Contributed by Brenda McCain
Tam Boeve has my vote for Borough Assembly District 7, not for what she promises that she will do, but for what I have witnessed that she has done. I have rarely seen a person stand for the people of the community more than Tam Boeve.
I know that Tam continually travels the entire length of far-flung District 7 to stay engaged with those she serves, but I can only speak to my personal experience with this amazing woman.
I first met Tam more than 6 years ago, a few months prior to the Sockeye Fire. She was a driving force in organizing large community meetings to support strengthening our Willow Fire Dept. I knew who she was but had not seen this quiet, determined woman in action before!
During Sockeye she and her family evacuated from their home and immediately came to the Willow Community Center and began helping others, not knowing if her home was lost or not.
They helped many evacuate dog teams and cared for them down at Houston Middle in the unusual heat. In review of my emails from during the fire one was “ I've lost track of who's donating what, but we could really use 23 metal dog bowls and some buckets, maybe a shovel for scooping, that sort of thing. Right now!”
The entire family worked in the immediate response and long-term recovery of the Sockeye fire. She worked the next few years with Forestry and Willow Garden club in having trees and other plants available for the Sockeye survivors to replant their property
Tam then served on the Willow Fire Board of Supervisors and continue to support our fire department,
The past two years I have worked with Tam on the McKinley Fire Long-term Recovery Workgroup. Since the first day of the fire and through the long recovery, Tam has had a hands, day to day involvement with the survivors of the fire. She worked to find funding donations and resources to help with the re-building of homes and lives.
In December 2019, when late night ice jam flooding in the Willow Creek area caused residents to evacuate due to threats to life and property, the Red Cross of Alaska opened a shelter at the Willow Community Ctr.(WCC). I responded to the WCC as Willow CERT team leader and Red Cross volunteer and was not surprised that Tam Boeve was already there, in the middle of the night, ready to help in any way she was needed.
Her commitment to community service is legendary.
Tam was among those instrumental in bringing about the restoration of the historic Willow Community Center, now nearing completion. She played an active role in the development of our phenomenal Newman Park which includes a wonderful, well-utilized dog park.
She is a longtime volunteer for the historic State Winter Carnival in Willow.
She has worked on securing funding for our new library and community center restoration.
She volunteers at our Su Valley Emergency Preparedness Fair and the Mat Su Emergency Expo.
I really could go on much longer and still not cover all this amazing, dedicated woman has done.
Her actions speak louder than anyone else’s words.
Tam is about working with and for people, families, community needs, not about politics.
She has been serving as Deputy Mayor for the Borough because of her dedication to the entire Borough. There is no one more capable or proven when it comes to serving our community.
Please vote to retain Tam Boeve for Borough Assembly Seat 7.
Brenda McCain