As long as I can remember, I have been so grateful for all of the freedoms and opportunities we are blessed to have as both Alaskans and Americans. I was raised in Alaska, and now I am raising my own family here. I graduated from Chugiak High School in 1994 and went on to earn degrees from the University of Alaska Anchorage in justice and history. I subsequently obtained an master's degree in business administration, with an emphasis in finance, from Columbia Southern University. I have 20 years of private sector experience in Alaska.
My husband Ben and I have raised our children with the same sense of patriotism, dedication to service and work ethic that I experienced growing up. Our daughter, Kennedy, is a freshman at UAA. Our son, Riley, is a freshman at Chugiak High School. As a family, we love to spend our time volunteering in our community and hunting and fishing from our cabin in Willow.
My love of Alaska has driven me to get involved in our community, serving as president of the Chugiak Community Council, as a member of the Anchorage Municipal Budget Advisory Commission and on the Anchorage Assembly. My experience and record of service to the Anchorage area is unmatched in this election.
I will bring to the mayor's office new energy and vision, knowledge of the workings of the municipality, and an ethical leadership that is not beholden to special interests. As your mayor, I will bring common sense to the office, and be a clear and knowledgeable voice for the residents and taxpayers of Anchorage. My focus will remain, as it has been as an Assembly member, on making our municipal government efficient and cost-effective, while delivering services vital to our community.
Key focus areas in my administration will be:
Public Safety: As an Assembly member I have passed legislation to improve public safety, including adding new paramedics, improving the Safety Patrol service, and supporting additional Anchorage Police Department academies. As mayor, one of the first areas of focus will be to ensure we are adequately staffing the department and deploying those resources in an effective manner. I support reestablishing many of the specialty units, such as the gang, theft, and sexual assault units.
Education: It is crucial that we work collaboratively to improve educational outcomes for our children, while finding innovative ways to lower costs and focus our resources inside the classroom to achieve improved results. I will work to consolidate many of the duplications between the municipality and the school district. These consolidations will result in lower costs and free up the Anchorage School District to focus on its mission of education.
Strong Local Economy: Growing our private sector economy will provide jobs in our community, increase the tax base, reduce the need for tax increases, and mitigate impacts from declining state revenues. Good local infrastructure – roads, bridges, energy, housing, economic policy – coupled with an educated workforce, responsive permit approval process and low taxes will encourage private sector development.
Efficient Government & Low Taxes: In order to do this we must have a government that has a fiscally sustainable budget and is accountable to those we represent, the people of Anchorage, for every dollar spent. I will be the taxpayers' advocate to make sure we accomplish this.
I commit to you that I will be honest, ethical and straightforward. Unlike my opponent, I'm not making extravagant promises that cannot be fulfilled, or cozying up to special interests. Does anyone really believe, as my opponent does, that we can add police, provide free pre-K, and expand before- and after-school programs at no cost without increasing the municipal budget? Let's be honest, changing out the city's light bulbs or finding some vague "waste" in government doesn't pay the bills. These promises will only lead to more government spending. This is old-school politics at it's worst. Promises that can't be kept, and the "old boy" technique of "help me get elected and I'll help you," will not be part of my administration.
I am proud to have the support of Sen. Dan Sullivan, Mayor Dan Sullivan, the Municipal Taxpayers League, Sen. Kevin Meyer, Sen. Bill Stoltze, Assemblyman Bill Evans, former Assemblyman Chris Birch, and many other Alaskans.
As mayor of Anchorage, I will ensure the people's voice is the loudest in the mayor's office. I will be the same Amy in the mayor's office that I am in my personal life and on the Assembly. You will never take a back seat to special interests. That's why, unlike my opponent, I've rejected all special interest money.
I am grateful for the outpouring of support and encouragement I've received from our community. I would be honored to have your vote for the next mayor of Anchorage. Together, we really can, and will, make a difference!
Amy Demboski represents Chugiak/Eagle River on the Anchorage Assembly and is a candidate for mayor.
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