Self-sufficiency and safe, health communities: these are some of my priorities. Alaska and the rest of the United States needs a leader with a strategy for addressing climate change, a leader with a vision for leadership in renewable energy & sustainable development. We need a leader who will address health care needs for small business and everyday Americans.

To all Southwest Alaska Municipal Conference Members: It was a pleasure to join you at SWAMC’s 20th Annual Conference. The anniversary brings back memories of my experiences with the region.

Climate change is one of the most significant issues facing current and future generations of Alaskans. For us, the impacts of global warming are real and personal. We’ve seen changing temperatures and chemistry in the ocean alter our fisheries. In the face of melting permafrost we’ve cut back tundra travel essential to oil and gas exploration and development. We’ve responded as storms pound coastal communities that were once protected with sea ice, and we’ve suffered unprecedented forest fires aggravated by lightning strikes and massive beetle kills.