House candidate wants to replace corruption with ethics

Spectrum, by Myrl "Boone" Thompson

My name is Myrl "Boone" Thompson. I am an independent candidate running for the House of Representatives for the Susitna Valley, which is District 15. After seeing the 23rd Legislature in action, I decided to file. Three weeks in Juneau last session was all I needed to see to know that things were indeed as bad as they seem. Never was there a better example of "absolute power corrupting absolutely."

I was born in the Territory of Alaska and truly love this state. Alaska was the apple of my eye. Alaska politics, however, has become rotten to the core. My parents raised me to do the right things in life, to treat people fairly and not succumb to the lust for money. Now you are probably wondering why I'm running for political office. Because if good people sit back and do nothing, bad will succeed.

During the last year I have been politically busy. I decided to cash in my meager savings account to fight for folks, many of whom I didn't even know. I was the only candidate to fight for ethics laws. I did this by letters, teleconference and in person in Juneau. I attended most every Ethics Committee meeting and testified at as many as I could.

The Legislature has managed not to restrict themselves with any ethics laws. After all, they could affect a possible consulting job or two. I also fought for open-door meetings. That went over like a lead balloon with the majority party. In fact, Norm Rokeberg wrote a 12th-hour bill that enshrined closed-door meetings into law. The Legislature quickly voted it through, without much fanfare.

During the last year I also fought for reasonable regulations on the coal-bed methane industry. Had our legislators done this, it would have been nice. What really happened is not so nice. Due to the exploits of folks like Randy Ruedrich, Frank Murkowski, Scott Ogan and the rest of the Valley delegation, the landowners of the Mat-Su got the shaft while the industry got the coal mine or at least the gas.

I testified in many meetings, including the borough, Department of Natural Resources and the Legislature in Juneau. The state and the industry have fought reason all the way. Their profit means more to them than our land, and the fight goes on to this day.

When Scott Ogan finally admitted that he made mistakes and was going to fix them, I was there. He actually never attempted to fix them and in fact threw up roadblock after roadblock. I helped form the Ogan is So Gone recall [effort] and became the spokesman and then the chairman. I worked with other property owners to bob and weave our way through a grueling process. We managed to get by every hurdle and obstacle throughout a long and tedious process. I had many trips to the Division of Elections and various meetings and many hours of gathering signatures and talking to folks in the valley. You all know the rest of the story.

I was also one of the originators and writers of the Property Owners' Bill of Rights. You may not have heard of it, but those folks in Juneau surely did. I also fought for it in Juneau, did press conferences and debated it with legislators. These are just some of the things I have done in the last year.

When I got back from Juneau, I had promised that I would again coach Little League. If you make a promise, I believe you should keep it. Running a political campaign is not easy, especially in the middle of baseball. With the help of a few good assistant coaches, our team came on strong and won the league title. Keeping your promise is not always easy, but it is always rewarding.

Now I am running my own campaign -- that means no handlers. I am the campaign manager and the campaign treasurer. I don't take contributions from political parties, special interests, industry or PACs, only individual in-state Alaskans. I will not meet behind closed doors. I will not sign political party or special-interest pledges. I will not take any consulting job as long as I am in the Legislature.

I will represent the people of the Susitna Valley, first and foremost. I will work for concrete ethics laws and the end of closed-door meetings. I want a long-term fiscal plan and will work tirelessly for it. I want Alaskans to be treated fairly by industry and that our private property be respected. I want our way of life and quality of life not to be infringed on. I want that gas line built from the Slope and intend on getting it done.

If you elect me, you will have one legislator you can depend on. I'll be a legislator that doesn't just talk the talk but walks the walk. I will not be a follower but a leader. No rubber stamps for me. Feel free to visit my Web site at www.myrl.org. I would appreciate your vote Nov. 2.

Myrl "Boone" Thompson is a candidate for State House District 15.