and a reason to get energized.
— Conservatives will have the largest politically active army EVER following this election cycle, IF we can work together.
— As we run out of other people’s money in Alaska, many critical issues will have to be decided. I am hoping they will be settled with less government, more land and liberty, and a whole lot more resources developed and money in your pocket.
BAD
— With lots of candidates, there may be some ‘bickering’. OK, there may be a lot of it. The key here is that we have a State to save and a future to live in, so we need to think of our children when we disagree. Disagreements are fine. Fighting in public… is politics.
— Political money will be spread pretty thin unless you have national funding, a sugar daddy, or you are a sugar daddy.
— Given the fact that there are several candidates with money, it will be somewhat hard to separate facts from fiction, or a clever retort from a solid plan.
UGLY
— Alaska is rapidly running out of savings. I think the Gov’s budget is $1.8 Billion, yes Billion, in the hole. We would spend 60% of our remaining savings to keep the government’s doors open.
— We are running out of students in public schools. This may seem fine for people who have a problem with kids learning the LGBTs and not their ABCs. However, the problem with running out of kids is that schools are not meant to shrink. Ever. If you need another classroom for 4th graders, that works itself out. If you need one classroom less, that doesn’t work itself out. Not easily.
— As we rapidly approach the end of the PFD era in Alaska (put your PFD up against education, or welfare, or healthcare, or police, and guess who wins the legislative fight?), legislators aren’t just going to agree to stop spending more. We are going to have to find strong politicians who “Know how to NO.” Legislators like this aren’t easy to find, any more than closing some schools to keep the others full is easy.
GET TO THE POINT, BIEGEL
Alright, I’ve worked with and spoken to Senator Hughes on many issues over her 12 years in the State Legislature. She was always on my side, or I was on her side when she was already leading. From life to education to budget to COVID, she was my most trusted and helpful resource – a conservative champion. A “flaw” of mine is that I don’t have neutral gear – not when Alaska is at the crossroads, and Shelley earned my vote, trust, and my time.
Faced with the fact that one candidate knows Alaska better, has given more politically than any other, and that I know her history and heart for this State, I must stand. And so, I do. I stand and say:
“Go, Shelley! Give ’em Hell, and let’s run a good race together. For resources, for roads, for lands in Alaskans’ hands, for energy, for good-paying jobs, for no income tax, and for right-sized government. Because Shelley Hughes has continually proven herself for 12 years, I’m ALL IN!”
The views expressed here are those of the author.
