Assembly should move forward, not backward

In reporting the news of the Mat-Su Borough’s apparently imminent attempts to modify or repeal the 2007 power plant ordinance, we started feeling kind of wistful. Nostalgic, even.

Not, of course, for the power plant debate. That was a rancorous fight we’re glad to be done with. No, we feel nostalgic for the days when nonpartisan elections were truly nonpartisan.

Why’s that? Well, let us explain.

The current assembly and its conservative majority appears to be aiming to undo the legacy of previous assemblies, whose regulations a majority of the current body believes are onerous and anti-business.

Toward that, the assembly has tackled subdivision rules and taken down the borough’s tall towers ordinance. Though, judging by today’s news, what exactly the borough plans to do about towers is far from settled.

The latest regulations to get caught in the assembly’s crosshairs are the power plant rules. Though they were a big deal in 2007, we haven’t heard much about them since. And rightly so.

They were well-debated, well-considered and well-written then. Of at least equal importance, they were also well-supported by a broad swath of borough residents. Rules of democracy and common sense would dictate that the issue has been settled to the satisfaction and best interest of the people.

So it is concerning that this issue is surfacing again.

Given that there is a borough assembly election each year, it is conceivable that the assembly majority could flip multiple times between when a power plant is proposed and when it is built. Imagine the havoc multiple subsequent assemblies flip-flopping those power plant rules would have on such a project.

But whoever is at the table this year or next, they are tasked with the same singular charge: to serve the people of the Mat-Su Borough. That’s not a partisan job. It’s a roll up your sleeves, lift with your legs and muscle through the people’s business kind of job.

Our wish this New Year — and this legislative session — is for reason and nonpartisanship, for assembly majorities focused on solving problems instead of gamesmanship and petty party politics.