Leslie Becker, a Ketchikan School Board member and former Greater Ketchikan Chamber of Commerce executive director announced her run for Alaska State House for District 36. The district is currently served by Rep. Daniel Ortiz, a legislator who does not belong to a political party but who caucuses with the Democrats.
“Alaska is facing a serious budget crisis and without the immediate structuralchanges necessary to achieve a sustainable budget, the economic viability of Alaska will be at risk, ” Becker said.
“The mismanagement of Alaska’s resources has squandered billions in State savings, led to cuts in essential services, such as the Alaska Marine Highway system and resulted in the virtual elimination of the PFD paid to Alaskans. I am motivated to run as your State House District 36th, representative to end the tax disparity imposed upon our communities, to prevent service shifting from the State that will increase local taxes, to protect the PFD and to assure that a sustainable budget includes a “Shared Sacrifice” from all Alaskans,” she wrote in her announcement.
The Legislature has failed Alaska and District 36th for many years, Becker said. She is running as a Republican in what has traditionally been a Republican stronghold. Ortiz has been an odd fit for the district as an undeclared, but was a popular public school teacher who is well known in Ketchikan.
Becker and her husband, Dr. Steven Becker, moved to Ketchikan in 2016. She had a 35-year career as a healthcare executive, working with hospitals, corporations, and multi-million-dollar budgets.
More about the candidate can be found on her campaign website.
