and running. Our natural resources are vast, and the world is willing to pay Alaskan companies to get those resourc- es to market. We need miners to mine, petroleum drillers to drill, and fisher - men to fish. Our state is a leader in re - sponsible development, and we have the record of decades of safety to prove it. With the recent passage of SB155, Exploration and Mining Rights, the Alaska State Legislature has addressed long-standing issues with mining claims statutes that were penalizing hard working, well-intentioned min- ers. I understand the Legislation was a product of several years of collabora- tion between AMA, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), and members of the Alaska State Senate. I, too, believe the State of Alaska and our residents benefit from stable tax structures and clarity of the law. Alaskans across our state are demanding smaller govern- ment intrusion into their lives and their wallets. We need to balance the needs Alaskans have and what we can afford. This is the main reason I am running for Alaska State Senate. I am willing to share my ideas on how to balance our budget and create stability for our busi- nesses and tax structure. I know Alas- kans want someone to represent them and keep their promises. I will do just that. I will back my word with action and get Alaskans back to work. Carl Johnson, Democrat Candidate As an Alaskan, an attorney, a natural resources manager, and a small business owner, I have worked to build our great community. Throughout my career, I have also worked in all three branches of government, at the county, tribal, state and federal level. My experiences have taught me the importance of public service, of listening to constituents and keeping them informed, and sometimes making hard choices. During my time in Alaska, I have visited all corners of the state, from Kaktovik to False Pass, Kotzebue to Ket - chikan, spending time with Alaskans as they work hard on commercial fishing boats to doing seismic surveys at Olik- tok Point on the Beaufort Sea. Alaska is a land of incredible promise and oppor- tunity. But opportunities have been lack- ing lately. We need a state budget that funds the essential services of govern- ment, funds infrastructure and public
safety, creates an educated work force, and prioritizes the growth of a diverse and innovative economy. We need a sustainable Permanent Fund, one that can perform as it was designed to into the foreseeable future. That means growing the corpus of the Fund. These will be my goals as a State Senator. Budget cuts have consequences. Underfunded agencies hurt the ability of businesses to grow – from delayed issuing of permits to being unable to get answers to questions about regulations. Lacking or broken infrastructure harms the ability of business to compete. An underfunded education system, includ- ing our University, means Alaska busi- nesses have to look farther for educated employees. I will take my role as an Alaska State Senator seriously, working to serve our great state in a manner that creates op- portunity for individuals, families, and businesses. I will look for creative solu- tions to our challenging problems, and work with any legislator who is looking to move Alaska forward. Senate District P Greg Madden, Alaska Independence Party Candidate Alaska needs its lands opened up for Alaskan use. The Federal government claims most of our land, but this is unconstitutional and thus unacceptable. Article 1, Section 8, the Federal gov- ernment is authorized to have “Forts, Magazines, Arsenals, dock Yards, and other needful Buildings”. There is no other Constitutional authority for the Federal government to claim or possess our lands. Once Alaska owns Alaska’s lands, I want to see them open for use and development, as our State Consti- tution calls, for (Article 8, Section 1), including allowing roads to open access the state to the smaller scale miner who can not necessarily afford to have their equipment airlifted, as authorized by Article 8, Section 5. Alaska is a state brimming with resources. My job is to help open all responsible opportunities. We need NO new taxes and NO increased taxes. The long respected statutory PFD should be maintained and restored to the people of Alaska. You should be able to keep and have “en- joyment of the rewards of (your) own industry” (Article 1, Section 1) without the government wanting an ever-grow-
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The Alaska Miner
October 2020
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