No apologies here

I was standing outside of newly constructed wastewater treatment plant in Palmer on a cold, still winter morning in early 2003. It had recently snowed and as the sun rose over the mountains I was mesmerized by the splendor that surrounded me.

Growing up in Utah, I was no stranger to beautiful landscapes, but this was beyond anything I had ever seen. It was right then, ironically standing next to a sewage facility, I knew that the Valley was the place I was going to raise my family.

I had flown up to work on that Palmer project and interview for a job. My future boss and I hit it off. I was 25 years old at the time and this was an opportunity to work with a startup company and help build something awesome. The fact that the job was in a place I had always dreamed of living was the icing on the cake.

I still love the job and the company that I work for. The company that I work for engineers systems that makes buildings work smarter. Through this job, I feel I’ve worked to help build a piece of Alaska, making people’s lives easier and safer. The example of hard work that I learned from my parents and grandparents is an example my wife and I try to pass on to our kids as well.

I’m also a proud husband and father. Karisa and I have been married for 17 years. Karisa is a special education aide, helping great educators work with some of our Valley’s most precious children.

Karisa and I have four amazing kids. Westen, 16, is starting his junior year at Wasilla High School. Kayden, 14, and Olivia, 11, are at Teeland. Last, but not least, is our adorable little caboose, Porter, 2. Westen and Kayden are more alike than either of them would care to admit. They are great athletes who work hard at their sports, especially wrestling (Go Warriors!). They are true Alaskan outdoorsmen, solid fly fishermen and great with a shotgun both at Grouse Ridge and during duck season. Olivia was lucky enough to draw a youth moose hunt this year, which she is really getting excited for. Our youngest, Porter, brings a smile to the face of everyone he meets.

My history in politics is neither as long nor as storied as that of my opponent’s. Prior to serving on the Wasilla City Council, I served on two city commissions (planning and parks and recreation). Since being appointed to the council in March 2012 and winning the election in October 2012, I have a voting record I am very proud of.

The city council is tasked with controlling the purse strings in government. I took the responsibility of spending my neighbor’s hard-earned tax dollars very seriously and did so frugally. In the recent 2014 budget cycle, I voted to trim more than 70 line items in the budget totaling more than $284,000 dollars. This was more than any other member of a fiscally conservative council.

It isn’t all about budget cuts, though. I voted to help out the Wasilla Area Seniors Inc.(WASI) with some unexpected utility increases, giving them time to make their buildings more efficient and generate more revenue; their goal is to become self-sufficient. I also voted to provide seed money for the Valley Performing Arts campaign to turn the old movie theater into a great new venue for Wasilla. Both of these investments into our community will reap great rewards for our residents’ quality of life in the future.

Last year, I rejected multiple proposals to permanently raise the city sales tax from 2 percent to 3 percent so that we could build a new library and other yet-to-be-decided upon buildings. These proposals would have also increased the operational spending of city government by 25 percent.

Instead, I collaborated with fellow council members to hold that increase to 1 percent and only to cover the cost of building the new library — after which it will be rescinded.

I also brought forward an action memorandum to sell the Meta-Rose Square building that passed unanimously at the council table. The city of Wasilla should not be competing with private retail property management businesses in our community.

Again, I am very proud of my job, my family and my council voting record and I believe I am truly serving the needs of Wasilla on the council. I’m proud that I do it ethically and without any drama. There is a lot of work left to do and I’m excited to work with my fellow council members to make it happen.

If you would like to see my goals for the next three years, learn more about my campaign or to volunteer, please visit wall4wasilla.com.

Brandon Wall was appointed to Seat F on Wasilla City Council in March 2012 and elected to serve the remaining year of that term in October 2012.