Colleen Sullivan-Leonard: I am up to the challenge

Spectrum, by colleen Sullivan-Leonard

To residents of the Mat-Su Valley, I am Colleen Sullivan-Leonard and I am honored to come forward and run for State House District 14 in the Greater Wasilla area. I am running a simple, straightforward grassroots campaign based out of my home in Wasilla. I know that I am the underdog in this race. I know that the campaign contributions I receive through the primary will not match those of Mr. Vic Kohring, who is at least $50,000 ahead of me. Even so, please know that I am well prepared for this challenge! I have the drive, the knowledge and integrity to run a very successful campaign, (as well as several pairs of tennis shoes). Most importantly, I have the loving support of my family, friends and community members who also believe that it is the right time and I am the right person to represent you in the state legislature.

For several years I have watched closely the dynamics of our Mat-Su Borough representatives and what they have been able to accomplish on our behalf. I worked in the legislature for the past nine months to see what our legislators do and to receive firsthand knowledge of how the state legislative system works. What I have learned about effective legislators is this, a good legislator:

1. Is someone who will work long, hard hours discussing and learning the issues on each bill that he will review and vote on in session.

2. Is someone who can build a consensus among his colleagues, is well respected and is considered a team player, (this is essential to passing good legislation).

3. Communicates well with his constituents, his community, state departments and local governments.

4. Will not obstruct good legislation, but will work hard and consistent to get good legislation, including capital projects, passed on behalf of their constituency.

I have unfortunately also seen legislators who do not possess these qualities and have seen how this ineffectiveness has affected their districts. I am running for State House because I do possess the necessary skills to be your legislator and because I believe as others do that stronger effective representation is needed and necessary on your behalf.

A little on my background as a Wasilla resident, neighbor and friend. My husband, Ted, and I have made Wasilla our home for more than seven years. Our children are attending school here from grade school to high school and we are proud to be raising our children right here in Wasilla. I am a lifelong fourth generation Alaskan with family roots back to the 1800s. Public service, hard work and investing in our community is not new to my way of life, it has always been a part of our pioneer family spirit. My grandmother Viola Sullivan of Valdez was the first woman mayor in the state of Alaska and my father George Sullivan was a former legislator, and mayor of Anchorage for 14 years. My brothers and I have followed this path and are honored to serve the community in which we live.

I have served the Wasilla residents as a planning commissioner and city council member under the Palin and Keller administrations. I am also a Greater Wasilla Chamber of Commerce member, and former director and chairman of the Governmental Affairs Committee. I am a Wasilla Sunrise Rotarian, NRA member, Mat-Su Republican Women's Club Member, Soccer Coach and mom.

As your local legislator I worked hard to support public safety, property owner's rights, well-needed infrastructure for our fast-growing community, as well as support for our senior and youth residents. With my fellow colleagues, I was successful in keeping city government small, accountable and efficient while providing essential services to our Wasilla residents. This accountability, team building and effectiveness from the local level are what you will see from me in Juneau as your legislator.

What I ask from you, the residents of the Greater Wasilla area, is simply this. Look at the record of each candidate that is running in your district. Have they fulfilled the promises that they professed during their terms in office? Ask questions that matter most to you and your family or business. If you are mailed or handed a pamphlet from a candidate, look up the information that is handed to you for accuracy and accountability. For incumbents' records the state Web site for the legislature is a good place to start, at www.legis.state.ak.us. From this site you can pull up the bill search page to review legislation that has been introduced from the legislator you are reviewing. You will be able to review bills they sponsored or co-sponsored, bills that passed or failed, and see what they were able to accomplish on your behalf for the last four legislative sessions. For example, look and see this past session alone what bills were introduced and successfully passed. When a legislator continues to introduce bills with no apparent intent or success in moving them through the legislative process, this is considered a disservice to his community and is an incredible waste of our state dollars in the process!

What I also learned in Juneau regarding bills and the legislative process is this. A prime sponsorship of a bill that passes through the legislature usually takes a lot of hard work from your legislator and his staff, team building with his fellow legislators and state department members, and can show great success on behalf of their constituency when they are passed. A bill that hasn't passed is simply null and void, on your behalf it means nothing. When a legislator takes credit for co-sponsoring a bill this only means that he has requested to have his name added to that bill. Please understand that this doesn't mean that he had a hand in the hard work that went behind its drafting, movement through the legislative committees or to its final passage, it just means that his name has been added to that particular bill.

Be proactive in how you investigate your candidates, see if their lifestyle matches what you seek in a citizen legislator and most of all exercise your right to vote!

As your legislator I believe that it is not enough to sit back and complain about how bad government is, and how ineffective our politicians are, a legislator must be willing to work and strive to make government more accountable and effective for our citizens. I believe that I am the right person and it is the right time for a change in representation for the Greater Wasilla area and I am honored to run for State House on your behalf.

Colleen Sullivan-Leonard is a Wasilla resident and candidate for House District 14.