Governor, legislators visit Valley

PALMER — Governor Bill Walker swung through town for a flurry of meet-and-greets that involved bill signing, hand shaking, and picture posing.

The appearances also inspired improvised singing, courtesy the Rev. Timothy Sergie of Palmer.

Sergie is a member of the Central Yupik nation group originating from the Lower Yukon-Kuskokwim river area. He recently relocated to the Valley, where he is pastor of a small church. Like many who lined up to shake hands and nibble at refreshments, he said he primarily came to say hello.

“I just mostly come to meet him personally,” he said.

The election of an Alaska Native in the Lieutenant Governor’s office represents a new shot at dialogue between the state and the Native community, Sergie said.

“I think the Native people have never really had a voice in office,” he said. “I appreciate the governor and the lieutenant governor and I’m glad they’re (here).”

Sergie said he would like to see expanded fishing time for the communities in the Lower Kuskokwim. He and his congregation also worries about marijuana, he said.

Sergie broke out into song when he met the governor, which drew cries of “Amen!” and scattered applause. His daughter wrote the words to the song he sang, and he said he plans to send the full three verses to the governor.

“I was completely tone deaf until I came to the Lord back in 1977,” he said.

The governor also inspired sign-waving, courtesy Alaska Right to Life, who waved neon yellow signs outside an event marking the opening of the governor’s new legislative office in Palmer.

The governor first stopped at Machetanz Elementary, where he posed for pictures with students and signed House Bill 153. The bill was designed to consolidate several state agency land holdings adjacent to the Palmer Hay Flats State Game Refuge under the control of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. The bill’s author, Alaska Rep. Jim Colver, was also on hand, as was Alaska Rep. Cathy Tilton, and representatives from the Alaskans for Palmer Hay Flats community group. The total transfer is about 2,800 acres, meaning the refuge effectively increases by 10 percent.

The group’s executive director, Bill Wood, said the group had lobbied hard to get the bill signed, and was grateful for the effort. Most of the publicly delivered remarks were focused primarily on upbeat items.

“People ask me all the time ‘Is it fun being governor?’” Walker said. “It is fun being governor. It’s probably a lot more fun at $150 oil, probably a lot more fun.

Walker pledged to hold a summit June 5, 6, and 7 to discuss the emerging budget picture at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, and how Alaskans plan to fund it.

“There’ll be no presentation from anyone who doesn’t have a 907 area code,” he said.

“It’ll be a cross-section of Alaskans, and that’s where you hear the best answers,” Walker said.

Walker’s final public appearance was at the Wasilla Senior Center, where he signed House Bill 161, his first-ever bill signing within Wasilla city limits. Rep. Lynn Gattis says the measure, which requires recipients of state medical benefits to purchase used or refurbished equipment whenever it’s cheaper than new equipment. Gattis said she expects the bill to save between $600,000 and $800,000 a year.

Gattis still seized the opportunity to take a dig at the governor’s plan for expanding Medicaid.

“This is the first reform bill,” she said. “There are going to be more from me.”

Contact Brian O’Connor at 352-2269, brian.oconnor@frontiersman.com, or on Twitter @reporterbriano.