Contributed by Stephen Wright
Lots of people are curious about my run for lieutenant governor. This is not my first time running for a public office. Last time I ran was two years ago. I ran for U.S. Congress. I lost to a long-time congressman, Don Young, in the Primary. I am running for lieutenant governor because I felt our state is at a crossroads where we are being deceived by financial crisis and other ideas set to undermine your Alaskan Permanent Fund Dividend, so I needed to step in.
I stand for true Alaskan ideas and ideals. I was born in Elmendorf AFB in 1969 while my father was serving in Vietnam War. I have been to every state in the union, but Maine... before moving back here in 2009, retiring here in the greatest state of the union. As we all know, Alaska went downhill ever since the Walker Administration took over the state, as we have been taxed through the ever-increasing fees on our freedoms we enjoy in this state. Our education is in last place. Our economy is in last place. Unemployment rate is high. Many businesses have closed down. With passing SB91, Anchorage and the Valley became a crime haven because the laws are soft on crime. Our PFD has been caped three years in a row, while our earnings which belong to the people continue to grow 18.7 billion in the earnings reserve. In May 2018, our legislature not only passed SB26, but also made sure the bill cannot be reversed till August 2020 through the referendum process. The state budget was increasing even though they claimed we’re in fiscal crisis. And let’s not forget about Walker’s pipeline, AKLNG. There’s a long list of, “What went wrong?”
I’m hoping to bring the fresh air to Juneau. I want to clean up the corruption and give the maximum benefit to the people. We have a Sheldon-Wright 81-9-10 Plan, that is to cut the budget to 81%, put 9% in competitive fund and put 10% in reserve. I want to restore the PFD and preserve the original plan which should by design, provide maximum benefit for the people. I want to reduce fees and regulations hoping to bring more jobs back to Alaska. I want to build up more infrastructure in Alaska with more railroads, roads and bridges. I want to serve all Alaskans, instead of special interest groups. Alaska, I hope to be the one to fight for your rights and your freedom, please vote for me in this coming election.
We have the opportunity to help the people get back on their feet by not only restoring the PFD dividends, but protecting them and making them strong through reduced special interest by asking for a vote of the people for any amount withdrawn from our earnings. We should vote to restore all earnings to the people or back to the 50-50 plan without a POMV requiring the funds to be spent only on projects essential to Alaskans designated for specific not general-funded projects.
As we vote to protect our interests, it is imperative that we have a say in how our earnings are spent or we restore all earnings and vote on a draw to provide maximum benefit for the people. Whenever we have a legislature who votes to cap our dividend earnings without consideration of the total earnings, then we have to step up and vote them out. In total, we should get maximum benefit for the people and that is higher than a 50 percent grab by our legislature. So, we must stand and vote this primary to take back our earnings and deliver real value to the people of Alaska.
Committee to elect Michael Sheldon and Stephen Wright:
Michael D. Sheldon
P.O. Box 1285
Petersburg, Alaska 99833
www.sheldonforalaska.com
(907) 518-1121
Stephen Wright
P.O. Box 8215
Wasilla, Alaska 99629
www.wrightforalaska.com
(800) 326-1243