By DAVID BOYLE
Fairbanks, if you believe Anchorage is on the right track with its runaway taxes, increasing homelessness, and radical leftist policies, then vote for the leftist candidates this Oct. 3. They will bring this nirvana that is devouring and destroying Anchorage.
Many people in the Fairbanks area tend to stay home and ignore local elections. This is not an option for you this time around, as the leftists are planning to push their agenda on you.
There is a lot at stake this time and if you value lower property taxes, a more competitive procurement process, private property rights, and schools with an academic focus, you should get to the polls on Oct. 3.
The budget process is a complicated one that takes experience to know where the fat can be cut.
There are some bright spots on the ballot: During their time on the borough Assembly, Tammie Wilson and Jimi Cash have worked diligently to reduce the cost of government, and Aaron Gibson voted similarly when he was on the Fairbanks City Council.
In contrast, the left-leaning candidates supported by the Putting Alaskans First Committee (AFL-CIO) have no governmental experience and they would have a steep learning curve in the budget process. Here are the APOC reports on the Left candidates funded by Putting Alaskans First Committee:
Note that the NEA-PACE teachers’ union and the Alaska State Employees Association are the funders of the left-leaning candidates.
During the Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce debate, it became clear that these left-leaning candidates did not understand basic budget elements. That can and typically does have terrible consequences for taxpayers.
Wilson, Cash, and Aaron Gibson will vote to limit the powers of the borough. Wilson and Cash voted to withdraw the borough from the Alaska Municipal League, an organization that promotes big-government policies and that costs the borough thousands of dollars in annual membership dues.
In addition, Wilson, Gibson, and Cash voted down the “Climate Action Plan,” in order to limit the growth of government. The original Climate Action plan had the borough joining the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives, a United Nations entity that would have cost the borough more than six times more than membership fees in the Alaska Municipal League.
ICLEI’s agenda would require infringements on private property rights and would put the agenda of the international entities ahead of property owners in the borough.
Wilson, Cash, and Gibson will ensure school funding is focused on academic subjects. In the supplemental funding for schools, Wilson and Cash made it clear to school board members that academics should be the primary focus.
In contrast, the Planned Parenthood-funded left leaning candidates have indicated they would fully fund an educational program that focused on a social agenda not supported by most property owners.
Because the borough Assembly funds the school district, Planned Parenthood has pumped substantial dollars into borough assembly candidates who will support their radical school board candidates — Tim Doran, Bobby Burgess, and Meredith Maple, all school board candidates endorsed by Planned Parenthood.
Tammie Wilson’s opponent, Liz-Reeves Ramos says, “I would hope to be able to fund our school district more.” She doesn’t say it, but reading between the lines, it means more money for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), social justice, or gender identity issues.
Wilson says, “We had one of the lowest budgets ever this last year, even with a six and a half percent increase in wages but by doing efficiencies.”
Conservative Aaron Gibson wants to take care of deferred maintenance and pay off the borough’s debt.
His opponent Scott Crass says he wants quality services to include, “The maintenance of our wonderful borough facilities like our parks and our pools.”
Jimi Cash said his top issue has always been property taxes. He is saddened by people losing their homes because they cannot pay their property taxes.
Cash’s liberal opponent Nick LaJiness has three core pillars — education, jobs, and animal welfare. He says, “I embrace a profound commitment to the well-being and safeguarding of our cherished animals.” He wants to “guarantee the provision of care, compassion and the utmost respect that our furry companions rightfully deserve.”
It has taken three election cycles to get a one-vote conservative majority in the Assembly. Fairbanks, if you value lower property taxes, property rights, and schools with an academic focus, you need to go to the polls.
The conservative candidates are Tammie Wilson, Jimi Cash, and Aaron Gibson for Borough Assembly.
Or if you like the leftist candidates, Crass, LaJiness and Reeves-Ramos, then just move to Anchorage, where you can witness the results.
Here is a link to the Fairbanks Borough Assembly election on Oct. 3.
