Governor reflects on eight-year run

MAT-SU -- Outgoing Governor Tony Knowles stopped in Wasilla last week to give longtime friend Leonard Nugen a well-deserved high school diploma. During his time in the Valley, Knowles stopped by the offices of the Frontiersman to discuss his experience in office, and to speculate about what was on his horizon.

Knowles said one of the things he was most proud of was the state's response to growth in the Valley over the past eight years.

"I've been very proud of the way the state has responded as a good partner … in providing services for that growth," Knowles said. He cited the improvements made to Valley roads during his tenure.

Those improvements were not lost on Mat-Su Borough Assembly members, who recently presented a plaque of recognition to eight-year Alaska Department of Transportation Commissioner Joe Perkins. Borough Deputy Mayor Sara Jansen, upon presenting the plaque to Perkins, said more than $300 million in road improvements took place in the Mat-Su Borough under Perkins' watch.

"In the eight years prior, the Mat-Su Borough received $60 million in road improvement funds," Jansen said at the meeting.

Knowles, last week, added that an additional $250 million will be wrapped up in construction and design in the Valley by the end of the fiscal year.

"It's been absolutely vital," Knowles said of the changes. "The first thing is life safety, but you can never grow the economy without transportation."

Education, Knowles said, was another priority he believed was a strong point in his administration -- especially in the Valley. He mentioned the new schools built or under construction in the Valley -- Teeland Middle School, Tanaina Elementary, Houston Middle School, Valley Pathways High School and the new Sherrod replacement school, in addition to expansion projects such as those going on at Burchell High School. Knowles recognized that community involvement and persistence was a big factor in seeing the new schools built, but gave additional kudos to the Legislature.

"The Legislature was responsive to that [need]," Knowles said. "We put over $1 billion into schools statewide. If the bond issue [Proposition C] passes, it will trigger further dollars."

Knowles also mentioned other state improvements made while he was in office including -- although he admitted he could not take credit for it -- the boost in numbers of king salmon swimming up Cook Inlet.

"In 1995, I said we need to put more fish in the rivers -- that was a cause that I wanted to pursue," Knowles said.

He said he created the board of fish, that in turn developed guidelines to help protect salmon when stocks were low and restore stream habitat.

"I'd never take credit for all the fish that returned this year," Knowles said, "but the fact is, when I came in the Deshka was closed to kings …"

Knowles added that most streams in the Susitna River drainage had very low king salmon numbers, and other salmon species were dwindling as well. He credited the board of fish with coming up with plans to manage for productivity -- plans he said will preserve salmon fishing in Alaska well into the future. Stream habitat restoration projects, too, have helped increase fish numbers.

Overall, Knowles said he said he's not sad to see his time at the state's helm come to an end. His wife, he said, was busily packing up their belongings at the governor's mansion and readying for the couple's return to Anchorage.

Knowles didn't expound on what his post-governor career plans were. Exploring new career possibilities while still in the office of governor, he said, brings into play numerous potential conflicts of interest.

"You just can't do it while serving as governor," Knowles said.

He said he hoped to see the next administration, whoever was in the chair, carry on the projects Knowles had identified as priorities.

"What I would hope to be able to pass on is the legacy of the priorities that we've established," Knowles said, citing transportation, jobs, schools and keeping Alaska's children safe. "I would hope that, as they reflect on the priorities of Alaskans, that they would continue to be worked on."