Opinions

Put people before politics

During the past month, I’ve spent my nights and weekends on a listening tour throughout Midtown neighborhoods. We talk about the issues facing our communities and about my bid for the Anchorage Assembly’s Midtown seat. During these chats, I’m often asked: “What are you?” Meaning: Are you Democrat or Republican?

The question shows how deeply partisan politics have pervaded public service in our state. The Anchorage mayoral and Assembly races are deliberately nonpartisan, so the voting members of these local offices focus on providing essential public services rather than upholding a political platform. These elected officials need to cooperate, and partisan politics is not known for fostering cooperation.

So, what am I? I’m an undeclared voter, mother, foster mom, wife, friend, attorney and small-business owner, and I’m a neighbor who has chosen to live in Midtown and cares deeply about the future of our neighborhoods. I’m the kind of person who believes that more can be done with less, close neighbors build strong and safe neighborhoods, and the government should be representative of the people.

I am not concerned with political party affiliations, because I believe our local elected officials should concentrate on solving our community’s challenges and should weigh that merit of ideas based on their value to the community rather than their adherence to a party platform.

Our communities are facing many serious issues — crime, homelessness, decreased financial support from the state and affordable housing are just a few. These issues won’t be solved with Democratic or Republican solutions. They’ll be solved by listening to each other, working together, and doing what’s right for Anchorage.

As we head into the municipal election cycle full swing, please consider contacting your district’s candidates and telling them what you think. I know I want to hear from you.

Meg Zaletel is an Anchorage Assembly candidate, running for the Midtown district seat.

The views expressed here are the writer’s and are not necessarily endorsed by the Anchorage Daily News, which welcomes a broad range of viewpoints. To submit a piece for consideration, email commentary(at)adn.com. Send submissions shorter than 200 words to letters@adn.com or click here to submit via any web browser. Read our full guidelines for letters and commentaries here.

ADVERTISEMENT