By WIN GRUENING

Alaska’s 2020 U. S. Senate race has turned into one of the most negative I’ve ever seen. Alan Gross, the Democrat nominee, has set a new low bar in his attempt to spend the millions of dollars pouring into his campaign from Outside dark money groups.

Those asking for the privilege to represent Alaska at the very highest levels of elected office should be the most qualified and most deserving of the honor.  I don’t want someone representing Alaska who stands proudly proclaiming after countless outright false and misleading attack ads,  “I’m Alan Gross and I approved this message.”

Gross’s campaign ads accuse his opponent, incumbent Senator Dan Sullivan, of secretly pushing the Pebble Mine (Sullivan opposes it), voting against lower-priced prescription drugs (Sullivan voted against a Bernie Sanders amendment allowing non-FDA approved drugs), and in favor of denying insurance coverage of pre-existing conditions (Sullivan has never supported that).  Gross’s accusations are all demonstrably false, but they continue day-in and day-out because he apparently doesn’t care about the truth or running an honorable campaign, only winning.

Gross claims to be an “independent” but this is more deceit.  He has changed his party affiliation numerous times including changing from a registered Democrat just months before filing for office. On a private call with Democrat donors, now made public, Gross admitted his “values are to the left” and that he will “caucus with the Democrats.”  Democrats have told him his best chance to get elected is to pose as an “independent.”

Gross lacks experience in any kind of leadership position, elected or otherwise.  With no accomplishments or recognition to cite, he has resorted to attacking his opponent hoping no one will notice he hasn’t earned the respect and recognition that comes with community involvement and public service.

Most stunning is the total absence of grassroots support for Gross in his hometown.  After earning up to $2.5 million annually during his 20-year career as an orthopedic surgeon in Juneau, one must wonder two things: First, where is his legacy of philanthropy?  There seems little evidence of any significant contributions to the fundraising campaigns of his community’s many arts and cultural organizations or social service agencies.  Second, where are the legions of classmates, colleagues, patients, and hospital personnel who would presumably step up to attest to his character, judgement, generosity, and record of community service?

Crickets.

Weigh that against Senator Sullivan’s experience and record.

Senator Sullivan served under President George W. Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice as the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Economic, Energy, and Business Affairs and as a Director on the National Security Council, where he worked to dismantle terrorist finance networks. He also served as Commissioner of the Alaska Department of Natural Resources prior to being elected to the U. S. Senate. Dan holds a B.A. in Economics from Harvard University and a joint Law and Master of Science degree in Foreign Service from Georgetown University.

Dan Sullivan’s extensive expertise in military, national security and international affairs is critical, not only to Alaska but to the nation.  

Since his election to the U.S. Senate, Dan Sullivan has been a leader in rebuilding our country’s military, promoting responsible resource development, opening markets for Alaska fishermen and cleaning up our oceans.  He has worked to expand benefits for our veterans and to help society’s most vulnerable, especially survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence and those recovering from addiction. Now, in the face of unprecedented challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Senator Sullivan continues to fight for Alaska’s health and economic future.

We deserve a senator whose roots in the state are deep.  We need someone who has demonstrated he genuinely cares about Alaskans and will fight for all of us, not just for the political party aiming to capture Alaska’s U. S.  Senate seat.

Sen. Dan Sullivan has earned re-election on November 3. 

By JODI TAYLOR

Concerned parents are asking that Anchorage School District begin in-class school immediately.  Not only are many schools across the U.S. and the world attending school in person, many of the districts throughout Alaska are now attending in person. 

Sign the petition at this link.

A recent Yale study tracking young children in all 50 states found there to be no difference of infection rate between children who stayed at home and children who went to daily childcare. ASD’s remote learning negatively impacts children (and their families).  For the following reasons, children in Anchorage are best served by attending school in person:

1.      Equal Education Opportunity.   

Low-income, special needs, minority, and foster children are adversely impacted by remote learning.  This is born out in data; nationwide, about 30 percent of Native families and about 20 percent of Black and Latino families do not have access to the internet or have it only through a smartphones, compared with 7 percent of White families and 4 percent of Asian families.  Where remote learning is often plagued with challenges in low-income families, higher income families have additional options for furthering their children’s education. 

Some families have opted to send their children to private schools, utilize private tutors in conjunction with Anchorage School District’s home schooling, hired private teachers, and even temporarily relocated using teleworking to enable grandparents or other family members to oversee their children’s education.  

Not all families can do that. The education gap that already exists in Anchorage is further exacerbated; contrast students with remote schooling for a year (with many students not attending) to those who have been privately tutored. The obvious disparity dictates immediate action.

2.      Emotional, Social and Physical Impacts.

Dr. Danielle Dooley, medical director of Children’s National Hospital and a pediatrician said, “I am really seeing the negative impacts of these school closures on children,” including: mental health problems, hunger, obesity due to inactivity, missing routine medical care and the risk of child abuse — on top of the loss of education.

This is also being seen on a local level.  A local nurse practitioner has seen children who have gained 40 pounds since COVID-19, children coming to the office with imagined worries just to see someone and have an emotional connection, children with severe mental health issues, and this nurse is very concerned about unreported abuse with children not in school. 

This is not just a problem for younger children but is especially prevalent among older students.

3.      Reasonable, Precautionary Measures.

The American Academy of Pediatrics has repeatedly recommended opening schools, and many districts have listened and have been able to fulfill their core mission of teaching students in a safe manner. Some families may deem it best for their family to remain in a remote learning model – perfect, as it’s already available.  ASD’s own survey has shown most families desire, desperately, to have their children back in full-time.  

It’s time for the ASD Board of Education, Assembly, and our Mayor to address that demand.   Let’s get our students back in school and learning.

Jodi Taylor is a mother of five ASD students, an ASD graduate, and believer that education is a great equalizer.