Opinions

Robbins is the only viable choice for mayor of Anchorage

Word on the street is the Anchorage mayor’s race is competitive.

Mike Robbins and Dave Bronson are battling for the pole position from a large chunk of GOP-centric voters. Former mayor Ethan Berkowitz’s municipal manager, Bill Falsey, is gaining ground on 37-year-old liberal candidate Forrest Dunbar. Candidates Bill Evans (an attorney), and George Martinez are pushing their narratives hard but, if you’ve followed what their goals are, one would wonder if they match yours and your family’s.

I’m actually unsure who will be the top two vote-getters and move to the next round in the runoff election, but I suspect it will be Robbins — as it should be.

I’ve written previous opinions, and it’s no secret I’m for Mike Robbins. Acumen and experience with business, negotiation, and playing hardball are three reasons I support him. And I know firsthand, having negotiated and worked with him on hospitality industry events in the past. The other fellows simply don’t have Robbins’ skills, particularly the ones we need to speed up our economy and keep it growing for future generations.

One observation I’ve made about this particular campaign cycle, and others have informed me the same, is Dave Bronson’s absence at numerous forums. GCI is one of the largest private-sector employers in the city, and when you have 250-plus voters interested in your vision for the Municipality, and you’re absent, one ponders what’s up your sleeve.

Ballots were mailed to Anchorage residents last week. You have until April 6 to mail them in and change the city’s direction for decades to come. If you want to see our city back to what it used to be, vote.

I’m guessing it will be down to Dunbar, Robbins and Bronson.

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If Dave Bronson gets to a runoff against Dunbar, and Bronson’s kitchen cabinet of hard-right puppets, him along with out-of-state consultants, my hunch is he’ll get defeated. The supporters of Falsey and Evans and Martinez won’t play craps and risk our future on a Dave Bronson. I tend to agree.

It’s not personal. It’s reality. I can thank Dave for his service all day long. But Bronson is too polarizing. His most fierce supporters castigate anyone who disagrees. Just ask Assembly freshman and blowhard Jamie Allard. I don’t know her, but I see her, and I hear her loud and clear. Toxicity won’t get our city out of the mess we’re in. We need to work together — and she won’t, as we’ve seen her and other Assembly members lean toward areas not representing the majority.

And before you point at me and question my philosophy, take note I’m even more conservative than Dave Bronson. I’m pro-life, pro-gun, pro-military and pro-business, having owned many for 50-plus years. No one can pull rank on me carrying the torch high and proud for the likes of Ronald Reagan and Donald Trump.

This mayor’s race will be close. It doesn’t have to be.

Take note of a retired F-22 Raptor squadron commander like Sen. Mike Shower, injured war veteran and hero Sen. Josh Revak, and former Navy SEAL and patriot Representative Laddie Shaw, and intelligent, conservative Assembly members like Eagle River-Chugiak’s Crystal Kennedy, who have endorsed and support Mike Robbins.

Push innuendo and favorites and gossip and slander aside as you suffer through campaign ads and out-of-state talk show hosts’ nonsense and online rhetoric.

If you want to save our city, protect our businesses and defeat Dunbar and the bullying, ill-equipped Left, vote for the candidate who will defeat them and bring us back to a community we can all be proud of.

Mike Robbins is the only viable choice for mayor of Anchorage. God bless America and Alaska.

Frank Dahl is a local businessman, past president of the Alaska Cabaret, Hotel, Restaurant and Retailers Association, and a former owner of Blues Central.

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