House candidate criticizes bridge vote

To the editor:

Legislation that encourages economic development of the Mat-Su Valley should be supported by our representatives in Juneau. The Knik Arm bridge is one of those projects extremely important to the economic growth of the Valley.

The vote yesterday to continue funding the Knik Arm Bridge and Toll Authority was one of those needed economic development wins in the Legislature. We lost by one vote. The present Valley District 9 Rep. Eric Feige was that one vote. Because of Feige, we may have lost the bridge as well as the many family wage jobs it represented.

Our legislators must support economic development if our Valley is to prosper. Representative Feige’s vote was very short-sighted.

We are expanding very rapidly in the Knik-Goose Bay and Big Lake areas, and we will expand even faster with the bridge.

It is obvious to me that the KGB-Big Lake area will continue to play a major part of future economic development and growth in Southcentral Alaska. Economic development creates wealth and improves our standard of living. We must support the construction of this bridge to enjoy the fruits it will provide.

George Rauscher,

Sutton

Candidate for District 9 House seat