Legislative Priorities
FINANCIAL SECURITY FOR TEACHERS AND PUBLIC EMPLOYEES
We should be committed to the well-being and financial security of our public employees, including teachers; which is why I support the reinstatement of a defined benefit pension plan in the form of SB88 or a similar bill. This common-sense measure would not only offer a more secure future for our public workers but also address high turnover rates, leading to long-term financial savings and more efficient use of state resources.
In a competitive job market, particularly in education and public service sectors, offering a robust retirement plan is key to attracting and retaining top talent. This is especially relevant for Alaska, where attracting skilled professionals can be challenging due to unique factors such as climate and a higher cost of living compared to other states.
Lastly, reinstating a defined benefit plan aligns with our moral responsibility to teachers, paraprofessionals, and other public servants who dedicate themselves to the furtherance of Alaska’s future. Providing them with a secure retirement is a tangible way of acknowledging and valuing their contributions.
ALASKA'S FUTURE IN EDUCATION
In recent years, we've seen challenges that threaten the quality of education our children receive, exacerbated by the Alaska Legislature's unwillingness to adequately fund public education as mandated by our State’s Constitution.
Alaska’s significant reliance on state funding for education, accounting for 63% of the total revenue for schools, speaks to the constitutionally mandated role of government in funding education. This responsibility must be taken seriously.
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Moreover, the exodus of our young population, coupled with significant cuts to university funding, signals a deeper problem. We are not only losing our future generations to other states, but we are also diminishing the very institutions designed to foster their growth and potential.
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While my opponent has highlighted the need for accountability and efficiency in government spending, I believe our public education system requires more than just cost-cutting measures. I will advocate for predictable and adequate increases to the Base Student Allocation (BSA) to ensure our schools have the necessary resources to provide quality education. This includes supporting teacher salary and retention bonuses, expanding early childhood education, and improving school infrastructure.
SUPPORTING FAMILIES THROUGH CHILDCARE
Bowman Pre-K
The biggest need in District F is the lack of widely available and affordable childcare to support hard-working parents.
Unlike my opponent, I will bring transformative solutions to Juneau to address the childcare crisis in Anchorage. The legislature should expand on the leadership shown by the Municipality of Anchorage, which passed Proposition 14 and recently established the Anchorage Child Care and Early Education (ACCEE) Fund. The fund collects annual marijuana sales tax revenue and dedicates it to child care and early childhood education.
The Alaska Legislature could provide a critical force multiplier by making a modest capital investment to repurpose excess elementary school building capacity for use by childcare providers. This collaborative approach would support hardworking parents, wisely utilize municipal resources, reduce provider capital overhead costs, prevent unnecessary school closures, and avoid leaving vacant buildings to become neighborhood blights and public safety hazards.
PREPARING ALASKA FOR CLIMATE CHANGE
Alaska’s way of life is indeed threatened by climate change. Warming coastal waters and the loss of Arctic ice are having detrimental effects on the environment, including traditional subsistence practices. The reliance on fossil fuels not only impacts the economy but also damages the environment. Transitioning to clean energy sources like solar, wind, and hydroelectric power can help slow climate change while diversifying the economy.
As Alaska continues to suffer the effects of climate change, the challenges we face are likely to intensify. The state must invest in and prepare for changes that are specific to Alaska's environment. It’s essential to identify innovative ways to adapt the state’s infrastructure, economy, and lifestyle to cope with warmer temperatures, melting sea ice, and thawing permafrost.
Commitment to this work is crucial to preserving our unique Alaskan way of life.
Transitioning to clean solar and wind power will diversify the Alaska economy while slowing climate change.
SUPPORTING UNIONS AND
COLLECTIVE-BARGAINING
Abbott Loop School Teachers
Throughout my life, I have been an active member of four unions.
At the age of 18, I worked as a telephone operator with the Communication Workers of America. At 21, I worked in a sewing sweatshop with poor working conditions in Oakland, California. Many of the employees, for whom English was a second language, were afraid to speak out. I organized with the International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union and, within a week, we went on strike. The strike lasted only a few days, and we became a proud union shop.
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While in college, I was a member of the Retail Clerks Union. After graduating from nursing school, I became a member of the California Nurses Association and served as a 'CNA HIV Train the Trainer' in a pilot program for universal precautions. The goal of this successful OSHA-certified program was to decrease HIV exposure and risk in hospital workers.
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I have seen firsthand how unions make a difference in the lives of hardworking families. In my experience, unions strengthen communities and contribute to better working conditions for all workers. I support the right to collective bargaining.
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Unions improve working conditions, pay, health benefits, and job safety. I will protect and support their efforts. I am proud to have received support from the Alaska State Employees Association/AFSCME.
