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A week or so ago, I spent a beautiful fall morning on a western Alaska river fly fishing for monster rainbow trout. In close proximity that morning were several brown bears who were similarly focused on their fishing. The bears and I were all successful. The experience was breathtakingly spectacular. I was reminded that morning, as I often am, of how much I love this place in which we live. Decades ago, my family and I chose to move to Alaska because of the unique and wonderful quality of life that is possible here. We all choose to live in the Fairbanks area for the same reason — life is good here.

Quality of life is at the core of most of my concerns for the future of the borough. I want our quality of life to not only be preserved, but also improved. I would like my own children and grandchildren to find Fairbanks a still-better place to live than it is today.

As the politicians and candidates wrestle and argue, I propose that we all keep our eyes focused on the real prize — which is the preservation and enhancement of our quality of life. To that end, I would like to propose a few guideposts along that path.

• Education. There are some current mayoral and assembly candidates who have expressed a determination to reduce the borough’s spending on education. I admit that I do not know what the “right” dollar amount is to spend on borough education, but I am skeptical of the reasoning that: “it’s a lot of money, therefore it should be cut.” Rather, I would suggest that the things that matter most often do cost a lot. We should focus first on what it is that we really want for our children, and work to ensure a system that provides: 1) rigorous academics, 2) a safe and disciplined learning environment, and 3) accountability for performance. Analysis of the education budget only makes sense in conjunction with clearly established objectives such as these. I recognize that the quality of education is not precisely correlated with dollars spent, but the two are related closely enough that I am very concerned with knee-jerk budgetary slashes in this arena. Inappropriately reducing funding to the detriment of educational quality can be likened to “eating our seed corn” — it would not bode well for our future.

• Affordable energy. The negative economic consequences of increasingly high-priced fuel will be catastrophic for both residents and the borough itself. Though the borough cannot single-handedly alter this equation, borough leadership can press and encourage key players to fully engage on this issue, foster a climate that invites required investment and facilitate a solution in every possible way. This issue is of such monumental importance to us that our leaders cannot simply wait for others to address it.

• Economic development. If Fairbanks does not grow, our community will languish and our quality of life diminish. Economic growth brings vibrant hope and opportunity to a community. With growth and opportunity, our children and grandchildren — our best and brightest — will remain here rather than going elsewhere to seek fame and fortune. Facilitating growth of commerce and employment must be a focus of borough government.

• Fiscal restraint and responsibility. The tax burden on borough residents should not be permitted to grow beyond the rate of inflation, regardless of spikes in property values. Though fiscal restraint might appear to be at odds with the goal of improving the quality of life, it is precisely that delicate balancing act we require of our representatives. Wisdom, vision and thrift are the triple virtues that guide responsible government.

By focusing on quality of life (which is much more than fishing and outdoor adventures) and these supporting basic objectives that I have outlined, our elected representatives will find themselves with a coherent vision and rational gauge by which they may measure and prioritize the issues that confront them. With reasoned priorities established, the effectiveness of borough government and the odds of Fairbanks’ long-term success can only improve.

Toby Osborn serves as the senior vice president and chief financial officer at Doyon Ltd. He is a candidate for Borough Assembly Seat A.