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Viewpoints: Letters / Opinions

Sullivan's Absence at High School Senate Forum

By Willie Hall

 

October 20, 2014
Monday PM


While Tuesday's Senatorial Forum at West Anchorage High School provided a platform for Mark Begich to display, once again, his superior poise and presentation to an audience, the lack of legitimate competition among the present candidates was obvious and disappointing. Even Mark Fish who was hardly able to articulate out his responses made a more compelling case for his candidacy than an absent Sullivan. Meanwhile Ted Gianoutsos could barely restrain himself from spewing wildly inappropriate answers (detailing sexual encounters with his wife seated in the front row), vaguely racist jabs, and far flung promises (a vote for Gianoutsos is a vote for a $10,000 PFD?).

Unfortunately, Republican candidate Dan Sullivan blew off the debate. As a Begich supporter and high school student this disappointed me. I was interested in hearing Sullivan state his positions in person on the numerous questions posed by the Youth Vote coordinators. But true to the nature of his campaign, Sullivan did not make an appearance along side his fellow candidates. Anchorage students felt snubbed.

Sullivan did communicate to the Youth Vote coordinators that he was unable to attend due to a previous engagement, however, he could have at least provided some sort of video response, like both gubernatorial candidates, to inform the ASD audience of his platforms. Instead we were left with nothing from Mr. Sullivan. Youth Vote put on a professional, organized, finely produced and ready-for-broadcast debate that showed the next generation of voters should be taken seriously - something Dan Sullivan might want to consider more seriously heading into election day.

Willie Hall
Anchorage, Alaska

About: "I am an intern for the Mark Begich Campaign in Anchorage. I am a junior in high school at West Anchorage and attended the Senate Forum on Tuesday the 14th at West."

Received October 16, 2014 - Published October 20, 2014

 

 

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