The Alaska Miner Fall 2024 32 without a doubt, this is the most wonderful place to live and thrive. One of my top priorities given the opportunity- will be resource issues. Alaska is a resource state. Its rich natural resources, including vast reserves of oil, natural gas, minerals, and timber, significantly contribute to the state's economy and energy independence. We have only scratched the surface of employment opportunities, economic growth, increased revenue, and a comprehensive oil and gas plan. I believe that balancing economic growth alongside environmental stewardship is key to Alaska being the top leading resource state. Transportation will be essential to the conversations around Natural Resources. Effective transportation strategies will be pivotal for maximizing the benefits and goals of being a resource-rich state. I hope to bring a new perspective and approach, while championing these topics in Juneau. Thank you for your support. NOTE: Steve Menard did not submit a profile NOTE: Jessica Wright did not submit a profile HOUSE DISTRICT 29, EASTERN MAT-SU/VALDEZ NOTE: George Rauscher did not submit a profile NOTE: Bruce Wall did not submit a profile HOUSE DISTRICT 30, HOUSTON/BIG LAKE/PARKS HIGHWAY Kevin McCabe Republican Candidate Kevin and his wife Linn live in the Big Lake community of the MatSu Valley. He is retired from the U.S. Coast Guard as well as from his second career as an airline pilot. Kevin has lived in Alaska for most of the past 40 years; including time living in Kodiak, Anchorage, and the MatSu. Kevin has flown all over the state as a bush pilot and C130 Pilot. From Flat, to Nyac, to Nixon Fork, if a mining operation has an airstrip, he has likely been there. Kevin has a Bachelor of Science Degree from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University and an MBA from Regis University in Denver Colorado. He and Linn have adult children and many Grandchildren who mostly live in Alaska. Kevin says, "I'm proud to be an American and an Alaskan. Public and community service are very important to me and should be the hallmarks of any good legislator. Beyond my own personal interest in improving our state's government and policy-making practices, I decided to seek re-election because I have seen the decline in our state resource development and think I have the energy, grit, and wherewithal to steer our state budget back into fiscal restraint, put limits on our growing government, and most of all, develop our resources the way the constitution requires. I believe in a balanced budget, smaller government, and a focus on government for Alaskans. I do believe that we need to provide a better regulatory path, and transportation path, to responsible resource development. It should not take ten years to study and permit a project (or a road to a project) that would fulfill our constitutional mandate to get our resources to market. Responsibly and safely finding ways to monetize our abundant resources benefits all Alaskans as well as our great nation." Doyle Holmes My wife and I live in Willow, Alaska and own Willow True Value Hardware, Grocery, and Services. I have been a resident of Willow for 47 years, served on the Matanuska Susitna Borough Assembly for 11 years and was Deputy Mayor for 3 years. We are members of the Alaska Miners Association and keep abreast of mining issues through the Alaska Miner and ICMJ Prospecting Mining Journal Magazines. Alaska’s most important asset is our resources, and we must be allowed to develop them, or our economy will never expand. We own 18 mineral claims in Hatcher Pass including Fern, Talkeetna, Marion Twin, Holland, and Schroff O’Neil hard rock mines as well as placer claims on Craigie and Willow Creek. I will support any and all efforts to develop Alaska’s resources including legal actions against the Federal Government. While on the Assembly, I worked with Joe Usibelli to fund the Railroad coal cars that allowed him to export his coal. I will not support HB332 that would sell the Alaska Railroad. HOUSE DISTRICT 31, DOWNTOWN FAIRBANKS Maxine Dibert I am Koyukon Athabascan, born and raised in Fairbanks. I am deeply honored to have represented Fairbanks for the past two years. Before being elected as a legislator, I had the joy of teaching third grade at Denali Elementary School for over 22 years. My grandfather first emigrated from Sweden to Alaska to be a miner long before Alaska was a state. Mining has been, and will be, a key industry that employs Alaskans and provides economic returns for our region and our state for the foreseeable future. Over the past two years serving the people of Fairbanks, I have focused sharply on: (1) responsible resource development that grows our economy and results in high paying jobs for Alaskans; (2) supporting our students and families by adequately funding our schools; (3) ensuring families have access to affordable and reliable energy; and (4) addressing our workforce development, recruitment, and retention challenges. I serve on the strategic House Resources Committee, and I am currently the only Fairbanks area Legislator represented on the committee. During the past two years I have worked hard to learn as much as possible about mining in the Interior. I visited and toured Usibelli, Pogo, Fort Knox, and other smaller mines. I also attended a conference at UAF focused on rare earth minerals and the great potential for strategic minerals mining in our state. I value the important work of our mining industry, and I will continue to support projects that promote responsible resource development. I look forward to continuing to work collaboratively with the mining industry across our state. Bart LeBon I served in the Alaska State House from 20192022 representing Downtown Fairbanks. During my four-years in the Legislature, I served as a member of the House Finance Committee to include two years as a member of the House/Senate Budget Conference Committee. I have legislative experience as both a member of the Majority (31st Legislature) and Minority (32nd Legislature) giving me a broad understanding of the legislative budget process from both perspectives. My professional career field prior to politics was in the field of banking (1975 - 2017). I have called Fairbanks home since 1972 and earned my Business Management Degree from UAF in 1975. As a commercial lender, I supported through a variety of loans a number of family-owned gold mining businesses based out of Interior Alaska. I also provided financial support for several tourism-based companies plus a variety of small businesses operating on the North Slope. Quite literally, I originated over $1 Billion in commercial loan activity during my 40year lending career. I believe that the private sector is our pathway toward a more sustainable economic future. Alaska must create wealth in order to move our state forward economically and resource development is the most essential component of a successful business model. If elected, I will be a reliable partner of not just the mining industry but for the responsible development of all Alaska's natural resources. We need a broad private sector economy, and I pledge to be a positive voice toward achieving that future for Alaska. Thank you for this opportunity to voice my support of the Alaska Miners Association. HOUSE DISTRICT 32, EAST FAIRBANKS/FORT WAINWRIGHT NOTE: Gary Damron did not submit a profile Will Stapp I’m Will Stapp and I believe in Civic Duty and Public Service. I first came to Fairbanks in 2006 after I enlisted in the U.S. Army as an Airborne Infantry soldier during the height of the Iraq war. I was stationed in Alaska at Ft. Wainwright for my first duty station and volunteered to serve two combat tours in Iraq, one of which I was wounded and awarded the Purple Heart. Professionally, I have worked as an Insurance Agent in employee benefits over 10 years assisting hundreds of local small and large businesses across our wonderful state. For the last two years I have served as the State Representative for Alaska House District 32. My most important job is raising three beautiful children just outside the Golden Heart City. Amelia (6), Abigail (3) and Atlas (1) Responsible Resource Development is critical for economic growth and development in the Interior. Ensuring these projects are safe and beneficial for our community helps put Fairbanks on the road to a brighter future. I’m Running for Reelection to continue the progress we’ve made moving forward toward a sustainable future for our community. My commitment to fight for Cheap Energy for the Interior has been unwavering, as I believe that every household deserves access to affordable and reliable energy. This is not just about comfort, but about driving the economic engine of our town. Fiscal Responsibility and Accountability in Government Spending are the cornerstones of my campaign. I stand for prudent management of our resources, ensuring that every dollar spent is an investment in our community’s prosperity. For the last two years I have advocated for transparency and worked to hold the state accountable for every expenditure, ensuring that our money is respected and well-utilized. Keeping government spending in check and working to reduce wasteful expenditures go hand in hand with Protecting the Permanent Fund.
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