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Parade of federal officials visits Alaska, but state officials largely cut out of meetings, and Peltola missing

Suzanne Downing
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Parade of federal officials visits Alaska, but state officials largely cut out of meetings, and Peltola missing

Key officials from the White House and the Department of the Interior convened in Anchorage with the Alaska Federation of Natives on Monday to discuss infrastructure development initiatives in the state.

The high-profile meeting included Senior Advisor to President Joe Biden and White House Infrastructure Implementation Coordinator, Mitch Landrieu, Department of Interior Deputy Secretary Tommy Beaudreau, and other senior officials. U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski participated in the discussions.

It’s unclear if the State of Alaska was invited to attend, but no members of the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities were listed as part of the AFN meeting, which included:

Mitch Landrieu, White House Senior Advisor to President Biden; Ryan F. Berni, Special Assistant to the President and Senior Advisor for Infrastructure Implementation; Maya N. Humes, Senior Communications Advisor; Tommy Beaudreau, Department of the Interior Deputy Secretary; Mackenzie Landa, DOI Advisor to the Deputy Secretary; Raina Thiele, DOI Senior Advisor to the Secretary for Alaska Affairs and Strategic Priorities; Katherine Pustay Currie, DOI Deputy Infrastructure Coordinator; Sally Tucker, Senior Advisor, DOI Infrastructure Communications; Julie Kitka, President, AFN; Ana Hoffman, Co-Chair AFN; Joe Nelson, Co-Chair AFN; Ben Mallott, Vice President of External Affairs, AFN and Sealaska Corporation President; Nicole Borromeo, Executive Vice President and General Counsel, AFN; Nikki Stoops, Special Assistant to the President, AFN; Michelle Anderson, President, Ahtna, Inc., and AFN Board Member; Vivian Korthuis, President, AVCP and AFN Board Member; Nathan McCowan, CEO, St. George Tanaq Corporation and AFN Board Member; Sheri Buretta, President, Chugach Regional Corporation and AFN Board Member; Andy Stemp, Chief Financial Officer, Arctic Slope Native Association; and Tom Panamaroff, Koniag and AFN Board Member; Pat Pitney, President, University of Alaska; Garrett Boyle, Federal Co-Chair, Denali Commission; Daniel M. White, Chancellor, University of Alaska Fairbanks; and U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski.

Recess: EPA tours Alaska and talks to tribes, while partying Peltola punts

Arctic Slope Regional Corporation and Doyon, two of the largest Alaska Native Corporations, were also apparently not part of this meeting. They have withdrawn from AFN. State of Alaska officials were not invited, as the White House continues to develop a government-to-government relationship with tribes that cuts out the any state-level entity.

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has $5.2 billion in funding earmarked for Alaska across 934 infrastructure projects, which was the main topic of the AFN meeting. These funds are typically sent through state budgets and the projects are executed by the states themselves. Therefore, the largest state stakeholder being absent was noted by some Alaskans.

Irony alert: Buttigieg accepts a ‘No-Road to Ambler’ shirt from ‘China’

The entire parade of federal officials is unusual: Alaska has never in its history seen so many cabinet-level appointees as it has had this summer, and many are asking “Why all the attention, when the federal government seems intent on shutting Alaska’s economy down?”

In fact, so many Biden surrogates have been to Alaska, it’s hard to keep track of them all. This week, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland joins the list, touring rural communities with Sen. Lisa Murkowski and an entourage.

Murkowski has also been unusually visible and active, moving through many Alaska communities throughout August recess. Her staff nearly every day posts one or more videos or photos showcasing her visits on social media, a robust public relations campaign for her office. In reality, Sullivan has been more present in communities but has not been as active in publicizing his visits on social media.

Unlike Rep. Mary Peltola, who has been invisible in August over the recess, Murkowski and Sen. Dan Sullivan have been with Alaskans all over the state at an exhausting pace.

Update: Peltola has shown up for press conference photos at the Alaska Native Heritage Center in Anchorage on Tuesday.

Rep. Mary Peltola at the Alaska Native Heritage Center with members of the Biden Cabinet on Tuesday.

On Monday, Sullivan was a speaker at the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration port facility in Ketchikan, as the community welcomes the return of the NOAA ship Fairweather, which is home-ported in Ketchikan but has been in Oregon due to the disrepair of the dock in Ketchikan, a repair project that Sen. Sullivan has championed getting finished since he joined to the Senate in 2015. 

Earlier this month, Sullivan brought Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg to Kotzebue and he and Sullivan visited seven communities in three days, including Kobuk, Shungnak, and Kiana, Huslia, Hughes, and Allakaket.

Sen. Dan Sullivan speaks during the ceremony reopening the NOAA port facility in Ketchikan on a sunny August day.

The stream of federal visits to Alaska all started with a visit from First Lady Jill Biden to Bethel in May and continues this week with Attorney General Garland, Department of Commerce Assistant Secretary Susie Feliz, U.S. Small Business Administration Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Administrator Dr. Richard Spinrad.

Along with the cabinet-level officials, they bring with them entire entourages of functionaries who have struggled to find hotel rooms and cars during the height of Alaska’s tourist season.

Rachel Levine praises Anchorage gender clinic that refers to mothers as ‘egg producers’
Assistant Secretary of Health, transgenderism advocate visits Alaska
Transportation Sec. Buttigieg to visit Kotzebue, Anchorage, Juneau
Mary Peltola finally surfaces, partying in Colorado with Democrats
Who’s who: House Committee on Infrastructure, Transportation comes to Anchorage
Where’s Mary?

Fishing for fines: Peltola mixes campaigning into Lu Young fundraiser

Suzanne Downing
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Fishing for fines: Peltola mixes campaigning into Lu Young fundraiser

Rep. Mary Peltola promoted a charitable fundraising fishing tournament immediately following the Kenai Classic, and has attached her name to it as a host.

For years, a fishing event for children has been known as the Lu Young Fund Fishing Event, named for the late wife of the late Congressman Don Young.

But Peltola, who replaced Young in Congress, is skirting and perhaps has broken campaign laws by using the fishing event to promote her campaign for reelection. She sent the invitation out from her campaign email account to official government accounts across D.C. and Alaska, that shows her as the honorary host. There is no disclaimer on the flyer.

Because of that, it means she is receiving a campaign benefit from a nonprofit organization, the Lu Young Children’s Fund.

The invitation landed in official accounts in Congress and in the accounts of staff and legislators in Alaska before August recess. That’s a violation on many levels, both state and federal.

If she is representing herself as an official in Congress at the event, Peltola can’t send out the invitation from her campaign account to official congressional emails. If she intended it to be a campaign function, she has forgotten to disclose that with the required verbiage.

“The Lu Young Children’s Fund Fishing Event will be held in Seward, Alaska August 25, 26, 27, 2023, and we hope that you will join our Honorary Guest Congresswoman Mary Sattler Peltola for some of the best fishing and most breathtaking scenery in the world,” the invitation says. “A registration form is enclosed, along with a short list of important details.  Please register today to save your place, since the event is limited to 30 participants and the spots fill quickly.” The invitation was signed by a deputy campaign manager.

“Invitational participants will enjoy fishing for salmon and halibut in beautiful Resurrection Bay and the waters of Seward. Your participation fee includes 3 days of charter fishing, breakfast and lunch each day, a gourmet dinner, fishing license, fish processing and shipping.  The fish you catch will be flash frozen and shipped to you anywhere within the United States.”

The note that accompanied the invitation came from Elisa Rios, deputy campaign manager.

The Lu Young fishing event has now been turned into a political event for Rep. Peltola in violation of Federal Election Commission laws.

Peltola’s first time sport fishing? She shows reel rookie mistake

Watch: Alaska Airlines jet badly damaged on landing during Hurricane Hilary

Suzanne Downing
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Watch: Alaska Airlines jet badly damaged on landing during Hurricane Hilary

An Alaska Airlines jet landing at the John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana, Calif. suffered heavy damage late Sunday night in the middle of Hurricane Hilary’s simultaneous arrival in Southern California.

Flight 1288 from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport was operated with a Boeing 737-800, which “experienced an issue soon after landing … and was unable to taxi to the gate due to an issue with its landing gear.”

Alaska Airlines 737-800 on the taxiway of the John Wayne Airport after a hard landing on Sunday night.

Six crew and 106 passengers were onboard, but there were no injuries reported.

A passenger posted video of the hard landing, which shows sparks flying past the window. Other photos were posted on social media that showed the port side engine resting on the taxiway, shown in the photos above.

The jet’s tail number is N516AS. It has been flown for Alaska Airlines since the company bought it in December 2008.

“Photos posted on social media by the Orange County Fire Authority indicate the MLG [main landing gear] mount broke through the upper wing skin,” according to the Aviation Safety Network website.


Brooke Cusack: We can, and we must unleash Alaska’s energy

GUEST CONTRIBUTOR
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Brooke Cusack: We can, and we must unleash Alaska’s energy

By BROOKE CUSACK

This spring, Gov. Mike Dunleavy hosted the Alaska Sustainable Energy Conference: a three-day showcase of how the 49th State is leading on the technologies and developments of tomorrow.

Sen. Dan Sullivan headlined; industry leaders attended, and the panel topics spanned micronuclear energy, to geothermal potential, to rare earth mineral mining, and to the promise of Alaska’s LNG.

It was a glimpse of a vision of economic prosperity and private sector innovation that conservative young Alaskans like myself hope to see. 

Those of us looking at the future of America know that unleashing American energy is key to much-needed energy independence, national security, and addressing our environmental, economic, and climate challenges. Alaska — not Saudi Arabia, not Venezuela, not Russia — should be the ones providing the world with energy sources of the future, for we know how to develop resources responsibly and have high standards for doing so.

However, there’s a couple critical obstacles to fully unlocking American resource development.

Domestically, the Biden Administration has pursued an agenda that kneecaps energy at every turn. From continuously blocking access to important development projects, like the Ambler Access Project, to appointing judges and government bureaucrats that hinder our ability to develop and innovate, it’s clear they are shutting down projects based on ideology, not rationality. (And on top of that, these bureaucrats clearly don’t understand what drives rural economies!)

Internationally, the trade policy landscape is far outdated. The world is in a new paradigm, where we are needing not only low-cost, but clean, high-quality production. However, the old paradigm allows foreign adversaries like China to flood the market with goods that have virtually no modern labor and environmental standards. This leads to a world that is overall far more polluted, and undercuts US production, which is far cleaner.

In fact, Alaska is particularly implicated by this gap. To put into perspective just how clean we are, Gov. Dunleavy launched an annual Alaska Standard report, which delineated our best practices and compared our overall production to the other major players in global markets.

It shows we are far more advanced than others — whether due to our strong guardrails to prevent flaring or our strict environmental standards that ensure generations of Alaskans will continue to enjoy the pristine environments we all know and love. Alaska’s sustainability is in a league of its own — no matter whether compared with Canada, Russia, Norway, or Texas!

To account for our high standards and reward our clean production, we need to address the unfair competition and level the playing field in trade. That means enacting real policy prescriptions like a foreign pollution fee aimed at places like China, Venezuela, and Russia. 

This tool targets imports produced under drastically different environmental standards as our own. A foreign pollution fee would incent other countries to meet them or pay a price if they want products to enter the US market. 

When you look at the numbers, the need for this is great.  Russia, Iran, and China — the world’s leading natural gas producers after the U.S., respectively — pollute up to twice as much when extracting their yields. The U.S. produces oil four times cleaner than our Canadian neighbors. And for critical earth metal mining, which is key to next-gen energy production, American producers can process these same minerals with half the pollution that China emits.

Especially in the context of increasingly tight international energy markets, we need to do all we can to boost domestic production.

As a young Republican, I am thankful that, despite their differences, Gov. Dunleavy, Sen. Dan Sullivan, and Sen. Murkowski are unified in bolstering Alaskan energy and resource development while responsibly addressing environmental issues.

We need to fight back on the domestic front to unlock energy here, while also bringing the world to meet the standards we’re pioneering so American businesses and consumers are rewarded for them. 

Brooke Cusack is a resident of Anchorage and the former Chair of the Alaska College Republicans. She is active in the State Republican Party. 

Passing: Diane Louise Winchester

GUEST CONTRIBUTOR
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Passing: Diane Louise Winchester

Diane Louise Winchester died Saturday, Aug. 12 surrounded by the warmth of her family. Despite extensive health struggles and an exhaustive quest pursuing medical treatment options, she lived a beautiful life. She was 71 years old.

A lifelong Alaskan and vibrant member of the Anchorage community, her passion for life was boundless. A brilliant businesswoman, Diane’s flagship, Aurora Fine Art gallery, is in the heart of downtown, along with her shops Zoez Window Gallery and Alaska Max Gourmet. However, she found the greatest joys in life with her family.

Diane is survived by the love of her life and best friend, Jerry Winchester, and their four children and their partners: Chad Renner, Brandon (Andrea) Renner, Jeff (Nicole) Winchester, Tonia (Brandon Milton) Winchester; and eleven grandchildren — Zoe McHenry, Max Renner, Madeline Renner, Emma Renner, Aliann Winchester, Kyrra Winchester, Quinn Winchester, Ian Milton, Chance Milton, Sawyer Winchester Milton, and Ivy Winchester Milton.

Born June 25, 1952 at the old Providence Hospital in Anchorage to parents Howard, a bush pilot/businessman, and Nina (Stone) Fowler, an executive director of a local bank, her first childhood home was a log cabin on the 700 block of O street. Coincidently, that log cabin was only a couple blocks from the loving home she created with Jerry over the last 30 years. It was her mother’s influence and unwavering confidence in Diane’s abilities, along with a $200 gift, that Diane attributed as the launching point for her academic, artistic, and business successes. 

Diane’s artistic talents, especially as a singer, emerged early in life. She was always the lead and truly a standout performer. After graduation from Dimond High School in 1970, she started a family with the birth of sons Chad and Brandon. Her special energy, talents, and strength were always evident. In her early years of motherhood, she balanced the profession of accountant for the family business, a wide range of singing engagements (including a steady gig with a Rock ’n Roll band), and the pursuit of higher education in music at UAA.

Diane’s angelic-yet-versatile voice landed her in Monterey, California during the 1980’s. She was a bonafide professional singer with agents for nearly a decade. Always family first, Diane continued to change with the needs of her sons, leading to a position as Seagram’s lead cost account and a path back to Alaska.

Most remarkable and memorable was her magnificently and consummate style, grace, and elegance. It poured into every aspect of her life. It created a richness as she deliberately immersed her senses into each moment to connect with the world, art, artist, the community, and most importantly, as a loving mother, grandmother, and wife. Diane’s legacy is her unparalleled love and connectedness to share the beauty of life.

With her entrepreneurial spirit and meticulous style, Diane quickly advanced in the world of gallery art. Within a year, her quaint 400-square-foot shop to exhibit Alaskan artists evolved to the present-day Aurora Gallery. Nearly simultaneously, Diane’s love story with Jerry truly began.

It was a time of new beginnings. With a shared faith and trust in God, Diane’s life with Jerry blossomed with beautiful blessings and soared to the heavens above.

As life partners and dynamic teammates, they complemented each other and business thrived.

The mayor appointed Diane to serve eight years on the Anchorage Museum Board of Directors. She was an Honorary Commander on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson three times, continuously engaged in philanthropic pursuits, and was an active member of the Rotary.

As president of the Anchorage East Rotary Club, the organization spearheaded an effort to improve quality of life issues in Nepal through a local charity called Helping Hand for Nepal. The couple witnessed the impacts of the charity first-hand during a mission trip to Nepal, which touched their hearts and made a lasting impact.

Their 30-year journey together was full of joy, excitement, and adventure. Diane was a world traveler, skilled skier, marathon runner, outdoor enthusiast, and took to the skies as a helicopter pilot. She lived life to the fullest.

Whether holding hands with Jerry on the streets of Barcelona or connecting in the quiet of Trapper Lake, Diane’s favorite place was at Jerry’s side. Together as kindred spirits they lived a life of incredible passion and oneness.  

The family wrote, “Though we rejoice that Diane is at peace with Jesus, we will greatly miss her presence here on earth. We will treasure her legacy and Praise God for her life well lived.”

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Helping Hand for Nepal. www.hhnepal.org .

Diane’s celebration of life will be held at the Anchorage Museum on Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2023, at 6 pm. A reception with light refreshments to follow.

Eagle River group files paperwork to detach from Municipality of Anchorage

Suzanne Downing
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Eagle River group files paperwork to detach from Municipality of Anchorage

Residents from Assembly District 2, callinmg themselves “Eaglexit,” have set taken the next step to create a new borough, the Chugach Regional Borough, encompassing the region extending from Eklutna to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson.

The process of detachment and incorporation initiated by Eaglexit began with the submission of a written petition recently, as well as a charter outlining the proposed governance structure, and a comprehensive legal brief supporting the move to independence and self-determination.

The documents were formally submitted to the Local Boundary Commission for review.

The Local Boundary Commission, established by the Alaska State Constitution, will evaluate the materials supporting the creation of the new borough.

Once the petition, charter, and legal brief pass muster, Eaglexit will embark on a timeline set by the commission for the subsequent steps:

  1. Signature Collection: With corrected and final documents in hand, Eaglexit will initiate the signature collection process. Signatures must be collected no more than one year prior to the formal submission of the petition package to the LBC.
  2. Analysis and Public Involvement: After successfully gathering signatures, the package will be resubmitted to the LBC for an in-depth analysis. This phase, lasting 18 months to 2 years, includes public hearings and the incorporation of community input.
  3. Decision and Transition: The LBC staff’s analysis and the input from the public will culminate in either approval or denial of the petition. If approved, a vote on detachment will be held, or a recommendation will be presented to the state legislature for further action. A successful outcome would trigger a two-year transition period to establish the new Chugach Regional Borough.

Eaglexit’s journey toward self-governance and borough creation carries historical significance, reflecting the determination of communities to forge their destinies.

As the late Lee Jordan, a prominent Eagle River advocate for local autonomy, asked decades ago, “Will the people of Chugiak-Eagle River have the opportunity to control their own destiny, or must they forever remain subject to what has been decreed for them by Anchorage?”

To support its mission, Eaglexit is seeking financial assistance for critical aspects such as media outreach, polling, and legal counsel. Community members are encouraged to learn more at the Eaglexit website at www.Eaglexit.com.

The driving force behind Eaglexit is the desire to empower its community through increased autonomy, enhanced public engagement, improved education, and tighter fiscal control. With a land area of 1,050 square miles and a population of 50,000, the proponents believe that the Chugach Regional Borough would serve as a significant and meaningful addition to the state.

House committees issue subpoenas to uncover FBI, IRS special treatment of Hunter Biden

Suzanne Downing
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House committees issue subpoenas to uncover FBI, IRS special treatment of Hunter Biden

The House Committee on the Judiciary and House Committee on Ways and Means, pursing evidence of political interference in the investigation into Hunter Biden’s alleged tax crimes, issued subpoenas on Monday to key witnesses involved in a meeting that took place on Oct, 7, 2022.

During this meeting, now-Special Counsel David Weiss reportedly asserted that he was prevented from pursuing charges against Hunter Biden for tax offenses, according to the sworn whistleblower testimony.

The subpoenas target both Internal Revenue Service investigators and officials from the Biden Administration Department of Justice who were either present at the meeting or had direct knowledge of the proceedings. This move follows the committees’ prior attempts to obtain voluntary transcribed interviews from these crucial witnesses, which were rebuffed by the Department of Justice and the IRS.

In a joint statement, Ways and Means Chairman Jason Smith of Missouri and Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan of Ohio, said the committee, along with the Committee on Oversight and Accountability, have sought these interviews since IRS whistleblowers came forward with concerning allegations of political interference in the investigation into Hunter Biden’s foreign influence peddling and tax evasion.

“Unfortunately, the Biden Administration has consistently stonewalled Congress,” the congressmen said.

The House Committees’ actions stem from allegations of special treatment in Hunter Biden’s case. The committees want to know whether President Biden’s son received preferential treatment from federal prosecutors and to determine the ultimate decision-maker in the matter.

They argue that transparency and accountability are paramount, particularly given the appointment of Special Counsel Weiss, the same U.S. Attorney who handled Hunter Biden’s plea deal and the troubled investigation into his purported tax infractions.

The core of the issue centers on the conflicting statements provided by U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware Weiss and Attorney General Merrick Garland. According to sworn whistleblower testimony, Weiss expressed that he lacked the authority to bring charges against Hunter Biden. Yet, Attorney General Garland had previously testified that Weiss had the necessary authority and control over the case.

Garland’s testimony timeline adds further complexity. In April 2022, he testified that U.S. Attorney Weiss was supervising the investigation without any possibility of political or improper interference. However, his statements came into question in March 2023 when he confirmed that Weiss possessed full authority to bring charges outside of Delaware without Special Counsel status.

The turning point in the investigation came when a proposed plea deal collapsed during a court hearing in Delaware. It was only at this juncture that Attorney General Garland designated Weiss as Special Counsel.

This sequence of events has raised doubts about the accuracy and completeness of the information provided to Congress.

The subpoenas have been directed towards prominent individuals involved in the investigation, including IRS Director of Field Operations Michael T. Batdorf, IRS Special Agent in Charge Darrell J. Waldon, FBI Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski, and FBI Assistant Special Agent in Charge Ryeshia Holley.

French-Canadian sentenced for attempting to poison Trump in 2020

Suzanne Downing
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French-Canadian sentenced for attempting to poison Trump in 2020

A 56-year-old dual citizen of Canada and France, was sentenced Thursday to 262 months in prison for her role in sending threatening letters containing homemade ricin, a deadly toxin, to the White House, then-President Donald J. Trump, and eight Texas State law enforcement officials.

The sentencing of Pascale Cecile Veronique Ferrier was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and officials from the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Washington Field Office and San Antonio Field Office.

Ferrier’s sentencing comes after she pleaded guilty on Jan. 25 to prohibitions with respect to biological weapons in two separate criminal cases before the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. The cases involved her sending threatening letters filled with ricin to high-profile political and law enforcement targets.

According to court documents, Ferrier admitted to manufacturing ricin at her residence in Quebec, Canada, in September 2020. Ricin is a lethal poison derived from the waste produced during the processing of castor beans. She placed the toxin into envelopes, along with handwritten letters, which she mailed to the White House and to eight Texas State law enforcement officials.

The motivation behind Ferrier’s actions stemmed from her belief that the Texas law enforcement officials were connected to her detention in the state during the spring of 2019.

In early September 2020, Ferrier used her Twitter account to suggest violence against then-President Trump, writing, “please shoot [T]rump in the face.” The letters contained menacing language, with the one addressed to then-President Trump instructing him to “[g]ive up and remove [his] application for this election.”

All the threatening ricin-laced letters were mailed from Canada to the United States. On Sept. 20, 2020, Ferrier was apprehended at the Peace Bridge Border Crossing in Buffalo, N.Y., while driving a car loaded with a firearm, numerous rounds of ammunition, and other weapons. She was arrested and has been in custody ever since.

In addition to her 22-year prison term, Ferrier was sentenced to a lifetime of supervised release. An order of judicial removal will require her to leave the United States once her prison term is complete.

Jamie Allard: Superintendent fails a key test of commitment and judgment

GUEST CONTRIBUTOR
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Jamie Allard: Superintendent fails a key test of commitment and judgment

By REP. JAMIE ALLARD

The Anchorage School District is a crash course on the failure of our public schools. It has some of the worst academic performance in the nation.

Superintendent Jharrett Bryantt inherited this mess when he accepted the role of superintendent. He has faced challenges that are undoubtedly compounded by political polarization, racial tension, and ideological propaganda.

Given his desire to improve our communities by investing in students, his recent decision to deny elementary students the chance to meet Dr. Ben Carson, an American hero and symbol of the American Dream, has left many deeply puzzled and disheartened. 

When asked to elaborate about his decision during the recent Anchorage School Board meeting, he refused. His equivocation about which policy gives him such authority, and failing to give any real explanation for his actions leaves room for assumptions and speculation.

Was this a politically charged decision? Would he have disinvited Barack Obama? It’s unfortunate that Bryantt refused to reach across the aisle, look past political affiliations, and put our students first. His actions have created more discord and robbed children of an incredible educational experience. 

Dr. Carson’s journey from humble beginnings to becoming a world-renowned physician is an inspiring story of perseverance and accomplishment. A hardworking single mother gave everything she had to raise him into a man of character, with the grit and determination to achieve the unimaginable. He overcame his disadvantaged childhood, living impoverished in the inner city and nearly failing out of elementary school, to become the youngest Director of Pediatric Neurosurgery in history at Johns Hopkins Hospital, a position he held for 29 years.

He was the first to successfully separate conjoined twins that were attached at the back of the head, and the first to perform an intra-uterine brain surgery. He was awarded the Medal of Freedom, the highest honor a civilian can receive in this country.

He is a former United States Cabinet member, serving as the secretary of Housing and Urban Development. He founded the American Cornerstone Institute, which promotes “faith, liberty, community, and life,” ideals that founded our nation.

That such a distinguished person would take the time to visit Mountain View Elementary School is extraordinary. An inspiring encounter of that magnitude can change the trajectory of a child’s life.

Dr. Carson demonstrates how to make it in life and not let anything stand in your way. It’s just the kind of story needed at one of the most diverse elementary schools in the country. It is beyond disappointing to see you take away an opportunity to expose our students to such a positive role model. 

While I understand the challenges of navigating a politically charged environment, it is essential for educational leaders to rise above ideological differences and prioritize well-rounded education and diverse perspectives. Dr. Carson’s achievements and character transcend political affiliations. To veto him based on politics, religion, or personal preference is folly at best and discrimination at worst.

It’s sad that Anchorage’s superintendent couldn’t see that benefits of such an accomplished man being able to inspire each and every one of us. I question if he has the experience or ability to understand the importance of what it means to educate our children.

Education should embody the values of critical thinking, open-mindedness, and intellectual curiosity. Denying students the chance to engage with someone like Dr. Carson shows a lack of understanding about what is helpful to them.

The Anchorage School District has a well-known list of shortcomings when it comes to accomplishing its core mission. Regrettably, it has just added to the list.

Rep. Jamie Allard is a member of the Alaska Legislature, representing Eagle River, and co-chairs the House Education Committee.

Banning Ben Carson: School board president says it’s all ‘misinformation’
Anchorage school superintendent says his canceling of Dr. Ben Carson’s visit is within his ‘case-by-case’ authority
School superintendent won’t allow Dr. Ben Carson to speak at local school
Spellbinding Wiccan art is new feature at Anchorage public preschool campus
Downing: Dr. Carson doesn’t fit the woke agenda of Anchorage schools
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