Gatto, Stoltze hear from voters

PALMER -- Palmer residents piled into the Palmer Library Saturday to let their legislators know what they expect of them during the final weeks of this legislative session. Rep. Carl Gatto, R-Palmer, and Rep. Bill Stoltze, R-Chugiak/Butte, listened as constituents voiced their concerns. Many audience members spoke about problems with coal-bed methane regulations and education funding in the state.

"Your concerns are our concerns," Gatto reassured the group.

Audience member Scott Haan said he was especially concerned with how the state was dealing with CBM drilling. He pleaded with Gatto and Stoltze to drum up support from Anchorage representatives, reminding everyone that there is coal-bed methane under Anchorage as well as the Mat-Su Borough.

"I wonder why the state would drill in our areas and not Anchorage," Haan said. "I think it is because they think we are second-class citizens not living in a first-class city."

Both Stoltze and Gatto were quick to show their support for those who are living on property where the mineral rights have been leased. The two promised to do their part to help those living with the problem, saying they will first make sure the same thing that happened to Valley residents won't happen elsewhere in Alaska, and then work toward getting some sort of deal worked out that would help those who are already faced with the possibility of drilling on their land. Both admitted they may have acted hastily when Evergreen first approached the state, and that they are trying to make it right.

"Frankly, I could have been a lot more critical in the process," Stoltze said.

Education funding was another hot topic at Saturday's meeting. While everyone who spoke first thanked the representatives for what they had done so far, some pleaded for them to continue to do more, now.

"This is not a one-year deal. Please look at the future so that we don't have to do this year after year," Carol Boquard said.

"This country cannot afford to have the public school system fall apart," Laura Wick said.

Valley Voices for Children member Katie Mangelsdorf reminded Gatto and Stoltze that the Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District actually needed $16 million, not $8 million, to keep cuts from happening this year and restore the cuts from the previous year.

"We must find the money for our children," Mangelsdorf said.

"You have to make some of these things happen," pleaded an audience member during a group discussion at the meeting. "You are the power party down there."

Contact Jen Ransom at jen.ransom@frontiersman.com.