 By Charlotte L. Glover October 09, 2008
Some years ago I was privileged to hear Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich speak to the Alaska Library Association. At the time, I was struck by his easy manner, his thoughtful comments on the political issues of the time and his sincere interest in educational issues that matter most to me. I've followed his career in the years since, and met him recently in Ketchikan, and am pleased to give him my vote for U.S. Senate. Ted Stevens and his issues aside, I support Mark Begich for many reasons. For one, I believe he's absolutely correct in wanting to return control of our schools to the local communities. The "No Child Left Behind" law has been a disaster for Alaska and much of the rural west where teachers have traditionally taught multiple subjects in the humanities or sciences without having a specialty degree. Mark is also a strong believer in providing Pre-K educational opportunities. Like me, he knows every dollar we put towards our children is money we will save in law enforcement and human services costs down the road. . Global warming is another issue where I know Mark will have Alaska's best interests at heart. Mark believes we must take action to mitigate the damage of climate change, reduce greenhouse gases, and he has saved Anchorage taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars by such "green" actions as replacing street lights with LED lights and harnessing methane gas from the city landfill. While I don't always agree with Mark's energy policies, as he does want to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, I know that he will work with the entire state to reduce our energy consumption and insist the oil and gas industry act responsibly, use current technology, bring gas to Alaskans first and share revenue fairly. As the daughter of a mining historian, I always say it's not the resource extraction I object to as much as the careless disregard most businesses have for the mess they leave behind. I believe Mark Begich understands the fine line between extraction and exploitation and will do his best to ensure our state stays beautiful and enjoys a healthy ecosystem. Mark Begich is smart, hard working, personable, and he does his homework. He has years of experience with municipal budgets, school issues, business issues and health and human service issues. I can't imagine a better person to represent Alaska in the Senate and that's why I urge you to support him with your vote. Sincerely, Charlotte L. Glover
Received October 08, 2008 - Published October 09, 2008 Viewpoints - Opinion Letters:
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