Candidate's name: Gerald "Jerry" L. Heikes
Party: Republican
Date of birth: May 14, 1953
Occupation: carpenter/drywall
Employment history: Spent most of my working life self-employed
Previous public offices held: None
Previous unsuccessful runs for office: Governor (2006)
Education: graduated with a G.E D.
Military service: Alaska Air National Guard (1970-1976)
Spouse name: Gail "Marie"
Children: Brandy, Britnee, Jeremiah
Web site: www.heikesontherock.com
1. Why are you running for office?
New leaders are needed, ones with the Americans interests at heart. 2. The most important issue in this election is ___
Freedom. 3. What specifically should Congress do, if anything, to address rising energy prices?
Congress needs to look upon this land, and take their foot off the necks of the American people. We are made slaves to foreign powers because we have our own resources for energy independence. Use them.
4. If oil and gasoline prices continue to rise, could you support government price controls?
No, more product, less price. Develop our own.
5. Do you support drilling in ANWR? If the answer is yes, tell us something new that you as a member of Congress can do to open the coastal plain to drilling.
Yes, what I would tell you is that in our own Constitution (State of Alaska) we have a state's right to develop our resources for the benefit of the people of our state. Congress has constitutional limitations when it comes to our state rights. We are in distress and Congress is inept, inane and incompetent, led by the Democrats, of course, strain at gnat and swallow a camel, and now we have the effective leadership they promised.
6. TransCanada has suggested the federal government can help the proposed Alaska gas line by acting as a "bridge shipper." That means the federal government would agree to buy enough gas to fill the line if necessary, or at least guarantee the equivalent revenue stream for the pipeline owner. Will you support legislation to do this?
No, We as Alaskans should build our own for the needs of our own people first. I have outlined that plan. I am totally against the TransCanada line. We cannot prosper (as a people) under that plan.
7. Do you support offshore drilling in Bristol Bay?
Yes, I recently met a commercial fisherman who also was an oil driller not only in Alaska but in Louisiana, who worked the platforms for over 30 years and commercial fished. He said we have the best systems in the world for oil production and not harming the environment. Give me the word of a workingman any time.
8. What can the federal government or Congress do to further a natural gas pipeline should state measures such as an AGIA license fail to pass, or fail to "induce" a pipeline?
On my Web site you will find "The Alaska Republic Oil and Gas Initiative" which outlines a plan to benefit all Alaskans, create another permanent fund making sure the cost of the fuels and the supply are never subject to outside market forces. It surely is a benefit to all Alaskans and would take 3-1/2 years to implement, and the positive effects would start almost immediately.
9. Some say oil companies have leased vast public acreage and are now sitting on the leases without drilling. Point Thomson in Alaska has been mentioned as an example. Do you believe this has anything to do with our energy crunch?
Yes, control the market, control the money, control the people. Ever hear of created shortages to drive up prices? How about price-fixing? The power of oil is in the hands of a few, who are not interested in fair profit. We need to encourage American companies for our resource development. 10. Rural Alaska has been hit particularly hard by high fuel prices. Are there specific steps Congress or a member of Congress should take to address this?
No, our Native people have corporations to turn to, with billions of dollars for these times. Let them give back to their people. Let them encourage resource development on their allotted lands.
11. Should Congress continue President Bush's tax cuts to stimulate the economy? Explain
It's simple really, when people have more money they have a tendency to (a) spend it or (b) invest it.
12. How important a priority is reducing the federal deficit? Explain.
We have a Congress with no financial restraint. A balanced budget is not impossible. It is extremely important for a sound economy. Do the financial rumblings now occurring let you sleep well at night? Read "The National Referendum" on my Web site, it will tell you where I stand. 13. Should the U.S. tax code be simplified? Is it fair?
Yes, It should not only be simplified but replaced with a Fair Tax. (It takes) 5.8 billion hours of paper work, to the cost of $500 billion dollars of personal and business expense to implement it. No it's not fair. Karl Marx thought it was a great idea along with the death tax.
14. What should the future U.S. role in Iraq be?
Maintain a constant presence for the safety of the people.
15. How long do you believe the U.S. occupation should continue?
Till the Iraqi government is stable and our presence is no longer required.
16. Should a date be set for withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq? Explain.
No. Time lines are for the naïve. (See answer 15.)
17. What role should Congress have in deciding the kind of military approach the U.S. uses in Iraq?
Absolutely and emphatically none. All they are good for is deals to fill their pockets with back-door money. Harry Reid when Senate Minority Leader already lost the war, now he is Senate Majority Leader. You want someone like him to make policy decisions concerning our troops lives in battle? Yeah, right. First you have to have courage. War, like it or not, is a profession. Leave it to the professionals. The Commander in Chief carries those responsibilities and decisions, that's a one-man job and the final decision rests solely on him. 18. Under what circumstances, if any, would you support a pre-emptive military strike against Iran to percent it from acquiring nuclear weapons?
It is a matter of what you believe. I believe if he (the leader of Iran) gets a nuclear weapon he will use it. Yes, I support a pre-emptive strike. If we don't Israel will, God bless them.
19. How good a job is the military and the Veterans Administration doing in providing ongoing care to soldiers and ex-soldiers who served in the war? What specifically would you do to improve services?
I would have to be more involved in the system to have a valid opinion. My father, who is 80, goes and has V.A. care and he is satisfied.
20. What role do human-caused emissions of greenhouse gases play in global warming: None, some, most, or all? Explain.
None, the earth has always had warming and cooling cycles. We have warmed up 1.4 degrees in the last 150 years. More government control? This year we're having one of the coolest summers since 1970. Go figure. 21. What legislation currently in Congress comes closest to the policy you would advocate for dealing with climate change?
Tell them to get an education, stop trying to control the American people through guilt and propaganda - it is not their department - gods of the weather. Leave that for the Almighty.
22. Coastal erosion is a serious issue in a number of rural Alaska villages, with discussions about relocating some communities. Do you believe this is appropriate or realistic? Explain.
It would be up to the people, if they need to move, move. They are American citizens, they have a choice to make.
23. Is it appropriate to use the polar bear listing as a threatened species to limit oil and gas development in the Arctic or regulate distant greenhouse gas emissions? What other steps, if any, do you think government and industry should take to protect Alaska's polar bear population?
We have state's rights in our constitution to develop our resources to meet the needs of Alaskans. I will, as senator, make sure that any oil producers that shoot or kill any polar bears to develop our natural resources will pay a hefty fine. We don't have to bow to some judicial fiat, or any decisions rendered by Congress when they are in contempt. We are to be an independent state, so act like it.
24. What's your position on the proposed Pebble mine in southwest Alaska? How do you plan to vote on the "Clean Water" initiative on the August ballot?
I believe it should be considered a local issue and decided by the residents that live and have their livelihoods there. On the initiative, no; too much is restricted on any kind of mining.
25.Are changes needed in the way congressional earmarks work? Under what circumstances should members of Congress be allowed to direct federal spending to specific projects in their district?
I am not familiar with the intricacy of such manipulations. I would have to do an in-depth study first, to have a valued opinion. 26. What should Congress do, if anything, to help increase the supply of doctors in Alaska?
This question makes me wonder what country I live in. That Congress should determine where one should live because of their chosen profession? People live here because they truly love this land. Don't they do that in Russia?
27. Some major Alaska fisheries have been "rationalized." That is, individual shares have been assigned to fishermen and even to processors. Do you support this approach for more of Alaska's fisheries?
I'm not up on this subject. If someone would e-mail me on how the system works, I would appreciate it.
