French Campaign Travels to Petersburg
March 10, 2010
Dear Supporter,
When I started my bid for governor in Fairbanks last July, I promised an energetic statewide campaign. Last week I boarded the M/V Matanuska – one of the largest ferries in the Alaska Marine Highway System – and took that promise to Petersburg.
The ferry ride from Auke Bay to Petersburg took eight hours. I was invited up to the bridge to meet Captain Doty and his crew piloting the ship. The Matanuska is old — constructed in 1963 — and its maintenance costs are rising. The crew ran the ship at about 95% speed in order to not overtax the aging vessel.
Petersburg is halfway between Juneau and Ketchikan. I had a day and half to spend there, and my schedule was full. After a tour of town and an interview with the local radio station, KFSK, I met with Mayor Al Dwyer as he finished broadcasting his weekly rock and roll radio show. A trip to the harbormaster’s office gave me a chance to speak with local fishermen as they returned from the water. Later that day, sitting down with members of the Petersburg Economic Development Council also served as a reminder that fishing drives the local economy.
I was intrigued by stories of multi-generational fishing operations, and how they adjusted during challenging seasons. By changing gear types or pursuing different fish, these family-owned businesses made it through fish population fluctuations or downturns in market prices.
Afternoon conversations made it clear why people love living in Petersburg. A local businessman spoke passionately about his first experiences in town, when his wife was battling cancer. Every Friday for sixteen weeks running she underwent chemotherapy at the local hospital, and without fail someone in the community made certain that the couple had a meal delivered to their door on the days she received treatment. He told me he still does not know who organized the effort. The town just took care of it.
Petersburg has a rich history and innovative residents. With a strong education system, and with proper investments in public safety and the marine highway system, I’m confident that the residents of the community will keep the town thriving in the future.
I hope this update gives you a clear picture of the type of campaign we are running. It is about people – from our home towns, and from other areas in the state – that are coming together for an Alaska that looks to the future while honoring the traditions, like those in Petersburg, that make us proud to be Alaskan.
Sincerely,
Hollis French
