My name is Steven M. Alexie, running for YK RTG president. I grew up in Akiachak AK – very first village in the State of Alaska to dissolve its city status in favor of tribal government. Today Akiachak is a very thriving tribal village, taking care of its members.
Whether it is social services, housing, health, judicial (locally), education (YSD) – they are pretty much a self-determined village practicing self-governance through every possible federal law given to them.
If the 56 tribes can officially unite in the manner of one village practicing their very inherent right, think what 56 tribes can do and have a United effect to other nations of the world. More power to us.
Below is a link to vote to officially and formally acknowledge a regional tribe.
https://ykrtg.org/vote#1e6c12ba-8f69-464f-8185-1268ea802083
I also urge every eligible voter who is registered to go vote for our very own who recently got seated for Representative Don Youngs lone Alaskan seat: Mary Peltola. Rank her 1st, then rank others how you see fit. Your vote counts, as we Native Alaskans seated Lisa Murkowski as a write-in years ago.
I thank you in advance for your vote.
Steven M. Alexie
Napaskiak, AK
Statements representing Convention Yes!
To journalists and media concerned,
Recently, many statements have been made in support of a State Constitutional Convention that have been attributed to the Convention Yes Organization, that did not originate within the group or from our spokesperson, Craig Campbell.
Also, the group itself has been recently mislabeled by Alaska’s News Source as “Constitution Yes” which is a disservice to our efforts because it is inaccurate and will not lead an interested party to find our organization or website via an internet search.
We respectfully request that positions in support of a Constitutional Convention be directed to our Chair and Spokesperson for Convention Yes: Craig Campbell.
Thank you for your integrity.
Convention Yes Steering Committee
Anchorage, AK
David vs Goliath: The State Constitutional Convention Question on the Ballot
Alaskans, I respectfully implore you to recognize that the flood of paid advertisements you’ve been hearing about a state constitutional convention may not be telling you the whole story – and dare I say is “spinning” the story to protect the power and wealth of some who believe they would benefit more from your “no” vote.
We are at a crossroads. We all have an important decision to make, and these are the questions we need to answer. Consider each.
Are we going to realize before we vote that more than 230 state constitutional conventions have been held in our nation successfully, peacefully, without upending state government and industry, without disrupting state economies, and without constitutions being thrown out and rewritten, without extreme amendments passing voters?
Are we going to believe that the gridlocked legislature will fix our problems? Do we really believe enough legislators will want to restrict their own power and vote to support putting fiscal plan amendments before the voters, amendments to settle the PFD and institute a reasonable spending cap, when they’ve refused to do so the past 7 legislative sessions?
Are we aware that the legislature has reached simple majority support for these fiscal plan items but has failed to reach the required 2/3 vote threshold? That delegates – who don’t have the same conflict of interest and won’t hesitate restricting the legislature’s power – only need to reach a simple majority vote to put these items on the ballot before the voters?
Do we understand how the gridlock in Juneau over the PFD has hurt us all? Have we come to grips with the fact that multiple cohorts of children in our schools lost out on the “Read by 9” policy to help them be successful because of the gridlock? That rapists have run rampant because the high rates of sexual assault weren’t a top legislative priority because of the gridlock? That bills to reduce the cost of healthcare have died in legislative committees because of gridlock?
Are we aware that every single year (for multiple decades) that our state fiscal house has not been in order that we’ve lost out on $.5+ billion in private capital investment that would have strengthened our economy and created jobs? Do we understand that putting our fiscal house in order will help all of us – even those who are now a “no” and are frightened their wealth could be jeopardized if we hold a convention? A rising tide lifts all boats.
Do we realize that the voters elect the delegates by district and therefore the delegates will reflect the values of Alaskans statewide?
Are we aware that the delegates would only propose amendments and the voters would have the final say whether to accept or reject the amendments?
Have we considered that the legislature has had the entire constitution on the table for 63 years to change and a state constitutional convention would be for a mere 75 days?
Are we cognizant of the fact that even in polarized, emotional, divisive times, state conventions have been conducted civilly without extremist results? That 19 state conventions were held during an 18-year period (1968-1986) that cooled the political climate in those states? That this time period included Vietnam war protests, the Civil Rights movement, the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr., the hippie free love movement, the Women’s Liberation movement, two oil crises (that involved cars lining up at gas stations due to the shortage), the Iran hostage crisis – need I go on?
Are we aware that in the more than 230 state conventions that have been held in our nation that Pandora’s box was not opened, that not a single worm escaped a can? That only sane and reasonable amendments were adopted?
Have we considered that even a $17 million price tag for a convention is a bargain? That every time a regular legislative session is extended 30-days, or a 30-day special session is held, it is $ 1 million a pop? That the regular session has been extended in 6 of the last 7 years? And that 15 special sessions have been called in the last 7 years? Have we thought about the fact that the state spends $30 million per day, every day of the year for operations? And that $17 million for a convention for 75 days and 90-days of pre and post work is only .16% of the annual budget?
Are we going to succumb to fear mongering and dark, outside millions from ultra-liberal organizations telling us not to hold a state constitutional convention?
Are we going to believe the ridiculous lies that we could lose our gun rights, our hunting rights, our access to public lands?
Have we picked up on the fact that the opposition’s recent mailer included another lie – that the Alaska Independence Party (of which I am not a member) wanted to secede from the Union? Utter poppycock.
Do we really want to leave the fiscal and cultural hot button issues to the gridlocked legislature and to the courts? Or should the people weigh in and debate and decide whether or not changes are to be made?
Have we processed the fact that the yes side only has donations from regular, individual Alaskans, not the millions from outside wealthy donors attempting to protect the power of elites? And that the no side is outspending the yes side by 100:1? That this is a David vs Goliath battle?
Alaskans, we are at a crossroads. Use logic and reason. Consider history. Recognize the safeguards. Understand that the framers put the state convention option in our constitution for a reason. The reason is now. Don’t be fear mongered. Don’t bend to outside groups. Stand for Alaska. Be “yes” for a better, stronger, more vibrant, economically-sound Alaska in the near future and for our children and grandchildren. Much is at stake. Root for David not Goliath; vote yes.
Shelley Hughes (Palmer-R), Senate Majority Leader, has served before and during the legislative gridlock: 4 years in the House and 6 years in the Senate.
Kelly Tshibaka says it’s time for a change in the U.S. Senate
Although Sen. Lisa Murkowski wishes it were not so, an election is the people’s performance review of the incumbent representing them. In her case, Murkowski has grown increasingly liberal over the past 21 years. She has become so much a part of the D.C. establishment that Alaskans can barely recognize her as the senator whose father appointed her to this seat two decades ago.
This year, we can choose a new direction and elect a senator who will stand with Alaska, our families who are being crushed, and our workers who are suffering. Or we can choose a senator who has been standing with Joe Biden, confirming his radical environmentalist nominees, and funding her own campaign nearly entirely with Lower 48 dark money.
Since Biden became president, Murkowski has been enabling his radical agenda every step of the way, even when it directly harmed Alaska. She cast the tie-breaking vote to advance the nomination of Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, even though she knew Haaland was an environmental extremist who would wage war on Alaska workers, resource industries, and economy. Murkowski has voted for more than 90 percent of Biden’s senior administration nominees.
Murkowski also approved “Defund the Police” activist Vanita Gupta, now the Department of Justice official in charge of local law enforcement grants. Alaska’s rural law enforcement grants have dropped from 20 recipients down to 6. During the Obama administration, Murkowski also championed the confirmation of the federal judge who killed the Willow oil and natural gas project and the life-saving King Cove Road. These votes were clearly contrary to Alaska’s interests.
Murkowski says one thing in Alaska, while doing exactly the opposite in D.C. For instance, she ran ads claiming she supported the 2nd Amendment and warned that Biden “WANTS TO TAKE YOUR GUNS AWAY” in all capital letters. Meanwhile, she voted for Biden’s gun control and red flag laws.
Similarly, Murkowski promised big money from the “infrastructure bill” she wrote, but will likely never deliver new roads, bridges, or much infrastructure to Alaska, because as Sen. Sullivan acknowledged, the Biden administration is blocking infrastructure development with insurmountable regulations. In fact, Murkowski admitted this when she co-sponsored Sullivan’s bill to fix the problem.
What did we get from the infrastructure bill? More inflation.
Murkowski recently announced that she is pulling for Nancy Pelosi in Alaska’s House race by pledging support to the only candidate who would support Speaker Pelosi’s radical, leftist agenda. And Murkowski has been the beneficiary of millions of dollars in dark money ads full of lies about me, paid for by Republican Senate Minority leader Mitch McConnell, who knows he can control Murkowski’s vote if she’s re-elected.
Murkowski has donned the D.C. establishment jersey of Biden, Pelosi, and McConnell, while leaving Alaska with no goalie in net.
If she’s re-elected, she’s not in line for the chairmanship of any major committee, and we lost the chairmanship of the Energy committee two years ago. Why are Alaskans still paying the highest prices for energy if we had the chairmanship for 6 years? Why don’t we have any active major energy projects?
Why haven’t any rural communities seen a dollar of the $50 million Murkowski promised us from the Department of Justice?
Why don’t we yet have the millions of acres locked up by the Bureau of Land Management or promised to us by the federal government at statehood?
Why haven’t federal agencies been held accountable for blowing through their permitting deadlines by years, dearly costing our companies and workers?
Clearly, it’s time for a change. When I’m in the Senate, I will fight to protect jobs and the families and workers who depend on them. My parents were able to pull themselves into the middle class thanks to a job in the oil industry, and I understand what these opportunities mean for our future and our children.
I will only support constitutionalist nominees who will protect our rights and resource development. And I’m proud to have the NRA’s highest rating.
I will advocate for more access to mental health resources and affordable housing across the state, and I will support parents’ rights to be involved in their children’s education.
When I’m the next senator from Alaska, I will be a voice for the Alaskans who have felt forgotten and ignored – not Nancy Pelosi, Joe Biden, Mitch McConnell, or Lower 48 dark money. I won’t be bought or bullied by Washington, D.C.; I will fight for Alaska, and that will never change.
Kelly Tshibaka is a born-and-raised Alaskan and a candidate for the U.S. Senate in Alaska who is endorsed by former President Donald Trump and the Alaska Republican Party.
