Alaska News

Here's how mayoral candidates replied to questions about city

Editor's note: Anchorage mayoral candidates Eric Croft and Dan Sullivan responded to a Daily News/adn.com questionnaire in late February. Here is how they answered some of the questions.

Q. What grade would you give the Begich administration, on an A to F scale, and why?

Sullivan: B-. The Begich administration brought a lot of energy to the job but the increased level of spending under his watch doesn't equal a corresponding improvement in services. Residents aren't seeing the value for the increase in their property taxes.

Croft: I would give the Begich administration a B+. I think our city has made significant progress during the past six years, but we still need to work together on improving education, creating jobs and making government more efficient.

Q. Rank the following from highest importance to lowest importance if you become mayor:

Sullivan: 1. (tie) Stronger enforcement of speeding and red-light running laws.

1. (tie) Clearing snow from neighborhood streets more quickly.

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3. Garnishing Permanent Fund dividend payments from those who owe fines.

4. Parks and trails maintenance and upgrades.

5. Maintaining or improving People Mover bus service.

6. Enhancing the Internet resources of city libraries.

Croft: 1. Clearing snow from neighborhood streets more quickly.

2. Maintaining or improving People Mover bus service.

3. Parks and trails maintenance and upgrades.

4. Stronger enforcement of speeding and red-light-running laws.

5. Enhancing the Internet resources of city libraries.

6. Garnishing Permanent Fund dividend payments from people who have not paid city fines.

Q. Would you take a voluntary pay cut before you ask any employee to take one?

Sullivan: The mayor's salary is set by the Salary and Emoluments Commission and cannot be raised or lowered by the mayor. The mayor could choose to donate part of his salary to a worthy organization, however.

Croft: Yes. I will take as mayor any pay concessions I ask the other MOA employees to take.

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