Outdoors issues and the election

In my younger life, I never used to pay much attention to politics. To me, it was a boring topic that everybody talked/complained about but which never seemed to change significantly — regardless of the political party in control at the time. That applied all the way from the local level to Washington, D.C.

As I learned how the world works, I began following politics just to see what might be coming that would affect me. I voted for the person who seemed to most agree with my view of life or, to be honest, could do me the most good (or the least harm) as I understood things.

I have undergone the same transition most people seem to make in their political views as they age, becoming more conservative. As a college student, I hoped to save the world. My next step was to save part of the world, then only certain things in specific parts of the world. I progressed toward working to maintain a reasonable status quo. Now I’m at the point where I only hope things don’t get too badly messed up before I die.

I have been involved in fisheries issues for a few years now and gun issues are a long time passion. Alaska has primaries coming up in a few weeks where many of our state elections will essentially be decided. I want to discuss some local candidates from my specific issues point of view.

I think all the state representatives are up for election and many senate incumbents as well. Here in the Valley, we have new voting district seats to fill also. From my fisheries perspective, all the incumbent Valley legislators have been extremely helpful in achieving the gains we have seen recently regarding fisheries management changes impacting our area.

Rep. Bill Stoltze led the charge this past session on Valley fisheries issues. He is now running for a seat in the state senate. I have heard that other areas of Cook Inlet would dearly love to see Stoltze gone from the legislature because that would make their assault on fisheries allocations for the sports and personal use sectors of the Northern District easier to accomplish.

Rep. Mark Neuman is my representative and he has always been a staunch supporter of our Northern District sport, subsistence, and personal use fisheries issues. Mark and I haven’t always agreed on every political issue faced by the legislature, but he supports our Valley fisheries and Second Amendment rights and that’s enough to gain my support.

Sen. Charlie Huggins is not up for election this year, but he was also instrumental in achieving fisheries management changes. He is also hardcore pro-Second Amendment and is retired military. Thank You, Sen. Huggins, for your past and current service to our nation, our state, and the Valley.

Jim Colver, currently a Mat-Su assembly member, is running for a representative seat over on the Palmer side of the Valley. I’ve worked with Jim on the Borough’s Fish and Wildlife Commission (MSBFWC) and he is equally dedicated to protecting our Northern District fisheries and gun ownership rights.

The one election race that I wonder about is the Dunleavy-Keogh contest for a senate seat. The incumbent, Sen. Mike Dunleavy, was a major player in securing fisheries management changes this past Board of Fisheries cycle. I also worked with Warren Keogh when he was a borough assembly member and Warren was very supportive of the MSBFWC’s efforts in working with the board to secure management changes. This past week, I received emails from two knowledgeable friends, one in support of Dunleavy and one in support of Keogh. This could be a tough decision for voters in that senate district.

Rep. Lynn Gattis, Rep. Wes Keller, and Rep. Shelley Hughes are all up for reelection and all had a hand in supporting our Northern District fisheries. I believe all are pro-Second Amendment too. Since Neuman and Huggins are my legislators, I’m not that familiar with legislators over on the east side of the Valley. I don’t know Eric Feige, so rather than say something which might be wrong, I’ll stay silent.

The important thing is that you learn about the folks representing you in Juneau and vote for the person you feel best represents your interests. If you don’t vote, don’t complain!

By the time you read this, I hope to be shooting for some medals in the Alaska Territorial Muzzleloading Shoot happening at the Upper Susitna Shooters Association range at Mile 94, Parks Highway.

Hopefully, it won’t be raining too hard!

Howard Delo is a retired fisheries biologist with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. You can leave him a message by emailing sports@frontiersman.com.