Candidates discuss borough's big projects

BIG LAKE -- The Mat-Su Borough's large projects, such as Hatcher Pass and Port MacKenzie were focal points in a Big Lake Chamber of Commerce candidate forum held Wednesday.

Two assembly candidates participated in the forum -- those vying for the Big Lake, Knik and Point MacKenzie district known as Assembly District Five. For the purposes of this

story, assembly members racing for the Wasilla-area Assembly District Four seat were also contacted and

allowed to respond to

questions brought up at the forum.

Candidates at the forum were asked to share their views on development at Port MacKenzie.

District Five candidate Barbara "Tamie" Miller, competing against incumbent assembly member Jody Simpson, said she would like to see the project completed and shipping begin.

"We need to be the transportation center of the state," Miller said. "Seventy-five percent of the freight that comes in heads north -- we need that."

Simpson said she is proud of the action taken at the port and looks forward to making the port a viable part of a regional transportation hub.

She recently agreed to serve on a regional transportation team made up of members of the Municipality of Anchorage, the Department of Transportation, the Alaska Railroad Corporation and other transportation-based agencies. That team, she said, will work together to boost transportation throughout the Southcentral region, including the port.

"The port is a very integral part of that transportation hub," Simpson said.

District Four candidate Pat Marley said he doesn't believe the borough should be in the business of subsidizing private industry and, although he said he hasn't yet had time to fully study work at the port, he's afraid that may be where the borough is presently at.

"Whether it's a viable industry or not, that's still to be determined," Marley said.

"So far we've dumped millions of dollars into it … if it's a case that we built a port just for one guy, then that's a case of subsidizing his business, and I'm against subsidizing private industry."

District Four candidate Mary Kvalheim said she feels the port is an integral part of development in the area.

"We need to have an industrial area in the Valley," Kvalheim said. "I see Port MacKenzie as a thriving industrial area in just the blink of an eye."

She added that development of the port could have other benefits, such as alleviating traffic congestion on roads to Anchorage by getting a ferry up and running and putting in a road and rail spur through to the Willow area.

District Four candidate Dan O'Barr said he felt development at the port would be a good foundation for future development.

"I think it's in the best interest of the entire borough to proceed with development out there, get the road paved and get electricity out there," O'Barr said. "I think it will be really advantageous for us in the future."

District Four candidate Scott Lapiene said he believed development at the port was one of the cornerstones of future economic growth in the borough.

"I think it's probably our most prime opportunity for establishing an industrial and commercial district in the borough," Lapiene said. "It's just a stone's throw away from Anchorage and a major international transportation hub, Ted Stevens International Airport."

When candidates were asked to share their views on

Hatcher Pass, opinions were diverse. Miller, citing a belief that no suitable water had been found and other investigation at the site had returned poor results, said she thought the borough should take a back seat.

"I think private industry should do Hatcher Pass," Miller said.

Simpson refuted Miller's claim that tests done at Hatcher Pass returned poor results.

"I think government needs to bring in certain elements of infrastructure," Simpson said. "We have found water up there, we put electricity in and I'm hoping, in the next six months or so, we'll have an RFP [request for proposals] on the street for that private development."

Marley agreed more with Miller's point of view. He said the investment must be made on the part of private developers, not by the borough.

"I don't think the borough should invest any money to build private enterprise," Marley said. "If [a developer] builds it, we should build roads to it."

Kvalheim said she believes the area has a lot of potential, but borough money should be invested carefully.

"I see it as a wonderful recreational opportunity," Kvalheim said. "I'm not saying that we should put a lot of money into a ski resort, because most ski resorts in the state are heavily subsidized and I don't want us to be heavily subsidized."

O'Barr said he would like to learn more about what's going on at Hatcher Pass, but believes private involvement is key. He said he would like to see a greater emphasis placed on recreational development across the borough.

"There's a lot of public land available but a lot of people don't know where it's at," O'Barr said. "We need to identify trailheads and make more parking available … maybe have those areas patrolled by [Alaska State] Troopers on a regular basis."

Lapiene said he, too supported development at Hatcher Pass and believed it could also provide a source for economic development.

"My personal opinion is that the Mat-Su Borough is probably the primary recreation spot for Alaska -- winter and summer recreation, both," Lapiene said. "Now, it's difficult to really clarify in detail how much of that should be [borough investment]. Should it fall solely on the back of Mat-Su Borough taxpayers, no."

The borough election will be held Tuesday, Oct. 1. Check the Tuesday, Sept. 24 edition of the Frontiersman for a list of local candidates and their stance on several issues pertaining to their race.