Governor candidates debate issues tonight

Anchorage Republican pollster David Dittman, who isn't working for any of the candidates in the governor's race, said he believes most voters have made up their minds. But tonight's debate could make a difference for Bill Walker and Ralph Samuels, Parnell's main Republican challengers.

"Not just because it has so many viewers but because of what happens that then gets picked up (by the media) and propagated from that point. If Sean did something really, really bad or Ralph and Bill did something brilliant, that could make a difference," said Dittman, adding that Parnell enjoys the benefit of having them split the anti-incumbent vote. "It's mostly Sean's to lose."

The KTUU-Channel 2 debate will begin about 7:30 p.m., with the candidates appearing from the Wendy Williamson auditorium at the University of Alaska Anchorage.

It will include a half hour debate between the two candidates running against each other in the Democratic primary for governor, Ethan Berkowitz and Hollis French; Republicans Parnell, Samuels and Walker also get a half hour. The debate is sponsored by NEA-Alaska, the teachers union, and AARP.

Among the Democrats, French is charging after Berkowitz in the final days before the primary. French is critical of the Berkowitz oil tax plan and questioned the ability of Berkowitz, who has lost his past two races for statewide offices, to beat the Republican nominee in the November general election. Berkowitz is focusing largely on Parnell, arguing the state sorely needs new leadership.

THE REPUBLICANS

Samuels and Walker have campaigned hard in the Republican primary, attempting to overcome the incumbency advantage that Parnell received when he went from lieutenant governor to governor following Sarah Palin's resignation last summer. They've shown up at many more candidate forums than Parnell and appear on radio shows where they often tag team to criticize Parnell's absence.

Parnell debated them twice on Thursday and will participate in the KTUU debate tonight as well as a Commonwealth North candidate forum on Monday. He campaigned Saturday at the Kenai Peninsula State Fair in Ninilchik, as did his opponents.

Samuels, who has campaign signs saying "I promise not to quit until the job is done," a reference to Palin's resignation, is hitting Parnell especially hard at the end of the campaign. That includes a television ad about the "Parnell liberal record." It's a theme Samuels pushed during the KAKM public television debate Thursday night.

Samuels questioned Parnell on the ACES oil tax increase and the Alaska Gasline Inducement Act, which led to a license for TransCanada to pursue construction of a natural gas pipeline from the North Slope with $500 million in state help. Both happened while Palin was governor, backed by then-Lt. Gov. Parnell.

"These two policies were wholeheartedly supported by the far political left. So, as people are deciding who to vote for, can you tell us, on the issues of oil and gas, what are the differences between you and Sen. Hollis French, a (Democratic) gubernatorial candidate?" Samuels said.

Parnell replied that when he became the governor he proposed oil tax breaks to create industry jobs. The Legislature didn't agree, but Parnell said he'd keep pushing.

"When it came my turn to lead this state a year ago, I gathered together the nine to 10 oil companies and said 'What would drive you to invest more dollars in this state?' I proposed four tax credits and benefits to do that. The Legislature joined me on those with respect to some Cook Inlet tax credits; they did not join me on in-field drilling credits for the North Slope," Parnell said.

Samuels said that was just "nibbling around the edges and doesn't undo what the administration has done to hurt the long-term investment strategy of the people who invest money in this state." He said the Palin/Parnell administration had originally proposed a far more modest ACES oil tax increase but "for pure political purposes" supported the Legislature jacking it up.

Parnell responded by bringing up the cloud of corruption over the debate that produced Alaska's previous oil tax, the Petroleum Profits Tax. "I understand, Ralph, that you supported a corrupted PPT tax regime, I support moving on from there. I support creating a tax regime that will spur even more investment in fields," Parnell said.

Walker's campaign is about promising a natural gas pipeline from the North Slope to Valdez. He argues Asian markets will support the megaproject, which Samuels disputes.

Parnell said he's keeping the "all-Alaska" gas pipeline option open to the private sector as part of the Alaska Gasline Inducement Act process, which Walker calls a sham.

"We don't have the kind of leadership available that is going to turn this state into what it needs to be... I will not take no for an answer as we have for so long," Walker said.

THE DEMOCRATS

The race for the Democratic nomination for governor has largely been about oil taxes, with French supporting the current ACES oil tax and Berkowitz proposing to replace it. Berkowitz' theme is that Alaska can do better if he is the governor, from renewable energy to prodding more oil production.

"I have real concerns that Alaska has been complacent for too long, that we've been coasting on past achievements. And until we have strong leadership that's aggressive in grabbing Alaska's opportunities, we're going to continue to slide down bit by bit," Berkowitz said.

French noted at last week's KAKM debate that Berkowitz lost when he was the Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor in 2006 (he was on the Tony Knowles for governor ticket) and when he was the party's nominee for Congress in 2008.

"I have a concern about who we send out to represent us in this election. I heard my friend Ethan Berkowitz say tonight if we keep doing what we've been doing we'll keep getting what we've been getting. We sent him out as our nominee in 2006, and he lost to Sean Parnell. We sent him out in 2008, and he lost to Don Young. I'm afraid if we keep doing what we've been doing we'll keep getting the same result," French said.

Find Sean Cockerham online at adn.com/contact/scockerham or call him at 257-4344.