Wasilla needs change of legislators

Spectrum, by Barbara McDaniel

"When the character of a man is not clear to you, look at his friends." -- Japanese proverb

My 10-year, District 14 House representative promotes himself as an especially honest guy. I've read a couple of letters published in this paper written by supporters from other districts claiming the same. But I'm not so sure Wasilla's incumbent representative is particularly honest.

Consider this behavioral example from back in June 2002. At a Big Lake Chamber meeting over park closures, the guest speaker, Parks Commissioner Jim Stratton, took the belligerent fallout from hostile Big Lake businessmen for Big Lake parks closures.

Legislator Scott Ogan and his sidekick, my representative, had just passed their parks-cutting budget. That day, I was aware both legislators had proclaimed for years they only supported government funding for roads, schools, public safety and courts -- never including parks.

But there sat Mr. Ogan, facing Commissioner Stratton at the front of the room, pretending he supported funding for Big Lake parks. He repeatedly goaded the rowdy crowd into blaming and verbally abusing Democrat-appointed Stratton.

Throughout the fierce meeting, my District 14 rep was there, but sat silently in the back, likely hoping the vicious crowd would not connect his legislative actions to the closures.

Indeed, residents did seem to forget my representative's belief in no government money for parks and his vote on the cuts. The residents failed to hold him accountable for the parks budget cuts and consequences and he, rather than defend his no-government-money-for-parks beliefs, sat silently and let the vicious crowd lay blame on someone else.

Former Republican legislator Andrew Halcro recently disclosed in the Daily News on March 28, 2004, "In May 2002, as the House was preparing to vote on final passage of the operating budget, strategy was being discussed behind closed doors. Finance Subcommittee chairman Bill Hudson made an appeal, "If we approve this budget we will close parks," he said.

"Parks are not an essential service," replied Palmer Republican Scott Ogan just before walking to the House floor to approve the budget. A month later, Ogan and Wasilla Sen. Lyda Green held a press conference in front of the closed Big Lake South Park blaming the [Democratic] governor."

It's clear the Valley's entire 2002 legislative "Republican team" planned for parks closures, but pretended otherwise.

Another incident of deception was more recently on KAKM's Running program, which aired Aug. 22. Wasilla's representative introduced himself to the television audience by carefully saying, "I have property in Wasilla." Rather than say what all other Wasilla candidates say, that they "live in Wasilla," he evaded the truth.

By camping at his parents' house or at our Legislative Information Office when he is in the Valley, this fully grown man who claims self-sufficiency doesn't appear to honestly maintain a residence of his own here.

Granted, his residency requirement to run for House District 14 has been contested in the past and practically waived for him. But would an honest man skirt the intent of the residency requirement so deliberately?

Most Valley residents view the Wasilla House representative's infamous HB 69 as negligent at best and corrupt at worst. But Wasilla's House representative arrogantly stated in the Sept. 7, 2003 Daily News, "I stand by HB 69 as the right thing for Alaska … matter of fact, I'm rather proud of it."

Creating harmful public policy is apparently pleasurable when your home and family are safely located away from the harmful policy's scope. HB 69 and related legislation provoked Palmer residents to oust their shady legislator. Now it's Wasilla's turn to oust the proverbial sidekick. Let's vote for a change of legislators on Nov. 2.

Barbara McDaniel is a Wasilla resident.