House District 6 candidates talk finance, schooling, fisheries

The three candidates running to represent the southern Kenai Peninsula in the State House of Representatives met Tuesday at the Homer Public Library for a candidate forum hosted by the Peninsula Clarion and KBBI 890 AM.

Over the course of roughly an hour, the three candidates discussed state finances, energy, fishing and education. Incumbent Rep. Sarah Vance, R-Homer, is being challenged by Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly President Brent Johnson and Anchor Point Republican Dawson Slaughter. House District 6 represents the communities of Homer, Anchor Point and Kasilof, among others.

Vance introduced herself as a Homer resident with a husband and four children “opposed to burdensome taxes,” who supports seniors and the Alaska Permanent Fund dividend.

“This is my home,” she said. “I care about it deeply, and I love representing you.”

Slaughter said he is a lifelong Alaskan who grew up on the Kenai Peninsula, including attending public school in Anchor Point and Homer. His daughter now attends the same school he once did. He said he’s been involved in local community through the Anchor Point Chamber of Commerce and other boards.

Johnson said he grew up in a small cabin in Clam Gulch, with a kerosene lamp. He said he used to walk 2 miles to the Sterling Highway every day to get to school and values the qualities of patience, kindness and gentleness.

Finding fiscal futures

To stabilize Alaska’s financial future, Slaughter said that he wanted to explore changes to the state’s tax structure and pursue development of state resources.

Johnson said the state needs to explore a variety of options, including changing oil tax credits and considering an income tax — also that the state needs to increase spending on key services. Without action, he said, the permanent fund “will continue to disappear.”

“The State of Alaska has been underfunding schools, underfunding ferries, underfunding state parks, underfunding roads,” he said.

Vance said she favors a fiscal plan proposed by a state fiscal working group that includes a constitutional spending cap, a dividend formula enshrined in the constitution and increased revenue via a sales tax. All of those elements, she said, would together need to be implemented to see her success.

“The key to this fiscal plan is that everyone would squeal a little bit,” she said. “If we all say that we’re willing to give on it, then it might be able to work and create stability.”

Funds for fisheries

Vance said that many of Alaska’s fisheries are struggling with declining king salmon returns, a failed pink salmon harvest and a lack of silver salmon.

“Something is going on in the ocean,” she said, favoring increased investment in fishery research. Fishers, too, need opportunity to fish and should lead conversations about new gear types.

“They have to be the ones directing this, because they feel that the state has failed them,” she said. “This is no longer (commercial) versus sport versus subsistence. This is affecting every type of fisherman.”

Slaughter, too, said more resources need to go to the State Department of Fish and Game to ensure biologists have the information they need to guide local fisheries. He also pointed to bycatch of king salmon and other species by Gulf of Alaska trawlers as an obstacle to local fisheries.

Johnson echoed a desire for reforms in the trawl fleet, but pointed also to climate change and hatchery competition as challenges facing local fish. He said that he wants to see a study done of king salmon smolt to better identify where king salmon mortality is occurring.

“We need to find out what the freshwater survival rate is for king salmon,” he said. “We know how many spawn. We don’t know how many go out to sea.”

Energy options

In response to the looming shortfall of natural gas, Johnson said that any option is open for discussion. That includes the proposed pipeline from the North Slope to Nikiski, importation of natural gas, and alternative energy — of which he described himself as “a big proponent.”

Johnson pointed to Bradley Lake and other hydroelectric projects in Alaska, the large solar farm set to be developed in Nikiski and opportunities for wind energy.

There is gas in Cook Inlet, Vance said, “it’s not economically viable at this time.” She said she favored royalty relief — “at least for a short period of time” — to make the proposition more appealing for producers. The benefit of that development to Alaskans, she said, is the production of natural gas to heat homes rather than funds generated by the royalties.

Vance also called herself an “avid champion” of the proposed natural gas pipeline.

“Everything is on the table,” Slaughter said. He’s installed solar panels on his home and supports exploration of natural gas, but said also that he uses fuel oil and propane to heat his home.

“We need to look at everything to make it viable for us to survive.”

Spending on schools

The amount of funding that public schools get per student — the base student allocation — should be inflation proofed, Slaughter said.

He said he looks to professional educators at local public schools to teach his daughter to read, write and do math. Those professionals don’t know if they’re going to keep their jobs because the funding isn’t there.

Vance said that she supports increased funding only when tied to reforms. She said she wants to see correspondence programs funded to the same amount as brick-and-mortar schools, new bonuses for teachers to drive recruitment and an “easier path” for the creation of charter schools.

“I wanted to be able to have some reasonable reform along with the funding increase,” she said. “I don’t think those are unreasonable asks.”

Also targeted by Vance is absentee rates in schools — “if they’re not there, they’re not learning.”

Johnson, too, said he wants to see an increase to the BSA. Every year, he said, the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District has to call for more money — at risk of losing staff or closing facilities like pools and theaters.

Each year, Johnson said, one-time funding ultimately gets allocated. A raise to the BSA creates funding that’s dependable.

“We need to do it early when we get into the Legislature,” Johnson said. “Don’t wait until the end of the session. Raise the BSA.”

Candidates also discussed rural health care, discrimination against LGBTQ+ people, and capital project priorities.

A full recording of the forum can be found on the Peninsula Clarion’s Facebook page or at kbbi.org.

Reach reporter Jake Dye at jacob.dye@peninsulaclarion.com.