I’ve begun my campaign for governor, but here’s an issue that needs to be resolved long before the election. We need to create an emergency storehouse of natural gas for Southcentral Alaska. Neither a bullet line, nor a spur line from a big pipeline is going to get here fast enough to fix our problem. Many people have studied the issue and the conclusion is that it is not so much gas supply, but rather gas deliverability, which is at the root of the problem.

Two numbers illustrate what’s happening: On a warm summer day the natural gas system, and by that I mean the gas that is used for home and business heating, will deliver and burn about 20 million cubic feet of gas. Come winter the same system will need 300 million cubic feet. The system has trouble dealing with that big of a swing in volumes.

We know there have been close calls in the recent past. Last January in fact, when a compressor shut down unexpectedly, we came within hours of needing to shut off gas to businesses in order to keep gas flowing to residences. It is not as if we have not been warned.

It’s time to start work on what I am calling a Strategic Gas Initiative to promote natural gas storage. Whether it is stored underground in old wells, or above ground in tanks, or is delivered here via the LNG plant in Kenai (which would need some work in order to switch from being an export facility to one that can import as well), can be determined through some careful economic analysis. Essentially, it’s like chopping wood in the summer to burn in the winter.

The state can help facilitate this through favorable state lease rates for old fields used only for storage, perhaps through state-backed financing, through a reasonable RCA rate structure to cover the costs, and through a regulatory process that ensures open access to all users of the storage system.

Let’s be smart and get started!

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In 1945 a state senator from Juneau, speaking on an anti-discrimination bill, said, “Who are these people, barely out of savagery, who want to associate with us whites, with 5000 years of civilization behind us?” Elizabeth Peratrovich, who was the guiding force behind the bill, responded by saying, “I would not have expected that I, who am barely out of savagery, would have to remind the gentlemen with five thousand years of recorded civilization behind them of our bill of rights.” Peratrovich’s remarks are credited with pushing Alaska’s Anti-Discrimination Act of 1945, one of the first anti-discrimination laws in a United States territory through to passage.

Our constitution’s promise of equal protection under the law is still in the process of fulfillment. It seems as though each generation must renew the effort, expanding the boundaries of equality through activism and political discourse.

A few years ago the civil rights issue being discussed in Juneau was whether same sex couples should enjoy the same rights as heterosexual couples. In 2005 the Alaska Supreme Court ruled unanimously that they should, but some legislators objected, and in 2006 they introduced measures to amend our constitution to shrink the meaning of ‘equal protection under the law.’ I fought that measure as a member of the Judiciary Committee and I fought it again when it came up for a vote before the full Senate. The debate spilled over into 2007, when an advisory vote asking whether our constitution should be amended was placed on the ballot statewide and it narrowly passed. In response another constitutional amendment was introduced in the Legislature, and I was proud to help other like-minded legislators defeat it.

This year’s effort to expand the meaning of ‘equal protection’ was the ordinance passed by the Anchorage Assembly that would have prohibited discrimination in jobs and housing based on sexual orientation, much the same way that discrimination is prohibited based on race, gender, age and religion. As we all know, the measure was vetoed by Mayor Sullivan and the Assembly was one vote short of an override. That setback for the civil rights of Alaska’s citizens will someday be righted; perhaps through a citizen’s initiative, or perhaps through the election of a new mayor, or through the election of one more equal-rights minded assembly member.

Thus, the struggle goes on. The tide of history is clear, though. We are on the right side of this issue, and we will prevail.

As your next governor, I will focus on preventing crime, helping victims and holding criminals accountable.

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Preventing Crime – Helping Victims – Holding Criminals Accountable

Preventing crime

We can’t just sit around and wait until a criminal strikes and then slap on the handcuffs. We need to act together as a community to prevent crime.

We have options to be proactive.  To start, we can use rehabilitation to prevent crime.

Once we catch criminals, we can’t just lock them up and throw away the key. Most offenders will get out after serving their time. If we just warehouse them, they will to go right back into a life of crime.

As chair of the Senate Judiciary committee, I secured funding for an ISER study on rehabilitation.  In addition to reducing crime, the report shows that small investments in rehabilitation will reduce prison populations, save Alaska money, and prevent new crimes. Those who sincerely want to change their ways should have a path back to a law-abiding life.

But we can also fight crime before rehabilitation is necessary. We should start as early as possible with full funding for statewide, voluntary pre-Kindergarten programs that can help Alaska’s children thrive.  Children going through these programs are much less likely to drop out of school, commit suicide, and commit crime.

Yes, investing in Alaska’s children won’t reduce crime immediately.  But it is the right thing to do for multiple reasons, and long-term strategies lead to long-term solutions.

We should also fight the circumstances that lead to crime.  Alcohol abuse is linked to domestic violence and sexual assault, particularly in rural Alaska. I strongly support the local option system that lets communities decide how to regulate alcohol. When communities vote for restrictions, the state needs to support them with strong enforcement of anti-bootlegging laws.  Treatment programs should be available to those who want help, so we can break the cycles that lead to suicide, domestic violence and sexual assault.

Finally, in some areas, law enforcement is stretched thin.  I support our troopers and police, and will work on efforts that put the most talented law enforcement officers on our streets and in our communties.  Returning to a defined benefits system will help Alaska attract and retain the best law enforcement officers.

Small communities in Rural Alaska need first responders when crime strikes.  While regional centers have Alaska State Troopers, weather problems can keep officers from flying into small villages for hours, maybe even days. Village Public Safety Officers are a critical first line of defense.

Working as a VPSO is a tough job. Officers are essentially on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week, all year. Sometimes, the crime victims are their own relatives.

I worked hard to put more VPSOs on the job and made sure they are paid better for doing such difficult work.   Indeed, I helped raise the pay of VPSOs from $16 to $21 an hour.  The presence of a VPSO in our small villages will control bootlegging, deter crime, and provide a first responder when problems arise.

Helping Victims

As a former board member of Victims for Justice, I know we need to make sure Alaskans get all the help they need when a criminal strikes.

We need to give sexual assault victims more support, to help them deal with the justice system. This year, I co-sponsored the new law raising the state’s cap on emergency funding for crime victims. I also co-sponsored a new law making it easier for sexual assault victims to get protective orders in court.

A lot of work remains. We need more and better shelters.  We need more forensic nurses, to gather evidence and assist victims of sexual assault.

Finally, we need to be tough on the criminals that caused the harm.

Tough on Criminals

Those who break the law must face strong, swift, and certain consequences.

I spent six years prosecuting criminals. As a rookie prosecutor handling my first trial, I convicted the defendant, thanks to the expert guidance of veteran Anchorage Police officer Dan Seely.  One month later, he was dead, killed when he responded to a domestic violence call in Eagle River.  I strive to honor his sacrifice by fighting domestic violence.

As chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, I work hard to deal with Alaska’s crime-fighting challenges. The first bill I passed as a legislator increased the sentences for repeat sex offenders, and this past session I sponsored legislation that promotes the use of DNA evidence, so we can catch the guilty and free the innocent.

Criminals shouldn’t slip through the net because cops don’t have the information they need to make an arrest.  In Alaska, our police, court, and prosecuting agencies had a half-dozen different databases that didn’t ‘talk’ to each other. I worked with Republicans and Democrats to solve that problem.  Now our police will know whether someone they’ve stopped is violating bail conditions, restraining orders, or probation restrictions. Prosecutors and judges will know a defendant’s complete rap sheet right away, without a lot of digging.

A strong case is built with strong evidence. I strongly supported this year’s funding for the new state crime lab. Our current facility is outdated and overcrowded, with a huge backlog of evidence to process. Construction will start soon on the new lab, which will speed critical evidence tests, including DNA database searches that can solve sexual assault cases.

We need to improve our sexual assault conviction rates. Only 22% of reported sexual assaults end up with a conviction – in 8 out of 10 cases, the rapist walks away.  Given the number of unreported cases, the number of unpunished criminals and suffering victims is even higher.

This is simply unacceptable.  My Senate Judiciary Committee is working on the problem, and I’ll continue that work as your next Governor.  To make stronger cases, Alaska needs more forensic nurses.  Forensic nurses perform detailed examinations of sexual assault victims, turning a weak he-said/she-said case into one strong enough to present to a jury.

I’ve held criminals accountable in the courtroom. As chair of the Senate Judiciary committee, I’ve strengthened laws for crimes that hurt people. I’ll keep up the fight for safe communities as your Governor.

You don’t want to worry about your heating and electric bills always going up. You don’t want to flinch every time you have to fill up your gas tank. You want the electricity to work when you flip the switch and the heat to come on when you need it.

I’ll work to make sure you always have the energy you need, at a price you can afford.

My priorities are to:

• Get a gas line from the North Slope, with affordable gas for Alaskans
• Expand renewable energy
• Promote investments that save energy
• Protect against energy price-gouging
• Prevent natural gas shortages in Southcentral
• End the rural energy crisis

Alaska’s Gas Pipeline

My top energy priority is getting a natural gas pipeline from the North Slope — whether it’s the big pipeline going to the Lower 48, a medium size one to an LNG port in Valdez or a smaller one coming straight to Southcentral. Whichever it is, it will have to deliver affordable gas to Alaskans – or the project isn’t going to happen, period. We need a natural gas pipeline that benefits all Alaskans, not a handful of multinational corporations.

Some communities won’t be able to get gas from whatever pipeline is built. I support efforts to lower the cost of energy for all Alaskans, and not just those who are next to a pipeline.  This is why Alaska’s fiscal terms for the line are so important.  If we charge a fair price for our resource, we can use those proceeds to invest in renewable projects statewide that benefit all Alaskans.

As a State Senator, I made sure the North Slope gas pipeline will have delivery points inside Alaska. I supported state cost-sharing on the current pipeline planning work, which will hold down the final cost of gas to Alaska customers. I also worked to make sure the North Slope gas line will be open to new shippers, not just a few big companies.  More competition and more volume will mean lower prices for your gas.

The most promising gas project right now is the one to the Lower 48 through Canada. Transcanada and Exxon have already begun soliciting customers (a process known as “open season.”) BP and Conoco will soon do likewise. Transcanada and Exxon are also seeking customers for a pipeline that goes to Valdez, in case that option is commercially viable.

A bullet line, straight from the North Slope to Southcentral, is another option that has produced some interest. However, no private party is spending money to pursue it right now.

I’m proud to have supported the state’s competitive gas line bidding process, known as the Alaska Gas Line Inducement Act. It provided incentives that have moved the project farther along than ever before – we are at the point where two competing ventures are seeking customers.

Whatever the pipeline route, I am skeptical of using state money to build the line without having firm customers signed up. The private sector must be on board before construction starts, but I won’t give multinational companies 20 or 30 years worth of tax breaks to make it happen.

I won’t sign away Alaska’s sovereign powers over this pipeline or any other project. We fought too long and too hard to become a state and get the right determine our own destiny. We will not surrender our rightful powers as a state to any corporation for any purpose.

Expand Alaska’s renewable energy

Hydro, wind and solar power are good insurance against inflation, because they have no fuel costs. As Alaska collects billions of dollars from oil, we have begun investing some of that one-time money to get more energy from renewable sources. It’s a smart investment.

Right now we get about 25% of our electricity from renewable sources, mostly from hydroelectric dams, and more is in the works.

A private company is pursuing wind power on Anchorage’s Fire Island. In Fairbanks, Golden Valley Electric is moving ahead with the Eva Creek wind project. Kodiak has a wind power plant that supplements its electric power dam. Many villages have wind turbines to offset expensive diesel power. On the Railbelt, projects like Lake Chakachamna or Mount Spurr geothermal could produce major amounts of renewable power.

But only projects that have private sector support should qualify for any state investment. I will fight any boondoggles for big corporations or fly-by-night outfits.

Invest in saving energy

If we use less energy, we pay for less energy. Saving a thousand barrels of oil a year for 20 years is like finding an oil well that produces 20,000 barrels of oil.

Installing more efficient lighting and heating in public buildings is an investment that can often pay for itself. Some private companies offer to pay for the improvements and make the money back by taking a share of the energy savings.

Alaska has some of the best programs in the country to help homeowners install energy-saving insulation, heaters, and windows, and I’ll continue supporting them. These kinds of investments are a source of clean energy and pay dividends for years to come.

Protect against energy price-gouging

Alaska is a big oil-producing state, but our fuel prices are among the highest in the country.  Something doesn’t seem right.  That is why I cosponsored price-gouging legislation that gives Alaska new tools to protect against unfair prices at the gas pump.

I will press Alaska refineries to justify why their margins are so high compared to the Lower 48. I will tell the state consumer protection office to aggressively investigate any unreasonable energy price increases, as a continued effort to increase corporate accountability.

Prevent winter gas shortages in Southcentral

In the coldest days of winter, Southcentral almost runs out of natural gas, because local wells can’t produce enough to meet the intense demand. Our electric utilities may not get the gas they need to keep our lights on, and commercial buildings could get their heating fuel cut off.

Southcentral needs a way to store natural gas for those peak demand days, but building storage for just a few days a year is very expensive. This session, I helped pass a state tax incentive that will hold down the cost of installing the needed gas storage.

End the rural energy crisis

Our smallest communities pay the state’s highest energy prices. I will help rural communities save money wherever possible on their energy bills. My administration will help them coordinate bulk fuel purchases well in advance, so they can get competitive bids and avoid costly emergency fuel shipments.

I will continue state programs that help homes, public buildings and power plants become more energy efficient. The Power Cost Equalization fix last year helps keep electricity affordable in rural communities, and I’ll make sure the program has stable, long-term funding that keeps up with the need when fuel prices spike upward. Where a practical local source of energy is available – wind, run-of-the-river hydro, tidal power, wood, fish waste, other biomass – I’ll help communities find a way to harness it.

When people think of Alaska, I want them to say, “It has great schools, everywhere you go, even way out in tiny villages.” I want people to say, “You’d be amazed how good Alaska’s universities are. They really made smart investments in education with the state’s oil money.”

With a good education, our children can go anywhere and do anything. I want all our children to come to school ready to learn. I want every student to graduate from our schools ready for college or ready to jump in the workforce and get a good-paying job.

With a good education system, Alaska will have a stronger economy. We’ll grow our own workforce, instead of importing people from out of state. We’ll draw businesses here because we already have workers who can do the job.

My plan for education has five main parts:

• start early in life, with voluntary pre-Kindergarten,
• put a great teacher in every classroom,
• provide stable, predictable funding for our schools,
• make the University of Alaska more accessible, and
• provide dynamic and robust vocational/technical education opportunities.

Starting early: Pre-K education

Children learn from the moment they are born. Their minds are like sponges, soaking up stimulation and learning from every encounter in the world around them.

Many children are lucky, and grow up in environments that promote learning long before they’re old enough for kindergarten. Other children are less fortunate. When they arrive at school, they need help to catch up.

Head Start is a proven way of helping pre-schoolers and their families get on the path to success in school. However, it’s only for low-income families, and it’s not available everywhere it’s needed in Alaska. Families that don’t qualify for Head Start are on their own until kindergarten. Alaska is one of only 12 states that do not go beyond Head Start and fund a statewide voluntary pre-K education program.

Thirty-eight states know that investing in high-quality early education pays off. Students do better in school, poverty and crime rates drop, and the entire economy grows stronger. As governor, I’ll work to start statewide voluntary pre-K education in Alaska.

Great schools must have great teachers

You know what it’s like when your children have great teachers. They’re excited to go to school every day. They come home from school eager to talk about what they did and learned.

To make sure your child gets a good education, your school must make sure there is a good teacher in the classroom. Expert research has proven it again and again – the single most important factor in the quality of a student’s education is the teacher.

Alaska used to be a magnet for great teachers, with some of the best salaries and benefits in the nation. Other states wised up and raised teacher salaries, while Alaska steadily fell behind.

Great teachers will never be paid what they are really worth. If they were, they’d make more than investment bankers and hedge fund managers!

But one thing we can do is make sure our teachers have a decent retirement system. A few years ago, Republican lawmakers and Governor Frank Murkowski threw out the state’s teacher retirement system. They told newly-hired teachers, “Sorry, we’re not offering a pension any more. You’re on your own for retirement. Here’s some money you can put in a 401k-style account. Invest it wisely – good luck!”

You can’t get first-rate teachers with a second-rate benefits package. As governor, I’ll restore a real pension system for our teachers.

Schools in the Bush have special problems getting and keeping good teachers. Many new teachers come straight from the Lower 48, and the drastically different environment may produce culture shock. Even good, adventurous teachers may want to move on after a few years.

Bush schools work best if the teachers know the local culture and feel comfortable living in the community for the long-haul. In many villages, teaching at the school is one of the best jobs available for local residents. As governor, I’ll support efforts to help rural Alaskans get trained as teachers and return to serve their communities.

Funding for K-12 schools

Funding for our schools must be steady and predictable, and it has to be enough to do the job, especially in high-cost, high-need areas. As a state senator from Anchorage, I worked with colleagues from rural areas to secure education funding that is equitable for all areas of the state, and I’ll do the same as governor.

But Alaska hasn’t done enough to help all rural students succeed.   Education should be a rising tide that lifts all boats, and in some areas of our state, graduation rates and academic indicators show we must do better.  I’ll work with local districts to find creative, community based solutions that help all Alaskans succeed.

Finally, I’ve been a strong supporter of “forward funding” education.  During the last session, the Alaska State Legislature passed forward funding legislation.  Now school districts will have fiscal certainty in advance, allowing for thoughtful budget preparation.   As Governor, I’ll make certain this important program stays on the books.

Make the University of Alaska more accessible

Alaskans who want to pursue a University of Alaska education should have a clear path to a degree.

A university stimulates the economy by providing qualified workers (so employers aren’t forced to hire people from out of state), training professionals and entrepreneurs who develop small businesses, and by creating a stable labor pool in crucial areas such as nursing and education.

An education is earned, not bought. We need to make sure that Alaskans who work hard and are committed to preparing for a career through college can afford an education. Needs-based assistance can fill our classrooms with the most committed students.

But tuition alone isn’t the only barrier to a University of Alaska degree. Alaskans who want an education are often frustrated and delayed by full classes. Vital programs like nursing have students waiting for years to begin their training. Expanding offerings to eliminate waiting lists will help our students earn their degree and move on to a career in four years instead of six or seven.

Finally, regional campuses provide university level opportunities, close to home in rural Alaska. They focus on local problems or needs, creating solutions tailored to the community. We should continue expanding our regional University of Alaska campuses.

I’m a University of Alaska graduate. I earned my degree during my weeks off, when I was working on the North Slope pumping oil. Hardworking Alaskans need a clearer path through our University system. I’ll make sure the UA system is working for us, so Alaskans who want to work hard can advance their careers.

Provide dynamic and robust vocational/technical education opportunities

Many young Alaskans want to develop specific skills so they can engage in careers which demand manual or practical abilities, rather than attending college.  Developing and maintaining quality vocational and technical education programs ensures higher paying jobs and better opportunities for all Alaskans.

Vocational and technical education programs prepare young Alaskans for careers that are based in skilled trades and occupations, such as aviation and automotive technology, diesel and heavy equipment technologies, plumbing and air conditioning installation, professional cooking, and licensed practical nursing.

The benefits are clear and immediate.  For example:

• Individuals with higher skills earn significantly more over their lifetimes and are much more employable.   Skills development is the foundation of career progression and promotion opportunities.
• Firms who employ skilled individuals have a higher level of productivity, improved quality, better staff retention, and increased profitability.
• Skills development can help reduce poverty and crime and revitalize communities.  Skilled workforces have a positive and direct effect on economic growth.

Our state will always demand and reward a highly skilled workforce.  I will continue to support funding for the Southwest Alaska Vocational and Education Center, the Alaska Vocational and Technical Center, and other vocational/technical education programs.

Education is the key that opens the door of opportunity — for our children, and our state’s economy. We need to act now.  As your governor, I’ll make smart education investments, for the benefit of future generations.