Halter: ‘Building coalitions for the future’

The news these days is full of concern over state finances. The shortfall in state income will trickle down to the Borough this coming year. The question everyone should be asking is “what can we do as a Borough to mitigate the effects of that shortfall?” In my view the solution is to build strong coalitions with our cities, community councils, chambers of commerce, the business community, and the tourism industry. The office of borough mayor needs leadership that builds consensus among all groups to communicate a united front to our state and federal legislators.

We have a number of major goals and we cannot lose sight of them, or all them to be postponed into the future. The railroad spur, the port, the gas pipeline along with numerous road and school projects will enhance Mat-Su’s economic future an provide employment opportunities for Borough residents. To keep these large projects moving forward, we must work with our state legislators, keeping pressure on them to promote our interests in Juneau. Expedition our large road projects on Knik Goose bay Road, and the parks and Glenn Highways should be a high priority. These roads are congested and dangerous. We cannot tolerate more traffic jams and congestion on our roads. Aggressive leadership is required.

This collaborative approach must also be applied to other areas of life in the Borough. We have the fastest growing population in the state, with dramatic increases in the population of students, seniors and veterans. As Mayor, and being a veteran and senior, I will encourage the private sector to meet the need of better housing, medical facilities and services for seniors and veterans. A number of agencies already exist which are working on these issues. The Borough must interface with them to ensure that efforts are not duplicated and that we make the best use of the funding available.

My slogan is “People before Politics”. This means a non-partisan approach to solving problems, and a leadership style that is inclusive. Whether you are a store clerk, an electrician, plumber, slope worker, teacher, business owner or retiree, your opinion counts. Working with the Governor and our legislative delegation in a collaborative approach will improve our chances of success. Our ultimate goal of meeting the Borough’s mission of providing essential services and growing a robust economy will be accomplished with cooperation and respect.

We must not falter in difficult times. We want to keep property taxes low and we can. It can only be accomplished with cooperation and being frugal with our tax dollars. The Mat-Su Valley is our home and I love it here. We are prospering and are on the cusp of being even greater with business flourishing. Let’s work together to keep the Valley the best place to live.

Vern Halter is a Willow business owner and a candidate for Mat-Su Borough Mayor.