The Mat-Su Mayor is the face of the Borough, and I’d be honored to be that person

A close friend frequently reminds me, “A pothole in the road doesn’t care about who does the work or even necessarily how it is done, it just wants to be repaired.” My guess is that everyone who drove through the intersection of the Parks and Palmer Wasilla Highways during the weeks just before the recent paving will agree with this statement. All we cared about, as we bounced up and down and back and forth, and sometimes got a flat tire from the poor conditions, was for the road to be fixed and safely maneuverable once again.

The Mat-Su is unique in that people know what it means to come together, roll up their sleeves, and work to get the important things done. We might spend time discussing and arguing about how to go forward, but eventually, we find a way to move ahead by finding reasonable compromises and working together. That is how most of the challenges are that we face in the Mat-Su Borough.

We all want safe and drivable roads, great schools, successful businesses, fish in the rivers and on our plates, productive industries, food security from abundant agriculture and farming, and a continued happy way of living in the Mat-Su. Our common hopes mark a good beginning point for what must be done. Our local government can help provide services so we can receive much of what we want. When I served on the Assembly, I met countless Mat-Su residents who work tirelessly in assorted roles to make this a reality. This includes volunteers on boards and community councils, elected officials, business owners, members of several different clubs and charitable organizations, and many other individuals with good ideas and solutions.

I have always thought of myself as a teacher and a coach, who works to bring people together in order to achieve a common goal and get things done. We are a large and diverse Borough. My hope is to partner with citizens of the communities across the Mat-Su, just as I did as an assemblyman. In the role of Borough Mayor, I will be a servant leader who listens to the leadership of the Borough Assembly. I will make certain their priorities are front and center in the work of the Borough staff and those who represent us in Juneau and Washington D.C.

The Mat-Su Mayor is the face of the Borough, and I’d be honored to be that person. I’m optimistic, enthusiastic, and determined and will hit the ground running, ready to serve as your Borough Mayor. I’m thankful for the encouragement and support that so many have offered thus far and I ask for your vote for Matthew Beck for Mat-Su Mayor on November 2.