Day: March 28, 2026

Sitka Sound sac roe herring fishery opened at noon today, with about 20 seiners fishing an area that includes Crescent Bay and Jamestown Bay east of town, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game said.

Aaron Dupuis, area management biologist, estimated the fishery would last until fishermen caught the processors’ capacity, which is about 500 to 600 tons for the day.

Dupuis spoke to the Daily Sitka Sentinel briefly while managing the fishery aboard the vessel Eric C.

“It’s the first opening of the year, and it’s going pretty well,” he said.

The guideline harvest level (GHL) for this year’s fishery is 35,015 tons, which is 15% of the 233,433 tons of mature herring that managers expect to return this year. That forecast is a 6% decrease from the 2025 mature pre-fishery biomass estimate of 247,081 tons, ADF&G said.

The department has been conducting vessel sonar and aerial surveys and doing test sets for the last few days, including near Bieli Rocks, two miles west of Sitka then increasingly closer to town.

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Thursday’s 77th annual Juneau Lions Club Gold Medal Basketball Tournament action saw five teams earn semifinal wins and a day of rest before playing in their respective bracket championships on Saturday.

The Klukwan masters were the first team of the day to punch their ticket to the finals on Saturday with an 87-60 win over Hoonah. Klukwan was led by 15 points from Stuart Dewitt, 13 from Michael Ganey and 12 from Andrew Friske. Hoonah’s Arthur Campbell and Andy Gray scored 11 apiece and Jimmy Refuerzo 10. Klukwan plays at 11 a.m. Saturday for the title. Hoonah plays Sitka at 11 a.m. Friday in an elimination game with the winner advancing to face Klukwan in Saturday’s 11 a.m. Masters championship.

Hoonah punched their ticket into the C bracket finals with a 75-65 win over Hydaburg behind 31 points from Joseph Coronell JR and 22 from Tavis Dybdahl. Hoonah advances to the 5 p.m. title game on Saturday. Hydaburg was led by 25 points from Darren Edenshaw. Hydaburg plays an elimination game at 5 p.m. Friday against Kake with the winner getting a shot at Hoonah for the C bracket title. Kake eliminated Metlakatla from the C bracket 70-57 behind 22 points from Rudy Bean and 16 from Dean Cavanaugh. Metlakatla was led by 34 points from Mace Hayward and 11 from Clifton Guthrie.

Juneau’s AML defeated Metlakatla 92-84 in the A bracket semifinal behind 20 points from Kolby Hoover, 18 from Kaleb Tompkins and 15 from Chase Saviers. Metlakatla was led by 26 points from Clay Olstad and 24 from Nate Yockey. AML held an 83-73 lead with two minutes to play and Metlakatla’s Olstad hit three free throws to pull to 83-78. Forced to foul to gain possession, Metlakatla put AML’s Kaleb Tompkins on the line and he hit six in a row and Chase Saviers notched 3-4.  Metlakatla’s Yockey and Olstad closed out the scoring in the loss. AML advances to the 3 p.m. championship game on Saturday and will play the winner of today’s elimination game between Metlakatla and FILCOM. Metlakatla previously defeated FILCOM 86-74 to open their tournament play on Tuesday.

Haines improved to a 3-0 record with an 81-52 win over Yakutat (2-1) in the B bracket semifinal behind 24 points from Kaleb Tompkins and 20 from Kyle Fossman. Yakutat was led by 18 points from Arthur Adams and 12 from Christian Adams. Haines advances to the 7 p.m. championship game on Saturday. Yakutat plays an elimination game against Angoon at 7 p.m. Friday with the winner earning a shot at Haines for the B bracket title. Angoon defeated Kake 80-68 in an elimination game behind 34 points from Clayton Edwin and 24 points from Tajaun Jamestown. Kake was led by 21 points from Simon Friday, 16 from Dominic Ross and 13 from Tristan Ross.

In the women’s bracket semifinal Craig defeated Yakutat 56-50 behind 18 points from Nani Weimer and 15 from Michaela Demmert to earn the 1 p.m. championship game on Saturday. Yakutat was led by 20 points from Kim Armendariz. Yakutat trailed 15-1 after the first quarter, then stepped up defensively to trail 19-16 at the half. Craig led 38-26 starting the fourth quarter and held off their opponents in the final 10 minutes. Yakutat plays an elimination game at 1 p.m. Friday against Metlakatla, a 54-37 elimination game winner over Angoon on Thursday. Metlakatla was led by 17 points from Ryley Booth and 10 apiece from Alexis Russell and Ashley Huffine. Angoon was led by 8 points from Frances Mills and 6 apiece from Tasha Heumann and Carmaleeda Estrada.

FRIDAY GAMES

11 a.m. Masters elimination – Hoonah (1-1) vs. Sitka (1-1)

1 p.m. Women’s elimination – Yakutat (2-1) vs. Metlakatla (2-1)

3 p.m. A bracket elimination – FILCOM (1-1) vs. Metlakatla (1-1)

5 p.m. C bracket elimination – Hydaburg (2-1) vs. Kake (2-1)

7 p.m. B bracket elimination – Yakutat (2-1) vs. Angoon (3-1)

SATURDAY GAMES

11 a.m. Masters Championship – Klukwan (2-0) vs. winner of Friday’s 11 a.m. Hoonah (1-1) vs. Sitka (1-1) elimination game.

1 p.m. Women’s Championship – Craig (2-0) vs. winner of Friday’s 1 p.m. Yakutat vs. Metlakatla elimination game.

3 p.m. A Championship – AML (2-0) vs. winner of Friday’s 3 p.m. Metlakatla (1-1) vs. FILCOM (0-1) elimination game.

5 p.m. C Championship – Hoonah (3-0) vs. winner of Friday’s 5 p.m. Hydaburg (2-1) vs. Kake (2-1) elimination game.

7 p.m. B Championship – Haines (3-0) vs. winner of Friday’s 7 p.m. Yakutat vs. Angoon elimination game.

This story was originally published by the Juneau Independent.

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Leaders of the University of Alaska Southeast and the Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska took their first steps together down “a pathway for healing” on Friday morning. 

“This is a historic moment,” said Chalyee Éesh Richard Peterson, president of Tlingit and Haida. “This is us talking about strengthening our relationship to build something that’s enduring and brings our culture to the forefront in ways that it often hasn’t been.” 

Sitting side by side in the executive council chambers of the Andrew Hope Building, Peterson and UAS Chancellor Aparna Palmer signed a memorandum of understanding to formally initiate the process of developing a School of Indigenous Studies. Tlingit and Haida Executive Council members and UAS staff clapped and cheered, with many embraces following the signing.

Palmer called it an honor to affirm the shared commitment to strengthen educational opportunities for Indigenous communities, in support of student growth and vitality. 

“Rarely is it the case that a tribe and a university come together as equal partners to create a vision for education,” she said. “We are honored and humbled to have the trust of the Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Tribes of Alaska, and we proudly stand with them on the precipice on this journey. We realize as a university that this is a sacred trust with the tribe that we hold.”

The University of Alaska Fairbanks has a College of Indigenous Studies, but Palmer said this new journey is unique since the tribe is an equal partner.

She said the school “is an opportunity to continue to integrate, celebrate and shape the education that we offer at UAS with the values and the traditions of Indigenous peoples” across Southeast Alaska. She added the school could have relationships with the School of Education, the School of Arts and Sciences, and the School of Career Education. 

“I also think that it’s a model,” she said. “I think that collaboration, where the tribe and a university are equal partners, walking together on this journey, is incredibly unique and very, very precious.”

Palmer said UAS has a model it can build upon to grow its existing Indigenous Studies programs and form them into a school.

The university offers a Bachelor of Arts in Indigenous Studies, certificates in Indigenous language teaching and speaking, and an occupational endorsement in Northwest Coast Art. A minor is also available for undergraduate degrees in Northwest Coast Art, the Tlingit language and Alaska Native studies. Various courses in these fields of languages, arts and culture are also available.

The university and tribe will work together to create a structure, and the school will eventually have to be approved by the University of Alaska Board of Regents and the tribe. Since Tlingit and Haida is a recognized form of government, Peterson said the board of regents’ directive last year for universities to remove language around diversity, equity and inclusion from campus websites and communications should not be a hurdle in creating the school.

Peterson said conversations about a School of Indigenous Studies ebbed and flowed in the past, and he was thankful for Palmer’s efforts in bringing the partnership to fruition. He also recognized his friend’s efforts, X̱’unei Lance Twitchell, a professor of Alaska Native Languages at UAS. 

In an interview, Peterson and Twitchell recalled the idea of a tribal college surfacing in their conversations with Dennis Demmert nearly 30 years ago. They were in Sitka at the now-closed Sheldon Jackson College. The college hosted a village management institute and workshops on grant writing and policy to expand leadership skills.

“I remember Dennis even saying then, what an idea to have a tribal college where we can build out our next leaders,” Peterson said.

Demmert served over 20 years as the director of Native Studies at UAF. His dedication to improving education for Alaska Native students is recognized through the Dennis Demmert Appreciation and Recognition Award.

“It’s been a really long time coming,” Twitchell said. “And so it’s really fabulous to hear the visions and dreams of people who have been in education for a long time, like Dennis Demmert was one of our mentors and I think of him when things like this happen, and then to be able to take their vision and to make it into a reality — that’s the really exciting part.”

Twitchell said the vision is an Indigenous university. The school now being developed would include areas of Indigenous study such as languages, arts, governance and Indigenous sciences. He said the idea is students could have a cross-disciplinary agenda or focus on one area, but the benefit is these options will be available locally for “future leaders.” 

Additionally, the school would offer certificates, a bachelor’s degree, or a master’s degree in Indigenous studies. The first master’s program currently being developed is a Master of Arts in Teaching Indigenous Languages. 

“The goal is to have those upper-level degrees for all of them,” Twitchell said, meaning there would be a Master of Arts in Indigenous Arts, Tribal Administration and Indigenous Sciences.

The signed memorandum identifies opportunities for pilot programs, joint grant initiatives, and collaborative events or learning experiences, and forms a working group with representation from both Tlingit and Haida and UAS. 

Twitchell said for Indigenous peoples, education requires not only transformation, but entire pathways “that are Indigenous in their being.” 

“When we look at what the intention of education was for Indigenous peoples, it was to destroy us,” Twitchell said. “It was to destroy our languages, it was to make us be servants of the population. And I think now we look at education as a way to bring us back to strength.” 

“Let’s change that. Let’s take that tool against us and make it a tool for us,” Peterson said. “And I really believe we can.”

He said the tribe has already taken steps to do so by operating programs in early childhood and K-12 education. A new 12-acre tribal education campus is also being developed behind Fred Meyer. Just this week, the tribe obtained licensing for its early childhood education and youth programs at the largely vacant Floyd Dryden building. The tribe plans to relocate three Head Start classrooms, its LEARN childcare program, and several youth engagement programs to the former middle school.

“I always say healthy tribes make healthy communities, and that’s for everybody,” Peterson said. “That’s not just for us, but when we’re healthy, we’re going to be thriving in these communities. And I believe education is at that core.”

This story was originally published by the Juneau Independent.

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Northern Journal’s survey of Alaska’s many gubernatorial hopefuls is back — this time, asking how much money candidates would budget for Permanent Fund dividends.

We also find out when each candidate last rode on Alaska’s state ferry system — a publicly funded network that’s been the subject of polarizing budget debates in recent years.

Starting in this edition, we’ve narrowed the surveyed candidates to those who reported raising at least $3,000 in the latest round of campaign finance reports — as well as those who announced their candidacies after the latest reporting deadline.

Republicans Bernadette Wilson, Adam Crum, Treg Taylor and Nancy Dahlstrom did not respond to our questions; we sent them multiple requests.

Have suggestions for future survey questions? Email nat[at]northernjournal[dot]com.

Links to previous editions of the survey: schools funding, Alaska’s LNG project and oil taxes.

Question 1

Gov. Mike Dunleavy proposed a Permanent Fund dividend amount for the coming fiscal year based on the historical statute tied to investment returns. 

Dunleavy is budgeting some $2.365 billion for PFDs, which equals a payment of roughly $3,800 per Alaskan. That would leave an overall deficit of $1.5 billion — depleting a little less than half of Alaska’s primary savings account, the Constitutional Budget Reserve, according to legislative fiscal projections from earlier this year.

If you were governor, what’s the overall spending on Permanent Fund dividends that you would have proposed for the upcoming fiscal year? For reference, some 620,000 dividends were paid last year, so a $1,000-per-person PFD would equate to some $620 million in overall spending.

Question 2

When is the last time you rode an Alaska state ferry, where did you go, and what was the purpose of your trip?

Dave Bronson, Republican and former mayor of Anchorage

1. $2.4 billion.

The Permanent Fund dividend is a return of value to Alaskans, created to share the value of our natural resources with the people who own them. It is important to follow the law. A statutory dividend today is about $2.4 billion. However, the state cannot absorb that cost overnight or reduce spending by that amount, and Alaskans do not support spending down the principal of the fund. What they want is a sustainable, long-term formula-driven approach like we once had.

I would begin by proposing the statutory dividend and working with the Legislature to reach a responsible compromise that restrains spending growth, identifies targeted reductions, and focuses on economic growth so Alaska can return to a sustainable dividend in the future.

2. I have never been on an Alaska state ferry.

Former Anchorage state Sen. Tom Begich, a Democrat

1. $620 million to $910 million

I believe the statute should be rewritten; a new amount should be set by the Legislature as a starting amount somewhere in the range of the average over that last eight years (between $1,000 and $1,500) and tied to the earnings or losses of the fund over a one to three year average. Rising or falling with the earnings.

The Governor proposes the original amount, so I would likely propose the higher of those two amounts, but be clear when announcing the budget that I would be open to the Legislature’s number.

2. Outside of the Gravina ferry in Ketchikan (airport), which I rode today, I rode the (ferry) to Metlakatka on March 9th.

Democratic state Sen. Matt Claman

1. $620 million/$1,000

Alaskans tell us that we need improved investment in public education, public safety, and long-delayed capital projects without depleting $1.5 billion from our constitutional savings account. They know from the last eight years that a dividend based on the historical statute is not affordable.

Step one with increased oil revenue is proposing a common-sense budget that protects the Permanent Fund and has similar funding for all departments as this year, including a $1,000 dividend and taking no money from savings. Step two is working together with the Legislature for a balanced budget with improved investment in our schools and communities, an affordable dividend, and economic growth. Working together, Alaska’s future is strong and bright.

2. In about 2016, I rode the ferry as part of a wonderful circle trip in Southcentral Alaska. Drive from Anchorage to Sheep Mountain Lodge on the Glenn Highway, bike 200 miles from Sheep Mountain Lodge to Valdez, overnight in Valdez, ride the ferry from Valdez across Prince William Sound to Whittier, and drive home to Anchorage. Glorious!

Anchorage doctor Matt Heilala, a Republican

1. Proposing the full statutory PFD simply isn’t feasible amid $1.5-2 billion operating deficits which would continue to deplete the CBR. Until the statutory formula can be adjusted constitutionally, we must compromise. Past full-PFD efforts failed due to these concerns, causing volatile dividends and calls for new taxes, which I strongly oppose. As governor I’d propose a PFD based on the immediate prior year legislative precedent: This year, $1,000 per Alaskan (the same as the original PFD), totaling roughly $620 million. This would help better align the executive and legislative efforts with less finger pointing and vitriol. I’d launch a parallel transparency initiative with Palantir’s Foundry.
2. I’ve ridden Alaska ferries like the Columbia on family trips across the coast. At 8, on Valdez-Whittier with my aunt & uncle, I wandered to the pilot house. They heard over PA: “Visitor here, what’s your name?” “Matt!” Captain let me blow the horn to trigger a glacier calving. Last: 15 yrs ago, Valdez-Whittier ferry with RV, kids, looped from ANC.

Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins, Democratic former state representative

1. $1,500 PFD

The PFD is a critical lifeline for many Alaskans who depend on it for fuel, food, and other essentials. I believe it’s a good program that helps Alaskans.

I’m also not crazy about the either-or choices that have been forced on Alaskans: either we fund the PFD *or* we fund schools, ferries, and troopers.

As governor, I would make several no-brainer budget moves like closing the Hilcorp tax loophole and extending the corporate income tax to out-of-state online businesses that operate in Alaska (a bill that passed the legislature with 42 out of 60 votes, but got vetoed by Gov. Dunleavy).

Once we get that done, we can prioritize K-12 schools, public safety, roads and ferries, *and* distribute a PFD that makes a difference for Alaska families.

2. About 2 months ago. I took the M/V Kennicott from Sitka to Juneau. I was helping two friends in Juneau get their cars over from Sitka, and I was heading over myself to catch the start of legislative session. The combination of Starlink wifi and strong black coffee in the cafeteria let me do some serious damage to my email inbox on the sailing over.

Shelley Hughes, Republican former state senator

1. Aim: half draw

When Walker cut the PFD, I’d been fighting to reduce the 50% spending growth from the prior decade. I fought for a full PFD not only because its design was to empower families and the private sector but because of the unaddressed budget growth.

I’ll establish a Sunset Audit Commission to draft legislation aimed at efficiencies, fraud elimination, mandatory vs discretionary spending. I’m committed to rebuilding the PFD so it’s no longer an issue; we’ll pull out the stops to build a diversified economy to ensure steady, adequate revenue via a cheap energy portfolio, lands in Alaskan hands, and infrastructure. Other “dividends” as a result? Great jobs, better schools, affordable living, new routes, and real opportunities for our young people.

2. A Palmer girl with SE Alaska roots, I’m on the ferry every couple years. In last three summers, I round-tripped twice (Juneau/Haines) for two nephews’ weddings – outdoors along the water (gorgeous couples, spectacular settings!). Years prior, I’d take the ferry to Hoonah where I used to live and my mother lived until recently (she’s now in Juneau).

Matanuska-Susitna Borough Mayor Edna DeVries, a Republican

1. $2.365 billion

If we as political elected officials make laws for others to follow, it is important that we follow the laws that are set before us.

2. April 11, travelling from Juneau to Whittier, coming back from session.

Republican former state senator Click Bishop

1. It depends.

Alaska’s Constitution under Article 9 outlines how the governor shall submit a budget to the Legislature, and essentially requires the budget to be balanced at the end of the year. 
 
As governor, I will proposed a balanced budget every year.  We will pay dividends in every budget at the greatest amount possible in accordance with a balanced budget. 
 
Whatever amount the governor proposes for the dividend, there are two things certain: 1) the state revenue forecast will change over the following 16 months; and 2) the Legislature will amend the budget.
 
We’re all in this together. It’s the public’s money for today’s basic needs that must be protected for tomorrow’s generations.

2. In September, I traveled aboard the AMHS Tustumena, Rusty Tusty, visiting coastal communities like Chignik, Sand Point, King Cove, and Cold Bay. Despite rough seas and fall storms, the trip offered time to meet local residents, tour the Izembek Refuge, and see firsthand how the Marine Highway serves as a lifeline for Alaska’s coastal towns.

Traditional healer Meda DeWitt, an independent

1. $1,300-$1,800

Gov. Dunleavy has proposed $6,700-$3,650 for eight years running, and it has been rejected by the Legislature each year because it would create a $1.5 billion deficit, draining half of our last savings account.

My approach: start with the POMV draw, deduct inflation-proofing first (skipped two years, eroding the fund’s real value), deduct operations, split the remainder 50/50 between dividends and the government. That produces a PFD of roughly $1,300–$1,800 per person, higher than last year’s historic low, lower than an unfunded promise, and honest about what the fund can sustain. Total dividend spending: approximately $800 million to $1.1 billion. No CBR drawdown required.

Alaska needs a formula, not an illusion.

2. Born in Klawock, I often rode the ferry. My earliest memory riding on the ferry, was during a storm, and a jellyfish hit the window. The last ferry trip memory was at seven years old. My grandmother passed away from a heart attack on that trip. Today, I ship vehicles, or large tools, to Yakutat. As a Tlingit, we fondly call the ferry the big blue canoe.

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We’re back with a new edition of our recurring survey of the more than dozen candidates running to be Alaska’s next governor.

This week’s survey explores a subject that has commanded huge amounts of political debate and discussion at Alaska’s Capitol in recent years: How much money should the state share with school districts on a per-student basis?

We also asked about what kind of car each candidate drives — because a car can tell you a lot about a person.

Republicans Bernadette Wilson, Nancy Dahlstrom, Adam Crum, Treg Taylor and independent Jessica Faircloth did not respond to the survey despite multiple requests.

Read the previous editions of the survey, on Alaska’s LNG project and oil taxes.

Have suggestions for future survey questions? Email nat[at]northernjournal[dot]com.

Question 1

The Alaska Legislature last year passed a law boosting the state’s baseline per-student schools spending by some 12% to $6,660, up from $5,960, and overrode Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s veto of the law. Lawmakers also overrode a separate line-item veto by Dunleavy of some of their added schools spending.

A pair of school districts, meanwhile, sued the Dunleavy administration last month month, alleging that spending on schools is inadequate even after last year’s increase — which came after the baseline spending level rose barely 2% during the preceding decade. Inflation eroded purchasing power by some 37% during that same period, the districts said.

As governor, what specific amount would you have proposed for per-student spending — known as base student allocation, or BSA — in the budget for the upcoming fiscal year? Response must be a whole number. Then, please explain your answer.

Question 2

What kind of vehicle do you drive (make/model/color), and why did you choose it? If you don’t drive a car/truck, how do you get around?

Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins, Democratic former state representative

1. $6,900.

With the Permanent Fund, all we care about — and *should* care about — is the “real” value of the fund, in inflation-adjusted terms, in order to protect the fund for future generations of Alaskans. It’s why accounting for inflation (and not relying on “nominal,” non-inflation-adjusted figures) is so important for making the Permanent Fund permanent.

It’s no different for public education: in “real” terms, we have cut funding for our schools over the last decade (by flat-funding in nominal terms). I haven’t math’d out where $6,900 would put us in real, inflation-adjusted terms, but we should get back to levels of education funding where families feel confidence in their neighborhood school and their kids’ future in Alaska.

2. 2001 Toyota Rav4, manual transmission. 227,000 miles and going strong!

Shelley Hughes, Republican former state senator

1. $6,660.

K-12 education is of utmost importance. Tying any increase to $6,660 to policies to increase student outcomes is the right thing to do when 70% of students are below grade level. Alaska ranks high in spending, yet student performance lags at the very bottom. Per pupil costs range from $6,200 for correspondence to over $60,000 in some districts, but this increase doesn’t correlate with an increase in outcomes. An inflation adjustment and/or BSA increase in law should go hand in hand with laws re: accountability, funds routed to teachers and proven approaches (like the Reads Act), expansion of proven, cost-effective educational choices, admin/instruction cost ratio reductions, and districts joining state’s health insurance pool to save money.

2. Our vehicles are simply to get us from point A to point B safely, nothing fancy, just functional. My husband and I share our 2010 Ford Ranger and 2020 Acura RDX. The must-haves when it comes to a vehicle? They have to hold the road well in winter (and that means 4-wheel drive – and sandbags in truck bed) and have space to haul gear for summer fun.

Anchorage doctor Matt Heilala, a Republican

1. $6,660.

Should the need for additional funding arise after last year’s BSA showdown, I would work directly with legislators to set clear, achievable student outcome standards tied to any future funding such as reading proficiency by 3rd grade and algebra proficiency by 9th grade. Public schools deserve adequate support, and increased funding must come with accountability for measurable results, not unchecked spending. I’d also emphasize that public education is rapidly decentralizing and will look very different in the coming decades. This shift can benefit families and communities by using technology to find efficiencies, making more learning possible in less time and at lower cost through modern, decentralized teaching platforms.

2. I drive a Toyota Land Cruiser for Alaska’s tough winters. When weather permits, I drive my Tesla Model S Plaid. It’s exhilarating to drive, and its Full Self-Driving AI is remarkably advanced, proven 6-10x safer than human driving. As a technophile, I love its 90% well-to-wheel efficiency (vs. ~25% for gas), the forefront of innovation.

Dave Bronson, Republican and former mayor of Anchorage

1. $6,000.

Alaska already spends among the most per student in the nation, yet our student outcomes rank near the bottom.

Continuing to raise spending without demanding clear educational improvement is not responsible to students, parents, or taxpayers. Any future increase must be directly tied to specific, measurable reforms that improve reading proficiency, math performance, graduation rates, and career readiness.

Our priority must be measurable results, not just higher budgets. Before asking Alaskans to spend more, we must ensure existing education dollars are being used effectively.

Funding increases should be tied to proven progress in the classroom, not just throwing money at administrative bloat.

2. Red 2024 Ford F-350 – I chose it for functionality and towing capacity.

Republican James William Parkin IV

1. $10,000.

Alaska’s “spend it or lose it” budget is a system that breeds short-sighted, wasteful spending! For over 30 years I have witnessed the waste that this kind of directive has caused. No more! Clear directives, one page budget accountability, and allowances for saving, investing and long term financial decisionmaking without future budget penalties will guide funding to where it rightfully belongs. To the children and their teachers and not to administrative costs. Alaska was once a magnet state for the nation’s best teachers and brightest students! Alaska’s education funding is ranked 6th highest in the nation! A lawsuit is unwarranted. A budget system that gives the ed department more control over funding will solve the problems. Much more.

2. Whatever is running at the time. My fun car (not drivable most of the year) is my red 2007 Saturn Sky Redline Turbo convertible. Not practical but sometimes you need to just enjoy life. My kids enjoy driving it too.

Matanuska-Susitna Borough Mayor Edna DeVries, a Republican

1. $0.

I believe my answer is pretty clear. I am not proposing or supporting any amount until public education in the state of Alaska completes some reforms.

2. 2022 SUV

Former Anchorage state Sen. Tom Begich, a Democrat

1. $7,360.

This would be the 1st of 2 increases to bring us to $1,200 over 2 years. According to Legislative Finance, this covers erosion from inflation over the last 2 decades. I was instrumental in both the Kasayulie and Moore lawsuits ensuring that our state would fully and adequately fund education. The Reads Act set out good policy, but good policy – universal PreK, Reading, Math – must be fully funded. This administration has not done that. If reform is going to work, you have to pay for it. Coupled with early funding and inflation indexing of education, this would stabilize our education budget and would be paid for by 1) adopting the internet fee; 2) eliminating the Hilcorp exemption; and 3) eliminating oil and gas tax credits on our 3 legacy fields.

2. Grey All Wheel Drive MiniCooper Countryman (2013) — bought in Portland when my old car died. Drove up the Alcan Dec. 2012 at -40 F. The car wasn’t happy, but heated seats worked for me. It continues to carry me — well over 100,000 miles — up and down the Alcan in Winter and Summer. Good mileage, reliable, warm — and surprisingly high clearance.

Republican former state senator Click Bishop

1. $7,894.

As senator, I would have voted to override Governor Dunleavy’s veto of education funding. As governor, I will bring together stakeholders and experts to craft a durable solution to Alaska’s long-term education funding challenges. The $6,660 per-student figure was a compromise focused on one number, but districts across organized boroughs and REAAs face different realities. We must revisit the district cost factor, stagnant for 20 years, to ensure safe, reliable schools for every child. I would also add career and technical education to the formula. Alaska needs a predictable funding system so educators can focus on students—not politics in Juneau.

2. Blue Ford F-350 diesel crew cab. It’s my “do-it-all” truck— perfect for hauling my grandkids and Ruby, my dog. It has 340,000 miles and still running, but I do spend the money to keep it up in shape. It fits me like a glove!!!

Democratic state Sen. Matt Claman

1. $7,000.

A bright future for Alaska starts with education. For too long, we’ve undermined our schools, asking for more while funding less. $7,000 is an increase higher than inflation, and it must come with better results. Schools must work smarter to improve performance for students, the workforce, and our communities. Accountability is key to improving K-12 education, keeping young people working in Alaska, and growing the economy so the next generation can succeed. And we must start now. As senator, I introduced SB 46 to shift the focus from the flawed Base Student Allocation to a comprehensive budget approach that ensures predictability, transparency, and effective student-teacher ratios for our children to thrive. Our families deserve no less.

2. 2007 Subaru Tribeca. It’s a great car for us—all-wheel drive, reliable, and room to carry gear for our Alaska adventures. Plus it has comfortable seating for Lucy, our dog, to join the journey!

Republican commercial fisherman Henry Kroll

1. $10.

We have a 7% inflation of the dollar, and everything costs more. Some schools could be consolidated, and the buildings could be either rented or shared with other schools.

2. I drive a Ford 150 for my fishing business and a Ford car to get around because it is economical.

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We’re back with the next edition of our recurring survey of the more than a dozen candidates running to be Alaska’s next governor.

This week’s questions revolve around a huge — and hugely expensive — LNG export project pushed by Alaska’s current governor, Mike Dunleavy. We also asked for some book recommendations. Full questions and answers are below. Republican candidates Bernadette Wilson and Treg Taylor did not respond to the survey; Northern Journal sent multiple messages to each.

The previous edition of the survey, on oil taxes and fish recipes, is here.

Have suggestions for future survey questions? Email nat[at]northernjournal[dot]com.

Question 1

The Alaska LNG export project has been discussed and debated for decades, but in spite of huge sums of state money spent on it, construction has not begun.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy says the project is as close to a final investment decision as it’s ever been; skeptics point out that no customers have signed binding contracts to purchase gas and that the project’s cost would exceed $40 billion.

To support the state’s continued participation in the export project, which is now majority owned by a private developer, Glenfarne, Dunleavy has proposed budgeting $2.3 million in general funds for the state-owned Alaska Gasline Development Corp., known as AGDC, in the next fiscal year.

Do you support this expenditure, and would you make development of the LNG export project a priority for your administration? Why, or why not?

Question 2

What’s your favorite book that’s set in Alaska, and why?

Former Anchorage mayor Dave Bronson, a Republican

1. I support the $2.3 million appropriation and making Alaska LNG a priority. Alaska has some of the largest proven gas reserves in North America, yet families and businesses pay among the highest energy costs. Alaska LNG is not just an export project; it is the backbone of a statewide gas system that would lower heating, power, housing, and grocery costs while strengthening the private sector. This is a 50- to 100-year infrastructure investment built for the next generation, not short-term prices. The state is not funding a $40 billion project, but keeping it viable as private capital finalizes contracts. Walking away now would cost little in savings but kill long-term opportunity.
2. Alaska Bear Tales by Larry Kaniut is a classic and very Alaska. It’s a collection of real-life bear encounters told through hunters, bush pilots, fishermen, troopers, and longtime Alaskans. Great read.

Republican James William Parkin IV

1. Not as is; however, LNG could work for Alaska, if negotiated properly. We are not getting good deals on any of our resources development projects. I am 100% in support of corporations and companies in Alaska. I don’t fault them for negotiating the best deals they can for themselves. Alaska needs to do the same. For Alaska to be able to negotiate on equal footing with corps, we need a citizen owned cooperative state corporation that can develop our resources if necessary. With this kind of leverage, we could negotiate much more attractive deals for Alaska.
2. Alaska Bear Tails for its gruesome, true stories of bear attacks in Alaska.

Anchorage Democratic state Sen. Matt Claman

1. I support a reasonable budget for AGDC, and $2.3 million appears reasonable.
   I support developing the Alaska LNG pipeline if it is economically viable, and developing alternative North Slope gas delivery and sales if the Alaska LNG pipeline is not economically viable. I continue to have questions about the $44 billion estimate, but the most important information is confidential.
2. John McPhee, Coming into the Country. It’s a detailed account about an important period in Alaska history.

Anchorage doctor Matt Heilala, a Republican

1. If Glenfarne is putting millions on the line this early, the state should match that momentum with the governor’s proposed $2.3M by ensuring AGDC has the capacity to be a strong partner and deliver this long-awaited asset.
   Alaskans need affordable, reliable, abundant energy, and we need it now. Affordable and abundant energy is the fertile soil that allows everything else to grow: lower heating and power bills for families, stronger local businesses, new jobs, and an economy that can thrive in every region of our state. Alaska’s gas pipeline must be a top priority of any administration, and it will be at the forefront of mine.
2. My favorite Alaska book is Fifty Years Below Zero by Charles Brower. It is a classic memoir every Alaskan should read. Brower’s firsthand stories from late 19th century Alaska show the harsh toll industrial whaling took on Iñupiaq communities, yet he writes with deep respect for their resilience and rich culture. These are lessons and history modern Alaskans need to know. Packed with gripping survival tales and the shift from sailing to airplanes, it captures the changes that shaped Alaska.

Matanuska-Susitna Borough Mayor Edna DeVries, a Republican

1. Yes and yes. We have resources that need to get to market plus making gas available to many of our residents who don’t currently have it available.
2. The latest read is Homeless by Ric Davidge. No favorite because more coming every week.

Former Anchorage state Sen. Tom Begich, a Democrat

1. I’m unsure — so my answer is, “I don’t know.” The proposal is subject to legislative approval — after they hold hearings to determine if this cost is justified. As Dermot Cole pointed out, recent announcements by the developers and governor have not filled in the blanks on this project. That said, the proposed project, as described, is the most promising yet. I will watch those hearings and see if the project meets my criteria: that the project 1) prioritizes a spur to Fairbanks to ensure Alaskans get the benefit of the gas; 2) that, along with taxes, the project pay us in units of gas provided to us to ensure a steady supply of gas that meets projected Alaska demand; finally, 3) that the developer foot the bulk of the bill — not the state.
2. My first thought was the “Bush Blues” detective series set in Western AK by Sitka’s Sheldon Schmidt — but that may be because I’m a named character in the books. But my favorite is either Charles Wohlforth’s “The Fate of Nature” or “The Whale and the Super Computer”. The latter captures the dichotomy — and synchronicity — between western and Indigenous “science” on the North Slope and the impact of climate change on culture. The first does the same in Prince William Sound. Both are beautiful.

Republican former state Sen. Shelley Hughes

1. Because many details are confidential, to weigh the expense, we can consider the work and long list of interested companies who’ve signed preliminary agreements. We can look to Dunleavy’s and Sullivan’s recent positive remarks.
   Although judging fully and prudently isn’t possible when information is limited, considering the pressing need for gas and rising utility costs, if the expenditure is necessary to bring gas into production, then I am all for it.
   Anything that diversifies revenue and makes energy and heat less expensive is a win. My administration will be focused on achieving cheap energy — on the gasline if it goes forward, on big and small hydro, our clean coal, small modular reactors, and any other economically feasible options.
2. The Snow Child. Author Eowyn Ivey is a lifelong Alaskan who went to Palmer High and is from the area — and that local aspect was an automatic draw. A novel is always a nice escape, so that also was a draw. But what I really liked was the quietness I felt when I read it. Loved too the connection with the remote setting — reminded me of when I lived in villages away from rushing traffic, sirens, the hustle and bustle. Doesn’t hurt that book is incredibly well-written and highly acclaimed either!

Republican former state Sen. Click Bishop

1. My priority is ensuring affordable, reliable gas for Alaskans and creating the conditions for a financeable project. The Alaska North Slope gas pipeline project represents a generational opportunity. As a state senator I worked within SB138 to advance Alaska LNG with guardrails, workforce training, and off-ramps if economics didn’t work — ensuring Alaskans benefit first. I support limited, disciplined state participation that protects taxpayers, and leverages private capital.  LNG exports can be an opportunity, but only if they are market-driven with purchase commitments, fiscally responsible, and deliver tangible benefits to Alaskans.
2. Etok: A Story of Eskimo Power has always stuck with me because it’s a reminder of what real strength looks like in Alaska. Etok isn’t loud or flashy—he’s steady, responsible, and puts his people first. That kind of leadership feels familiar to anyone who’s lived up here.

Former state health and revenue commissioner Adam Crum, a Republican

1. Alaska LNG has long been discussed because Alaska’s energy future matters. But the state must be clear-eyed and disciplined. I support a limited, well-defined state role focused on permitting, alignment, and protecting Alaska’s interests — not putting taxpayers on the hook for construction risk. A modest AGDC appropriation can be appropriate to preserve momentum and optionality, provided it is tied to clear milestones, private capital commitments, and enforceable off-ramps. As governor, I would support Alaska LNG if it provides jobs for Alaskans, delivers affordable in-state energy, and strengthens Alaska’s long-term economy.
2. The Call of the Wild by Jack London. I loved it as a kid because it’s a great story about dogs. As an adult, it hits differently — you come to appreciate the incredible settings and the powerful sense of adventure and longing to explore Alaska that runs through every page.

Republican Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom

1. I support continued state participation in the Alaska LNG export project and agree it’s closer to a final investment decision than at any point in the past. This project has the potential to create thousands of good-paying jobs, strengthen Alaska’s economy, and provide long-term energy security. Alaska must be powered first, and this project should help deliver reliable, affordable in-state energy for generations of Alaskans. At the same time, the state must act responsibly and protect taxpayers from undue financial risk. Continued funding should be focused on advancing firm commercial commitments and ensuring private capital, not Alaskans, bears the primary financial responsibility.
2. Number two is easy. My favorite book that takes place in Alaska is Johnny’s Girl, by Kim Rich. I’ve read it several times and hope I’ll have an opportunity to meet Kim one day.

Republican Bruce Walden

1. No. Liquefication requires cold temps. Liquefy on the Slope, extend the rail there, extend the rails to Point Mack, and ship from there. This would cost around an even $1 Billion. I speak Korean as a second language and can talk to the people in Pohang and Pusan eye to eye and get the money to extend the tracks without sending the bill to Alaskans.
2. The Sacred Relics. Weaves Alaskan, and Biblical history into a Christian Adventure such as Indiana Jones would envy. Plus, I wrote it.

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Alaskans across the state came out to protest on Saturday as part of the third No Kings nationwide day of action against the Trump administration. Crowds braved icy weather to demonstrate with signs, songs and speeches to condemn President Donald Trump and foreign wars, and called for protections of equal rights and democracy.

In Juneau, a large crowd gathered at Overstreet Park by the iconic whale statue, under winter sunshine to protest.

“No Kings, No Consent is a peaceful day of mass mobilization in response to this regime’s brutality and their attempts to control us,” said Gina Chalcroft, an organizer with Juneau Indivisible, to cheers from the crowd. “We join with, that we know of, 25 other Alaskan No Kings rallies today, because we know that we can overcome this repression when we unite, because there is power in community.”

The crowd yelled “no consent!” in a call and response style, including to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement patrolling American cities, separating families and killing protesters; Congress cutting health care benefits, and the US invading Venezuela and bombing Iran. 

Many signs in the crowd condemned the Iran war, including from veterans, reading “I served for freedom, not fascism” and “war leads to more war, more death, more suffering.”

Heidi Drygas, executive director of the Alaska State Employees Association AFSCME Local 52, the largest public employees union in Alaska, addressed the crowd and urged worker unity. She said rising costs and cuts to social services are pushing Alaskans to the brink. 

“Right now, it’s not just the poor and underprivileged who are struggling. Our middle class is vanishing before our very eyes,” Drygas said. “In times like these, silence is not an option. Billionaires are driving up the cost of living for working families, then they go cash in their massive tax breaks at our expense,” she said. 

Drygas pointed to cuts in public assistance programs like Medicaid and Medicare as undermining working families, as well as the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement crackdown. 

“ICE’s efforts are a direct attack on workers’ fundamental freedoms to work with dignity, to raise our families without the threat of violence from our government and safely return home to our loved ones at the end of a working day,” she said.

Speakers condemned the Alaska Division of Elections for sharing a detailed list of Alaskans voter information with the U.S. Department of Justice. At the event, volunteers staffed a voter registration table for attendees to register to vote or check their information. 

Juneau resident Dune Rothman said he volunteered to support voter registration at each of the No Kings events.

“I’ve been doing voter registration, non-partisan, for about 40 years, on and off,” he said. “I think it’s really critical now that everybody is checking on their voter registration regularly to make sure that nothing untoward has happened.”

Rothman said he was forced into early retirement last year from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration due to the Trump administration’s mass firings with DOGE, or the Department of Government Efficiency. Now he spends his time on volunteer work. 

“It’s really important that all of the citizens now really stand forward and do their civic duty in the country,” he said.

More than 3,000 No Kings protest events were planned on Saturday nationwide. Social media posts and an online map of events show No Kings rallies in at least 25 communities across Alaska from Kotzebue to Bethel, to Seldovia to Ketchikan. Several participants spoke with the Alaska Beacon after events wrapped on Saturday afternoon.

Nicole Collins is a member of Ketchikan Mayday for Democracy which holds monthly protests and events to protect democracy and raise awareness around local issues in the community. In Ketchikan, she said roughly 250 people of all ages participated in a rally and march, followed by a tailgate party, food donation and voter registration drives. 

“Today seemed different than any other times that we’ve been out here. It felt a little more subdued,” she said, and people shared concerns about the Iran war.

“We were promised no new wars,” she said. “We’re putting our troops in danger, and we’re not really sure why, and that there’s a lot of distrust in this administration…. So there’s just a lot of confusion and concern, really just for our country.”

On the Kenai Peninsula, Michele Vasquez, an organizer with the non-partisan community group Many Voices, said it was the largest turnout in Soldotna she’s seen yet, with roughly 400 participants.

“The folks that are protesting today, it is from the far left to the right. I mean, there is no set political spectrum here,” she said. “These are people from all backgrounds.”

She said in the wake of ICE arrests of a family and immediate deportation to Mexico, many protest signs and speakers focused on the Trump administration’s overreach and abuse of power. She said local organizing efforts are also focused on “know your rights” training,  outreach and support to local immigrant families. 

“I’m just personally overwhelmed by my community and the love and care that each of them have for their country, and want to see it get back on track,” she said. 

In Matanuska Susitna Borough community of Wasilla, Dave Musgrave, an organizer with Mat Su United for Progress said approximately 650 people came out to protest on Saturday. He said the event was uncertain due to strong winds throughout the region this week, but people turned out.

“The vibe was upbeat. Everybody was happy to be together,” he said. “We continually have new people show up, and they are so appreciative that, especially here in a very conservative part of the state, they are so appreciative that they found some community that they can connect with that shares their values.” 

Musgrave said demonstrators shared concerns about rising prices for daily necessities, tariffs, and U.S. wars abroad. He said while usually there has been a small group of pro-Trump counter protesters at past No Kings events, they didn’t show up on Saturday.

“I’ve always told them they are welcome to be here, that they had their First Amendment rights also, and they’ve always understood it. And we’ve always gotten along pretty well,” he said. “But they weren’t even here today for whatever reason.”

Organizers said protests are ongoing, and they are focused on resisting the Trump administration, and mobilizing voters to win Democratic seats and flip the U.S. Congress to a Democratic majority at the midterm elections in November.