14.0°

Occupation: General manager, Anchor River Inn

Education: Homer High School, Washington State University, U.S. Army

Business positions, organizations and other interests: Anchor Point Chamber of Commerce; Cub Scouts; Church activities.

Previous political experience: Anchor Point Advisory Planning Commission, 1997-99.

1. How do you plan to vote on the ballot initiative that would continue term limits for assembly members? Why?

I plan to support term limits. It is evident in our district that term limits have encouraged greater participation in the election process.

People's natural fear of the unknown along with other factors gives an almost insurmountable advantage to the incumbent. It is not unreasonable to ask even an exceptional assembly person to take a three-year break after six years of service.

2. With the grocery tax holiday and a poor tourism season, the borough's sales tax revenue is expected to decline this year. What are your budget priorities? Do you support funding education to the cap? Please explain.

I look forward to working with the other assembly members and the borough administration on the budget. Education has always been a top priority and the largest expense for the borough. If you remove spending on the separately funded service areas, education accounts for 65 percent of the budget.

The borough has traditionally funded education to the cap and I will continue to support funding to the cap as long as we are able to do so without raising property taxes.

3. Two projects in the developmental stage are Pebble Mine and the Chuitna Coal projects. These would have huge impacts on the borough. What, if any, role should the borough play in advancing either of these projects?

I believe the responsible development of all of our resources is not only possible but necessary for the future of our borough. It is only through economic growth that we can continue to provide the services that we have become accustomed to without placing a huge burden on the backs of a declining population. I know that it is possible for these projects to be done in a responsible way and the borough should be involved in the process to protect the interest of our citizens.

4. Many service areas have trouble attracting candidates to run for their board of directors. Would you support appointed boards as opposed to elected boards? Why?

Having served on boards in a small community I am aware of the difficulties in finding people to serve on a board and the difficulty of trying to conduct business or schedule meetings with less than a full board available.

Even so, I am not in favor of moving to appointed boards. The current borough code provides for vacancies to be filled by appointment and this is just as effective at filling vacant seats as an appointed board would be. It is important for these boards to remain directly responsible to borough voters/taxpayers.

5. The mayor and assembly have had a rather contentious relationship this past year. How would you improve this situation?

In as much as the contention is based solely on differences in policies and ideas I think it is healthy in our government. The assembly and the mayor provide a system of checks and balances for each other and we should expect to see that system working from time to time.

If the contention is based on personalities instead of issues then I state as clearly as possible that I will not participate in nor will I tolerate such behavior from elected representatives of the people.