Candidate challenges opponent's record

Spectrum, by Gini King-Taylor

I am running for state Senate District G, covering Palmer and Wasilla, against 10-year career politician Lyda Green.

We need a new voice in Juneau. I promise to work for you, but even more, I pledge to listen to you first.

Who am I? I am a 14-year Valley resident and have lived in Alaska since 1977. I may be new to the legislative process, but I am not new to working for the needs of people.

Some of you may know me as an educator and as the writing consultant for Alaska's Blue Ribbon School, Iditarod Elementary. While working at Palmer High School, I introduced the International Baccalaureate Program to the curriculum, which is successful today.

I volunteer at my church, Sacred Heart. My other accomplishments include: producer/unit production manager for Grant Olson's film, "Crossing the Rubicon " and white-water kayaking and hiking the Chilkoot Trail in August. Many of you may know me simply as "Sophia's mom."

After seeing the unsettling results from inadequate education funding, and after hearing horror stories from private property owners impacted by coal-bed methane legislation, I decided to run for office.

Since then, I have been walking door to door in Valley neighborhoods and listening to the worries of thousands of residents. I, too, am concerned.

My opponent, as co-chair of the Finance Committee, is in a position to support sensible budget planning that benefits her district. Yet she ignores serious problems, claiming we are "definitely in a period of prosperity." ("By the People" with Bill McAllister, Oct. 8, 2004)

Should we not be more grateful than gleeful, as her co-chair, Sen. Wilken from Fairbanks, noted? Should we not remember that oil prices are unpredictable, as Chuck Logsdon, chief petroleum economist, reminds us? (ADN, Oct. 15, 2004) And still, there is no long-range fiscal plan.

By voting nine out of 10 times with Gov. Murkowski, has my opponent really addressed Valley needs?

Unfortunately, gutting the longevity bonus and assistance for disabled Alaskans and Denali Kid Care, hurt our respected seniors, pregnant women and children.

My opponent promised Valley voters to fund our schools adequately. Since 1994, the number of students attending Mat-Su schools increased by nearly 20 percent, and due to inflation, funding has actually declined by 11 percent. (Alaska Department of Education: www.eed.state.ak.us/stats)

Unfunded mandates, such as No Child Left Behind, have been an added drain on school budgets. In May, Valley Voices for Children, a volunteer group of parents, at great personal cost to their families, lobbied intensively to restore school funding. We are all grateful for their efforts, but isn't that our senator's job?

Our senator promised to support needed services such as public safety, road maintenance and public health. Yet drastic budget cutbacks were made to the Mat-Su Borough, passing a heavier financial burden on to us, the property owners. For example, road support went from $1,006 per mile in FY94, the year my opponent took office, to $0 in FY97. And it has been $0 ever since. "Failure of the legislature to appropriate promised money to municipalities/local taxpayers is the biggest cause of rising local property and sales taxes across Alaska." (Alaska Municipal League: www.akml.org)

The incumbent senator promised to listen to Valley residents, yet she voted with the legislative majority in all procedural matters. She chose to follow their directives instead of her constituents. (ADN, Jan.14, 2004)

Among many transactions taking place behind closed doors, Lyda Green, along with Scott Ogan, co-sponsored coal-bed methane legislation (HB 394 in 1996, HB 69 in 2003) that took away our right to public notice, due process and local control.

Many residents needed to spend their coveted family time and their hard-earned dollars fighting to regain the opportunity to a fair hearing concerning an Outside industry's use of their land.

I know, from experience, when people who think differently from each other sit at the same table, the result is a much stronger end product.

We recently had a difficult situation in our neighborhood. When thumping bass from the new owner's dance hall below our home kept my neighbors and my family awake every weekend until 5 a.m., beginning in October 2003, I took action.

Under my direction, we unified, organized and fought for a common cause. Despite great adversity, we prevailed.

We were committed to working with citizens of all political views. This commitment paid off. The borough assembly passed a unanimous boroughwide noise and vibration ordinance on May 18, 2004, in record time.

What is needed for legislative action is hard work, commitment and the ability to work across the ideological aisle in an open-door dialogue. I will bring to the table diverse thinking.

I will provide the needed leadership to work toward the best future for all of our residents. We need to get Alaska back on track. Our voice needs to be heard once again in the Senate. Together, we can fight for positive change. I respectfully request your vote on Nov. 2.

Gini King-Taylor is a candidate for Senate Seat G. For more information, please check my Web site: www.ginikingtaylor.org.