Big projects one focus of forum

MAT-SU -- The good news is the election season is almost over, but for voters waiting until election day to cast their ballot, there's still at least one chance to hear the candidates' stance on the issues.

Local candidates will be sparring this evening during the 2004 General Election season's last forum, from 7 to 9:30 on KAKM Channel 7. It'll also be broadcast on Alaska Public Radio at KSKA, on 91.1 FM. Candidates had a chance Tuesday to hone their debating skills at a Frontiersman-sponsored candidate forum held at the Colony High School Theater.

At that event, candidates hit on several issues, and discussed their plans for the upcoming legislative session, if elected. Big projects, such as the recent passage of federal legislation pertaining to construction of a natural gas pipeline, as well as a continued effort toward building the Knik Arm Bridge, were on the lips of all candidates.

Rep. Vic Kohring, running to retain his House District 14 seat, said he hopes to see the big oil companies involved in the natural gas pipeline project take the front seat in developing the pipeline, and believes government should stay out of the process.

"I don't see that government should play a major role in that," Kohring said. "It should be up to the open market."

Pat Carney, Kohring's opponent and a former legislator, said the Legislature should encourage companies to develop businesses that will incorporate the raw materials -- in this case, natural gas, but also other natural resources harvested in Alaska -- into end-stage products, such as plastics or petroleum-based products.

"We end up exporting all our resources and never create any long-term wealth," Carney said.

Mike Chmielewski, candidate for House District 13, said he believes the Legislature still has a large role to play in the construction of the gas pipeline. Determining where the pipeline is built, who builds it and how royalties are set up are just a few of the topics yet to be determined, Chmielewski said, but one of those will mean a lot to Alaska's future.

"How much is Alaska going to receive in revenue from the gas line over time?" Chmielewski asked.

Carl Gatto, the incumbent representative for House District 13, said he's excited about the project, which he said could be the "single largest project ever done on the face of the earth." He said he's comfortable that Alaska is on the right track -- a top-notch negotiator is working on the state's behalf, he said.

"We've bought the best advice we know of," Gatto said.

Candidates for Senate Seat G and House District 16 discussed the Knik Arm Bridge project, and expressed varying ideas on how the project should be approached.

Lyda Green, the incumbent in Senate Seat G, said she's a strong supporter of the Knik Arm Bridge project, and has an advisory role on the Knik Arm Transportation and Advisory Board, the group charged with overseeing the project.

"The Legislature has its role in place," Green said, and committed to future support of the project as it moves along.

Gini King-Taylor, Green's opponent, said she hopes to see value-added industries come along with the project that would make use of the natural resources that could be shipped via Port MacKenzie and the Knik Arm Bridge. The wood chips that will be shipped to paper producing factories in Asia next month, for example, could be made instead into plywood at a Mat-Su factory.

"I would like to see the Legislature support value-added projects so we can keep the money here in the Valley," King-Taylor said.

House District 16 incumbent Bill Stoltze said he, too, has an advisory role on the Knik Arm advisory board. He said he sees both positive and negative sides to the project, but believes it could be beneficial both to the Valley and to Anchorage.

"It could be useful in getting rid of the [traffic] problems in downtown Wasilla," Stoltze said. He said he'd like to see more involvement in the planning stage from Valley residents before the project is built. "I want to hear more input."

John Angell, who's challenging Stoltze for the House District 16 seat, said he's not sure if he's ready to give full support to the project yet.

"I want to see a cost-benefit analysis before I'd jump in," Angell said. "I want to see the people affected by it … able to participate and [that they] don't have something imposed upon them."

Contact Rindi White at rindi.white@frontiersman.com.