James R. Price House District 9 Republican Moderate
I'm honored to be a candidate for House District 9. My primary goals are to close the budget gap, curb the influence of special interests, promote economic development and insist upon fair compensation for state resources. I respect the will of the people and shall protect the permanent fund.
Our current Legislature is satisfied to spend our state budget into bankruptcy and then demand that your permanent fund earnings be used to balance the budget. They'll make the same false claims to take a portion of your permanent fund earnings that they use now to argue against the tax cap. They claim, "We won't be able to fund education, children will suffer. ... We'll be forced to eliminate fire services, etc. ..." With true representation, needed services can be protected and the state budget reduced.
Citizens deserve to be addressed truthfully and should be treated with respect. We can fully fund programs that are constitutionally mandated and cut programs that exist to reward special political interests. We need representatives that will act upon the will of the people, without consideration of special interests.
Name: James R. Price
Candidate for: House District 9
Age: 41
Occupation: Oilfield worker -- Electrical and Process Instrumentation
Family: Single
Education: Soldotna Testing Center, 1996, GED; AVTEC, 1991, Longlining and Loran/Radar Certification. UAA - MAPTS, Various dates; 1991-1996, Rescue for and Entry to Confined Spaces, Health and Safety, and Hazwoper Certifications. F and F Safety Specialists, 1999, Petro-Chemical Health and Safety - Renewal Certification. Kenai Peninsula College, 1996-1997, 39 credit hours. Classes in process instrumentation
Organizations and special interests: Member of the North Peninsula Community Council. Camping, fishing, writing, promotion of economic development and political change in Alaska. Reduction of the size and authority of government; Libertarianism. Promotion of the new Republican Moderate Party.
Previously held office and experience: None
Expected cost of campaign: $2,000-$5,000.
Best way to reach me: home phone -- 776-3481; e-mail -- jprice@kenai.net
Do you expect your representatives to obey and enforce Alaska law? In 1998, over 72 percent of Alaskans who voted passed an initiative which made billboards and off-site political signs illegal within 660 feet of every state highway. The governor and the Legislature chose to ignore this law by refusing to fund enforcement. All political candidates for statewide office received a notice from the Department of Transportation informing them of this law. Both Democrat and Republican candidates for state office in District 9 chose to disregard this notice and the law, which was created by the people through the initiative process. This is business as usual and an example of the type of representation that we, the people, can expect to endure, unless we demand change.
There are issues, which draw a clear distinction between myself and the other candidates in District 9:
I support Proposition 4. I believe that a 10-mill cap on your residence is a reasonable limit. All lost revenue could easily be raised from a variety of areas, which would be more equitable.
I support Proposition 5. I believe that the adult use of marijuana should be legal. I do not support drug use. I support justice and personal freedom. I support an end to the waste of state funds fighting a war that cannot be won. By regulating and controlling marijuana use, children can be protected and would not be exposed to the drug culture or hard drugs. The benefits of supporting Proposition 5 from financial and moral aspects are too numerous to list in this short statement.
Your vote for a Republican Moderate candidate promotes real change and sends a powerful message from the people that you will not accept business as usual from your state Legislature. I'll fight to restore honesty, accountability and integrity to the Legislature. If elected, I will truly represent the people of this district. I sincerely appreciate your support.