LETTER: An honor to serve on Mat-Su Borough Assembly

To the editor:

I would like to thank the Mat-Su community for their support over the past six years, while I have been on the Assembly. It has been a time of immense pride, but also times of humility and hardship. It’s easy to remember the ribbon cuttings for road projects, public safety and schools, but the most notable moment for me was one during my first year on the assembly, when a World War II veteran came before the assembly to defend himself, because we were in the process of foreclosing on his home. While the borough goes through lengthy processes to make sure that they follow the Borough code, reaching out to the property owner to make sure we are not displacing families, children or the elderly unnecessarily.

Unfortunately, this frail gentleman, of what I consider our greatest generation was in the hospital for a long time and slipped through the government cracks, and then had to justify himself in front of the assembly. A defining moment when an $800 tax bill turned into $3,000 because of the process and filing fees. While this story ended well, when several local contractors pitched in to financially support this fine gentleman; it is a constant reminder a for me of taxes and regulations and how the impact is disproportionate to different people. When people say its for the children, or its just only a Latte a day or whatever the argument is, I remember this gentlemen and what little money to one, has a cumulative impact for others.

Over the years I have worked with people on the assembly that have brought many skills from Industrial development, land development, Information Technology, real-estate contracting, agriculture and tourism. Skills are important to the job!

I think it is critical that we have people with business and finance skills, that have strong ties to their community. I’m supporting Ted Leonard for the MSB borough assembly seat representing the Wasilla area. Ted Leonard is not a politician but a skilled finance and economic development expert. He has in-depth knowledge and skill set to evaluate and guide borough policy, budget and investment. He will get the job done without fanfare. He will be a great public servant! Like he says Right Person, Right Time!

Please get out and vote for Ted Leonard for Borough Assembly on Oct. 3.

— Steve Colligan,

Mat-Su Borough Assembly District 4 Wasilla (Termed out)