Last Saturday, Jan 10, the Alaska Young Republicans hosted their State Convention featuring a panel of ten of the twelve Republican gubernatorial candidates for this year’s election: Bernadette Wilson, Adam Crum, Edna DeVries, Matt Heilala, Shelley Hughes, Click Bishop, Treg Taylor, Dave Bronson, James Parkin IV, and Bruce Walden. Candidates for Governor Nancy Dahlstrom and Hank Henry Kroll did not participate in the event.
Click Bishop left the event early to attend a funeral. For coverage of his participation, please see Prior Coverage.
Audience Question #1: Help for Veterans
Due to the event running long, there was only time for two audience questions. Five of the candidates addressed audience question #1, which was asked by a veteran: “What will you do to shorten the time from a veteran asking for help to that veteran actually receiving help?”
Adam Crum said he would work to connect non-profit organizations serving veterans, pointing to the higher efficiency of non-profits compared to government programs.
Shelley Hughes talked about how she has “experienced the struggle” with the system as the wife of a disabled veteran. She said she would advocate for property tax exemptions for veterans.
Treg Taylor pointed to his contribution to Senator Dan Sullivan’s Alaska Native Vietnam Land Allotment Program, which enables Alaskan Natives who served overseas during the Vietnam War to still apply for their land allotments. He stated he would continue to foster a working relationship with the federal government to aid veterans.
Matt Heilala said he would decentralize information by using AI, technology upgrades, and innovations to make information more accessible to veterans.
Bernadette Wilson asked the veterans in the room to stand for applause. Then, she said she would work to expand telehealth services and repeal the certificate of need requirement.
Audience Question #2: Changing the Entrepreneurial Landscape
Question #2 from the audience was addressed by all the present candidates. The question: “What is your plan for changing the entrepreneurial landscape in Alaska?”
Treg Taylor answered he would get the government out of the way through deregulation efforts.
Adam Crum said the government must say “no” quicker so entrepreneurs can move on to the next idea quickly until they find the idea that sticks.
Bruce Walden emphasized that “everybody has a good idea,” claiming he could take anyone out to dinner and pull a million-dollar idea out their head. However, he acknowledged the government gets in the way of turning ideas into reality and called for deregulation.
Shelley Hughes said she would start in K-12 schools to foster entrepreneurship in the next generation. She also said she would address the “anemic capital budget in Juneau.”
James Parkin IV emphasized the need for the government to spend more money on small businesses and cut regulations stopping the success of small businesses.
Edna DeVries talked about how she got rid of the borough business license requirement in the Mat-Su Borough, making it easier for businesses to operate.
Matt Heilala stated the need to focus on the next generation and how “we need to move from a culture of ‘no’ to a culture of ‘yes.'”
Bernadette Wilson reiterated the need for deregulation, especially the cutting of arbitrary regulations. She also expressed support for developing Alaska’s trade schools.
Prior Coverage
In case you missed it…
Read MRAK’s coverage of Begich’s and Sullivan’s speeches and introductions from the 10 gubernatorial candidates: Alaska Young Republican State Convention Part I: Who Are the 2026 Gubernatorial Candidates?
Hear from Hughes, Crum, Taylor, and Wilson: AKYR State Convention Part II: What Is the Biggest Challenge Alaska Faces in the Next 5 Years?
Hear from Bishop, Walden, Bronson, and Heilala: AKYR State Convention Part III: What Is Current Leadership Getting Right and Where Is It Falling Short?
Hear from DeVries and Parkin: AKYR State Convention Part IV: What Issues Do We Face That We Aren’t Talking About Enough?
All ten candidates answer these hard-hitting questions: AKYR State Convention Part V: What Is Something Unpopular You Support? / Where Do Republicans Disagree and It Is Healthy Disagreement?
Next in Series
Part VII features the candidates’ closing remarks.