I am running for lieutenant governor because of a deep commitment to public service and because my background and skills uniquely qualify me to serve Alaskans in this role.
I believe Alaskans want and deserve leaders who take public service seriously, not use it as a steppingstone to a higher office. My opponent seems to be campaigning for U.S. Senate, not lieutenant governor. He has attacked me for wanting Alaska to sue the feds over Obamacare while offering no alternative except perhaps putting on boxing gloves and challenging some unnamed fed to "put 'em up."
As a business owner for the last 25 years, I know hard work. I've worked hard all my life and am proud of the successes that I have achieved. I've met a payroll every two weeks, created jobs for hundreds of Alaskans, while every single day planning for the future to ensure that my business succeeded and my employees thrived. Alaska and its people have been good to me.
As a member of the Alaska House of Representatives, I began to see firsthand the importance of government to our quality of life. Sadly, I also learned how ill-conceived governmental actions can hurt Alaskans and their qualify of life. This is one of the major reasons I'm running -- to help everyday Alaskans by ensuring that their government is working for them and not against them.
I have the experience to fulfill the constitutional responsibilities of the lieutenant governor's office. More importantly, I recognize the potential and platform the office provides to help Alaskans. If elected, I pledge to work diligently to make certain that Alaska's best days are ahead. I will be an economic ambassador, promoting our state, its resources and its people.
I am a business leader and communicator, and I understand how to find common ground between divergent points of view. I will use these skills to assist the governor and his administration to help make sure that Alaska maximizes the opportunities for our future.
We need jobs and economic development. I believe that hard work and a good plan are a more effective means of making it happen than just sitting back and waiting. With the decline of oil flowing through our pipeline, we need to act now to encourage development of new energy fields. With spiraling energy costs in most areas of the state and with the threat of an inadequate gas supply in Southcentral Alaska, we cannot afford to delay -- we need action now. I want to make certain that when Alaska has an oil and gas lease sale, more than one company shows up to bid. I recognize, regardless of how you feel about the industry, that the oil and gas industry is the backbone of our economy, and I want to play an active role to guarantee that it is healthy and providing opportunities for Alaskans. These, and issues like these, are the ones that I commit to working on for the betterment of all Alaskans.
Alaska's future is bright if we elect leaders who respect core values, work hard to restore our sense of optimism and get things done for Alaskans. We don't need more bureaucrats who think we can spend what we don't have.
As I've traveled the state, you've told me you want leaders who understand the real problems of real people. Together, let's seize this opportunity to guarantee that our best days are yet to come.
Rep. Jay Ramras, R-Fairbanks, was first elected to the state House of Representatives in 2004.
REP. JAY RAMRAS