Next Tuesday, we decide between two nice men who are candidates for Mayor of the Kenai Peninsula Borough. One has been pretty much a one note guy, consistently working to lower taxes. While this sounds attractive at first glance, it would effectively downsize all the government services most of us take for granted.
The recent Borough Mayor race presented a wide variety of candidates and philosophies of government. People whose public service I have watched over the years, like Dale Bagley, Gary Superman and Mike Navarre are all informed, capable people who enjoy problem-solving. Each would have brought a different perspective to the office, but none of them have proposed raising taxes and none are considered big spenders.
Now there are two candidates. One has ridden the wave of anti-government sentiment that has swept across our nation. This troubles me. A public life built on just saying 'No' is no enough. And I want more than a catchy slogan. To me, real leadership requires a deep understanding of a wide array of issues and a commitment to serving the broad public interest. It involves accepting our representative democracy as one of the best ideas on the planet and rolling up one's sleeves to help us move forward. Responsible leadership would not plunge us into an anti-government negative downward spiral.
In contrast, Mike Navarre, born into a local family that considered public service a high calling, took himself off to college to study economics and government in hope that he might someday help his community with those skills. And he has done so, working successfully for local non-profits, and at the borough and state level of government as our representative. Mike Navarre brings a positive attitude and a lifelong commitment to building a better community with better jobs, a quality education for our youngsters and a better quality of life for everyone.
A customer recently reminded me of the long citizens' effort to promote the idea of a Unity Trail between Soldotna and Kenai. As usual, Fred Sturman opposed the project, asserting that "we don't need this and nobody will use it." Mike Navarre, who was our representative in the Alaska State Legislature at the time, listened to us, understood the need, and was able to garner state funding for the mostly federally funded project. Today, hundreds of people enjoy great mobility, health and safety because they are able to access a trail that is set back from the busy highway.
What happened to the American Dream of providing a better education and a better world for our kids than we had? Do we sacrifice their future on the altar of No Taxes? What sort of place do we want to live in? We choose our borough's CEO on Tuesday. Will we choose a negative, cut to the bone, diminished community? Or will we choose a warm, wise and thriving one? It is up to us.
Comments (2)
Add commentwho wrote this?
Interesting. All the other letters are signed -this one isn't.
"While this sounds attractive at first glance, it would effectively downsize all the government services most of us take for granted." ..... says it all. No matter that we just don't have the MONEY to pay for all those government services that liberal, tax-and-spend career politicians have created. Where does it stop? When we leave our children with massive debt because WE don't have the common sense to stop spending on things we can do without?
Sure those little trails are great- for a few people, but we ALL have to pay for them. Why don't we fund these kinds of projects with user fees, and let those who use them, pay for them?
Here is where the two candidates differ- I believe Fred would say let the voters decide whether to spend more $$$ on 'nice' projects but not necessarily VITAL PROJECTS.
I would venture that Mr. Navarre would say sure, go ahead, we will just raise a tax to pay for it.
"What happened to the American Dream of providing a better education and a better world for our kids than we had? Do we sacrifice their future on the altar of No Taxes?"
Fred has pointed out that the facts show we have continued to raise the amount we give schools, but enrollment is dropping and test scores virtually stayed the same. He wants to find a better way than just throwing more money at the problem.
The writer of this letter is just one more of the pie-in-the-sky bleeding-heart liberals who have gotten this country into the huge mess we have today. If we don't get our fiscal house in order, and stop borrowing and spending without understanding that we MUST start living within our means, we will leave our children in debt.
Fred knows how to watch our for our money and use it wisely. Vote for Fred Oct. 25th
Amnesia
Apparently bluffbunny has suffered from amnesia. Her claim that it was the''''"bleeding heart liberals who have gotten our country into this mess...." has forgotten the previous 8 years of George Bush.
George Bush had 8 years to propel our country into this HUGE financial mess. He left office during the worst financial crisis since the great depression. He started 2 wars based on out and out lies about WMD that has cost the USA over 850 billion dollars and over 5000 deaths and over 45000 wounded.
You can have your opinion but do not try and change the facts of history.
I suggest that you stop listening to ksrm sound off, rush limbaugh, and faux news. If that is where you are getting your news info, then no wonder you have amnesia.
I agree with the author of this article. I want a thriving community moving forward. Not a diminished one going backwards. Navarre is the man who can get the job done.