Become informed and vote

To the editor:

As a senior citizen and local business owner, I urge all voting citizens (young and old) to become informed on the issues we will be voting on as well as the candidates who are running for public office. In Wasilla on Oct. 4 we will be voting for a new mayor.

This past week I attended a mayoral candidate forum at the Wasilla Senior Center, so that I could better understand what each candidate stood for, outside of the gossip I have heard on the street. I also wanted to hear what these candidates had to say. I wanted to hear how well they answered general questions as well as questions that were directed at them personally so that I could judge what kind of character they had. The only candidate missing was our current Mayor, Verne Rupright.

Mayor Rupright submitted a letter explaining his absence, which was read by the moderator Mike Chmielewski. As I listened to Mayor Rupright’s excuse I was incensed by the lack of respect he had for the senior citizens of Wasilla. To me, his reason was nothing more than a red herring in an attempt to intimidate those attending; it was also unprofessional, rude and arrogant. These are not traits of a good leader.

Of the three candidates attending Taffina Katkus impressed me the most. To me, it was quite obvious that she is a person of high ethical and moral standards, character traits that I did not sense from the other two candidates. She also conveyed an honest and yet a humble quality of leadership that I have not heard from a public servant in quite a long time. Hearing and seeing these qualities in someone running for mayor of Wasilla was quite refreshing. Needless to say, Taffina Katkus has my vote; how about your vote as well?

Wasilla needs a strong leader. For me, Taffina Katkus has demonstrated that she is a strong leader. As a sitting city council member, a small business owner and a mother of six, Taffina has the experience and skills necessary to manage our city. Taffina has voiced her desire and dedication to manage Wasilla honestly and efficiently. When you couple Taffina’s strong family values with a sound economic development plan, I believe Wasilla can once again become a healthy and prosperous community. Let’s not waste another three years, please join me and vote for Taffina Katkus as the next Mayor of Wasilla.

Don’t forget to vote on Oct. 4.

Ron Burkhardsmeier

Wasilla