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On Nov. 8, Alaskans will choose who will be the next governor of the State of Alaska. I am voting for Les Gara because he will be a better governor than the other candidates in the race.
I see the race for governor this year as change vs. more of the same. I didn’t come up with that line. Rather, it’s a political truism made famous by renowned political strategist James Carville. He’s most famous for the phrase, “It’s the economy, stupid.” The phrase got picked up because it was on a sign that Carville hung up at the Clinton’s presidential campaign headquarters in 1992. However, the two other political truisms written on that sign were “Change vs. more of the same” and “Don’t forget health care.”
With the phrase “It’s the economy, stupid,” Carville successfully summarized the importance of electing people who will advocate for policies that will improve the lives of ordinary people, many of whom live paycheck to paycheck. When I look back on the last 20 years in Alaska, I don’t see a lot of policies that make things better for the little guy. Instead, I see continued subsidies for hugely profitable oil companies and an overreliance on the Permanent Fund to subsidize state government. Instead of an economy that benefits all Alaskans, I see an economy that benefits bankers, lawyers, politicians, speculators, and CEOs. I don’t think many of them are interested in change. Instead, they prefer more of the same. That’s why I’m supporting long-time Democratic champion Les Gara for governor.
The final reminder on Carville’s famous sign was “Don’t forget health care,” and Les Gara most certainly has not. In 2018, Les took action removing a ban that prevented pharmacists from giving us the lowest price prescription drug option and requiring it be provided to the consumers. He now has a detailed plan to cap insulin prices for Alaskans at $35 per month. This comes after Republicans in the U.S. Senate successfully stripped the provision out of the Inflation Reduction Act. As governor, Les Gara will work to lower healthcare costs in Alaska, including runaway prescription drug costs like insulin.
If I could have added one thing to James Carville’s famous campaign sign, it would be that “Education is the key.” That’s why I’m so enthusiastic about Les Gara being our next governor. During his time in the Alaska Legislature, Gara proved himself over and over as a champion for a great public education system to set Alaska’s children up for success. I firmly believe no one in the history of the Alaska Legislature has spoken so often and so forcefully in defense of public education than Les Gara.
On Oct. 12, the Gara-Cook campaign released a plan to improve Alaska’s struggling education system, including adjusting school funding for inflation. As a member of the Alaska House of Representatives, Les authored several bills to inflation-proof education funding. However, the Republicans in the majority always chose continued inaction and fiscal uncertainty for Alaska’s schools. As governor, Les Gara will fight off every effort to cut education funding, just like he did during his 16 years in the Legislature. And, as governor, Les Gara will work every day so that parents can send their children to great schools in safe communities.
That brings me to my final point. Les Gara is a fighter who will not back down from those with money or power. He’s also a man of principle who will never change a deeply held belief just to win an election. On Nov. 8, I’m voting for Les Gara for governor because it’s time for change vs. more of the same.
Rep. Chris Tuck, D-Anchorage, represents Dimond Estates, Foxridge, Taku, Campbell, Northwood, and Windemere in the Alaska House of Representatives.
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