To friends and neighbors living in Anchorage districts 9E and 10E:

Our community stands at an important crossroads. Senate District E deserves principled, courageous leadership – leadership that listens to families, honors faith and governs with clarity rather than convenience. Too often, we are told that the choices before us are limited, that compromise without conviction is inevitable, and that deeply held values must be placed on the back burner.

We do not believe that is true.

For years, many in this district supported Senator Cathy Giessel because she presented herself as a conservative voice grounded in common-sense values. Yet time and again, she has chosen to align herself with policies and political alliances that conflict with the convictions of the families she represents. From issues surrounding gender ideology and abortion, to school choice and parental rights, Senator Giessel has increasingly sided with forces that marginalize faith-based perspectives rather than protect them. Her close partnership with Democratic leadership and strong backing from union bosses underscore just how far she has drifted from the principles she once claimed.

If you have ever felt the quiet stirring that perhaps you were called for such a time as this, know that you would not stand alone. This district is ready. The moment is now.

Most recently – and astonishingly – Senator Giessel suggested that Alaskans who support a statutory Permanent Fund Dividend should consider limiting the number of children they have. That comment, reported publicly, was not only dismissive of families but fundamentally out of step with Alaska values. Our children are not liabilities. They are blessings. And no elected official should suggest that family size ought to be dictated by government policy or economic fear.

Beyond rhetoric, Senator Giessel’s legislative record on family issues raises serious concerns. One bill she sponsored – Senate Bill 90 – would change Alaska law to allow 16- and 17-year-olds to receive up to five mental health treatment sessions without any parental consent or knowledge. According to critics, after those initial sessions the bill could allow a provider to continue treating a minor without informing parents at all – so long as the provider determines the teen might not otherwise pursue treatment, that contacting the parents would be detrimental, and that the minor is “mature” enough to make the choice.

This shift effectively places broad discretion in the hands of mental health providers to withhold information from parents – a move that many Alaskans view as undermining the constitutional and moral rights of parents to direct their children’s care. Opponents argue that such a framework could create a pathway for decisions about gender treatments, counseling related to pregnancy, and other sensitive issues to occur without parental guidance or input – at a time when family involvement is most important.

We do not minimize the challenge before us. Senator Giessel is a formidable opponent with significant institutional support. But history – and Alaska – have shown that principled candidates, rooted in their communities and supported by engaged citizens, can win. This district is not asking for perfection. It is asking for courage, clarity and conviction.

It is also recognized that stepping forward to seek public office is an intimidating and deeply serious decision – one that weighs heavily on any person of conscience and faith. Yet in this moment, particularly in the wake of the tragic assassination of Charlie Kirk on September 10th, there is a palpable hunger and renewed spiritual energy within the Body of Christ. Believers are increasingly aware that retreat is no longer an option. Across congregations and communities, there is a growing readiness to support a servant-leader willing to stand up and say, in humility and courage, “Here I am, Lord – send me.”

For such a candidate, the support is not hypothetical; it is real, prayerful, and ready to be mobilized.

We believe now is the time for someone from this district – someone who loves Alaska, values family, respects life, and honors parental authority – to step forward. The issues that matter most to people of faith do not need to be sidelined. They can be addressed with wisdom, compassion and firmness when leaders are willing to lead.

If you have ever felt the quiet stirring that perhaps you were called for such a time as this, know that you would not stand alone. This district is ready. The moment is now.

TAKING ACTION

— For those who want to turn this ship around CLICK HERE to see where District E boundaries are.

— Send an email to jim@akfamily.org or a text to 907.317.7268 if you are interested or know of someone who might prayerfully consider running for this critical seat. 

P.S. We hear Chuck Kopp and Louise Stutes are running as well. More on that later.

The views expressed here are those of the author.

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