and its people. Mining is critical not only to the economy of our state, but also to the security of our nation. In the past, the United States was largely self-sufficient in rare earth elements but today has become almost entirely dependent on foreign sources for these increasingly important resources. Alaska can provide what we need to remain competitive as we work to bring production of every- thing from high-tech military equip- ment to solar panels back to the United States. If we want to encourage a strong, diversified private sector in Alaska and expand our state’s economic base, then it’s critical that we implement policies and pursue opportunities to develop our oil and gas, timber, fishing and last but not least, mining industries. House District 3 Mike Prax, Republican Candidate I am currently representing the North Pole/Badger Road area in the interior. I have lived in the North Pole area since moving to Alaska with my parents in 1969. Our family operated the Star of the North Bakery and Restaurant from ’71 to ’85 and Prospector Outfitters since 1986. I worked on the TAPS for 30 years starting 1977. My priorities are to get state spend- ing under control and reduce impedi- ments to developing Alaska’s resource so upcoming generations can enjoy the same opportunities that brought our family to Alaska. House District 4 Keith Kurber, Republican Candidate My name is Keith Kurber and I am running for House District 4, West Fairbanks. I describe myself as a veter- an, a minister, and a grandfather; I use those words because each one speaks of a life-long commitment. My oath to the Constitution as an Army Officer, to God as an ordained minister, and to my wife of over 37 years, my four adult children and their spouses, and our fourteen grandkids did not come with an expiration date. With that as background, you can also qualify me as pro-resource development. Our state is uniquely positioned as a strategic asset to our nation due to our enormous min- eral wealth. My belief is that we have a duty to develop our resources consis-
tent with the public good. Alaska has an opportunity to demonstrate to the global community that our commitment to the environment is second-to-none and that mining is not incongruent with that ideal. Given our current economic situation pursuant to COVID, the State and mining stakeholders must work together to ensure that this vital part of our economy gains importance in the coming years.
House District 5 Kevin McKinley, Republican Candidate I am a proud member of the AMA
PRAX
because mining is and has been a grow- ing force in Alaska’s economy, provid- ing jobs for thousands of Alaskans and millions of dollars of personal income throughout Alaska. In 2018, the industry provided over 9200 direct and indirect Alaskan jobs providing in excess of $715 million in total payroll. To keep this industry healthy, we must continue to work on our State per- mitting system by coordinating agencies and exploring innovative approaches to attract and retain qualified personnel and adhering to timelines. I would oppose any policies that are designed to elevate one resource over another and I recognize that existing policies have proven that Alaska mining projects, no matter how large or small, can successfully co-exist with the natu- ral environment. We need to be proactive in the re- quirement that Tier 3 waters can only be designated by a vote of the legislature. The State of Alaska must not relinquish its permitting authority to private enti- ties. We must not forget about our placer miners. The State, in conjunction with the federal government, continues to add more and more regulations ulti- mately putting the small miner in risk of shut down. We can keep our environ- ment safe while still allowing an indus- try that dates back to the late 1800s to continue to be productive. Although it is small relative to the industry’s early days, it remains a significant contribu - tor to the state’s economy. We must continue to monitor the federal and state agencies so that de- structive regulations do not get imple- mented. We also need to help in educat- ing our community on all of the positive impacts mining provides. I have been
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The Alaska Miner
October 2020
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