By GLEN BIEGEL
I have been involved in politics for a long while here in Alaska. Over the years, I have interacted with you in various ways, and year over year I produce this voters guide. These are my opinions and include research I have done to ensure Christian and liberty-minded ideals are well represented in government.
2024, stark choices locally and nationally
Here is a good voter guide for Alaska. Use your phone to take a picture of it, and take into the booth with you!
Locally in District 11/Senate F
I’ve had a chance to work closely with Julie Coulombe and James Kaufman over the last few years. Truly citizen legislators, and fighting to keep government in its lane, and business well regulated, but healthy. The top local issues I have followed or discussed with them are:
Fiscal Responsibility:
-The Conservative Majority tried to get two pieces of a Fiscal Plan passed; a spending cap(HJR2) and passing a constitutional amendment to put the PFD in the constitution (HJR7). HJR7 did not signify an amount, just a simple phrase ’shall be paid.’ The Democrats voted against both. The Democrat Minority also put forward a multitude of budget amendments and legislation that would have added hundreds of millions of dollars to the state budget. The Majority stopped the proposed spending. They also voted against multiple amendments Reps Coulombe and Carpenter put forward to cut the operating budget.
Protecting girls:
-The Majority passed HB 183 that prevents men and boys from playing in women’s and girls’ sport competitions. The Democrats voted against it.
Cook Inlet gas shortage:
-The Majority supported oil and gas development. The Minority, through unreasonable process, taxes, or stability, regularly thwarts oil and gas development. For instance, the Conservative Majority voted for and passed additional gas storage (CSHB394) to make sure we have enough gas during the coldest winter months. Most of the Minority voted against it, including the Anchorage delegation (Anti Hilcorp). The bill was rolled into a bigger bill and was ultimately passed and signed. The Minority also consistently fought against Royalty relief, the Majority supported it because it applied only to NEW gas and oil drilling in the Cook Inlet. The Democrats aren’t sufficiently concerned about reliable gas to heat our homes.
Coloumbe’s District 11 race (This plays out across Anchorage and Alaska generally):
- Coulombe has repeatedly demonstrated her intent to smartly reduce the size of government and put more resources into public safety and infrastructure. A surprising distinction is Featherly appears to believe the State should drill in Cook Inlet, instead of the private sector.
- Featherly, the house candidate, has said at multiple forums he doesn’t think we spend enough on government and wants to grow the size of government. This is a consistent position difference between the parties and the Democrats’ push for larger government which jeopardizes the dividend and will swiftly lead to an income tax.
- Featherly supports Ballot Measure 1 which is anti small business, Coulombe opposes it.
- A strong dividing line between parties also plays out in public funding of abortion. Coulombe opposes and Featherly supports public funding.
Kaufman and Park had position differences that echo the differences between Coulombe and Featherly. For those outside of District 11 and Senate F, I have tried to concentrate on consistent differences between the two ideologies/parties.
I strongly support Kaufman and Coulombe.
Nationally and Statewide:
Again, please take a look at the voter guide.
Most haven’t heard Nick Begich speak much less sit with him for 2 hours at dinner. It’s kind of funny, not like funny ‘haha’, when I watch the political ads. I watched the one about creating jobs in India.
I graduated from UAA in 1993 with a computer science degree. There were 9 computer science graduates. There were 200+ sociology, 200+ psychology, 200+ general majors (enough credits, but no specific major). The problem with the ad complaining about Nick’s business is that he doesn’t pick what degree people graduate from college with.
I have to say, I like Nick. His biggest recommendation to be our Representative is that the Washington elites didn’t want him, and it took a huge effort from Party leadership to convince Washington that we needed only one candidate and that was Nick Begich.
Nick is a pro-life conservative businessman, who will be fiscally responsible.
The problem for Democrats (and they are all nearly identical ideologically, especially if you count that Peltola supported Hakeem Jeffries 18 times for speaker) is they are dealing a bad hand for Alaska. Biden (with Harris’ support) has had 66 executive orders limiting or terminating development and other rights in Alaska. Democrats are a bad match for Alaska, our jobs, our freedoms, and our security.
I also support Donald Trump for his demonstrated ability to select Supreme Court Justices, his successes in keeping energy costs low, inflation down, and his endless support for Alaska.
Please vote.
Glen Biegel is a technology security professional, Catholic father of nine, husband to a saint, and politically active conservative.