Letters to the editor

Vote Yes on Prop 1

On Election Day you will be asked to vote on Ballot Proposition 1, which is an educational capital improvement bond. It's purpose is to build three charter schools, here in the Mat Su Borough. There has been a great need for these schools for some years now. Everything has its' season and now is the time to go the polls and support this forward-thinking project for the betterment and future of our greater community.

This project has been well planned, thought out, and vetted in committee. Additionally, it was discussed in public forums and later put to a vote by the Mat Su Borough Assembly. They unanimously agreed to put forth a proposition to the people of the Mat Su to vote on a bond proposition to raise the needed funds to build these schools to help meet the educational needs of our students.

Some folks might say that they don't want charter schools to compete with the public schools. Well, here in Alaska, all the charter schools are part of the public school system. So, they would not be competing; it just gives families more choices, as to what will work best for them in their children's education. These charter schools, here in the Valley, are already proven success stories!

The final decision lies in your hands, because we would all be making a financial commitment to our community. I see this more as an investment in our youth, which is our future. Nelson Mandela once said, "Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world." We have a great opportunity in front of us to say "yes" to the future of the Mat Su Valley. Some people might think to themselves, that they don't even have any kids or grandkids in the schools. They might say, why should I pay more property tax when I don't get anything for it.

Well, I'm glad they proposed that question! The answer is that it's time to pay it back or pay forward. The odds are that you got a free education in this community or some other community in these United States. Also, this community has given you a blessed life. Don't tell too many people, but I think the Mat Su Valley is the best kept secret in America. I for one will be voting yes on Prop 1 on Election Day because I have had a blessed life here in the Mat Su and I want to pay it forward because I believe in this very special community, I believe in its' youth, and I want us all to thrive!

I'll see you at the polls on Election Day; grab a neighbor under each arm and go to the polls and vote yes on Prop 1.

Sean Reilly,

Mat-Su

There is a real choice in the race for House District 27

During this election cycle, all 40 seats in the Alaska House of Representatives are up for election. Most of those seats have more than one candidate from which voters can choose. This is an opportunity for voters to measure incumbents and determine if they’ve kept promises made or whether it’s time for a change. The race for House District 27 is one where voters have a legitimate choice between an incumbent with no accomplishments in four terms and a challenger with a proven track record during the last three years on the Mat-Su School Board. That challenger is Jubilee Underwood.

When Jubilee saw that her voice as a parent wasn’t being heard, she ran for the school board and won. When boys tried to enter our daughters’ bathrooms and sports teams, she kept them out. When the federal government pushed policies harmful to children’s wellbeing during the COVID pandemic, she protected our kids.

In the three years she has served on the school board, Jubilee accomplished everything she promised she would, but the current representative can’t say the same. In nearly eight years in the state house, he introduced more than 140 measures and has never managed to advance any of them to the House floor for a vote. However, during the last session, he did manage to frequently vote with the Democratic Minority, including voting for a significantly reduced PFD.

The current representative was 1 of 3 key nay votes in 2022 that shot down paying a full PFD. That critical vote took over a billion dollars out of your pockets and the private sector.

To add insult to injury, his adversarial approach towards his fellow colleagues has left him in a minority of one and gotten him removed from the only policy committee of which he was a member. Clearly the Mat-Su deserves a change.

As a contrast, Jubilee will be a true representative of the Valley by working with others to move Alaska forward. She embraces fiscal responsibility, a statutory PFD, lowering or preventing taxes and limiting government spending. She is committed to defending parental choice in schools. She has committed to defending our constitutional rights and cracking down on crime.

Jubilee will stand steadfast to common sense principles and accomplish what she is elected to do, just as she has during her time on the school board.

Ron Johnson,

Butte