By Representative Ivan M. Ivan
November 1996

One of the issues in the past House District 39 campaign was my joining a Republican-led majority during the Nineteenth Alaska State Legislature. The many accomplishments I was able to achieve during the last two years was the result of my putting the district's and rural Alaska's needs first rather than party politics or personal gain. Some of those accomplishments:

• I chaired the House C&RA Committee which stopped legislation (HB 409) which would have combined the Departments of Community and Regional Affairs and Commerce and Economic Development.

• I played a role as a member of the House State Affairs Committee in stopping legislation (SB280) that would have established mandatory boroughs in unincorporated areas or established a base tax in those areas to fund education.

• District 39 received the highest capital appropriations among the 40 statewide House districts.

• The rural House majority delegation was able to get enough support to defeat language from being inserted in various budget bills that would have stopped village traditional councils and IRA councils from receiving state funds for capital or operating needs.

• I was able to get support for a Superior Court judge and prosecuting attorney in Dillingham through the budget process and legislation.

Majority members, especially from urban areas, had to listen to my concerns (along with those expressed by Richard Foster, Bill Williams and Carl Moses) during caucuses. Without this access, the odds are rural Alaska would have received deeper cuts in the budget and been hurt by the policy decisions I just mentioned.

This next session, I again will be part of the Republican-led majority. This is not a decision I made hastily nor took lightly. After receiving an invitation to join the majority, I talked with many village and community leaders and elders. I asked if I should join the majority or stick with the Democrats in the minority. Their overwhelming response was that I should do what was best for the district. I could have joined the Democratic minority but I simply cannot afford to go to Juneau with my hands bound simply because of party politics. If I strictly followed party lines in House District 39, then approximately 71% of the district is not fairly represented since Democrats make up only 29% of the voting population. In my opinion, party alliances do not matter as much as the split between urban and rural legislators. No matter which party is in control, urban needs are placed over rural needs because of the small number of rural lawmakers. That is why it is important to be a voice in the caucus that will guide the state's priorities these next two years. As a member of the House Minority, I would be able to make elegant committee and floor speeches about rural Alaska's needs but I would not be as influential nor would it be beneficial to the district. Decisions on budgets and legislation would be made without my input if I stayed with the minority.

It is important to note that I spoke with the Governor following the general election. He understood that I was considering (at the time we spoke) joining the majority. We both agreed that it was important that we work together in order to serve rural Alaska whether I joined the majority or not. Again, I believe it is important to work with the administration and every legislative policy maker to address the many needs of House District 39 despite any differences we may have had in the past.

I will continue to be a defender of rural Alaska. I am committed to bring a rural perspective to the decisions made by the majority caucus and others in shaping the state's future. It is important that I continue to do what is in the best interest of everyone that lives in House District 39. Please call me at 765-7526 or my office at 1-800-323-4942 or 258-5915 if you need assistance or have questions about the upcoming session.