Letter to the editor: Sumner stands against crime

On October 2nd, the Mat-Su voters of assembly district 6 will choose a person to represent us & our interests to the Mat-Su borough. That seat is currently held by Barbara Doty. It is a position that Doty obtained by borough appointment when the previous assemblyman was elected to another office.

Running against her is republican Jesse Sumner. Sumner is a local home builder with a wife & children.

As is often the case in politics, Sumner has decided to enter politics because he sees a problem he wants to fix, as well as offering an able hand to regular borough decisions like budget, schools, growth, etc. But, the critical problem he sees looming over us right now is crime. We are experiencing an epidemic of crime in the Mat-Su.

I hear people talking about crime all the time now, where ever I go. At restaurants, waiting in line somewhere, people are talking about this crime wave & it seems to get only worse. Near my home in the Shrock area, is a parking area by the Little Su that's a magnet for criminal activities.

After requesting trooper patrols a few times & getting them, I emailed my assembly person, Barb Doty & asked if I could show her the area in question & share some ideas about limiting the criminal attraction to the area. She couldn't make it. I tried again & again for over a year & she wouldn't come. After one request, she referred to coming out here as a "Trek". Really? Connecting with your constituents is that much trouble? When I requested a meeting with Jesse Sumner at the same location, he was there in less than 24 hours, talking about solutions, not process. He wants to stop crime. I also discovered he has some very good, original ideas on how to do it. Jesse Sumner shows a level of energy that we need to solve this crime wave.

When Doty was originally put into her position on the assembly, Someone other than the voters did it, not us. Now WE have the chance To put OUR choice on the assembly. Someone for whom crime is a top priority. Without addressing our increasing crime problem, we have a bleak future for our community & economy.

Please join me & vote for Jesse Sumner on October 2nd, for assembly district 6

Larry Bekkedahl,

Wasilla