Community Perspective
A vote to repair Fairbanks’ leaky faucets
Published Saturday, October 3, 2009
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Stumble It!One of the many rewarding aspects of my job as manager at Mobil 1 is meeting tourists who come in during the summer months. Inevitably, the conversation turns to questions about the winter and why on Earth we stay here. I simply reply, “Because this is my home.” For those who understand the full concept of “home,” my answer is all they need to hear.
That is why I am running for Borough Assembly — because this is my home. I was born in Fairbanks, lived here all my 37 years, and will be here until my final day. I believe strongly in this community and the opportunities it provides.
My father, Joe Want, has been a big game guide for more than 40 years. He and my mother, Georgianne, were instrumental in shaping my strong work ethic. Through this work ethic I have built and managed a few small businesses in the borough. I would apply that same focus and determination to the assembly.
Throughout the election I am confronted with the labels of politics: Democrat, Republican, liberal or conservative. What you rarely find as a label is “responsible.” I am responsible. As a homeowner, father, employee and business owner, I make responsible decisions every day that affect my family and others. Responsibility is what I will bring with me to the Borough Assembly.
My priority in being an assembly member is to represent Fairbanks. Some of the specific issues I have great concern over are PM2.5 compliance, education and being a trusted steward of public money.
PM2.5 compliance is an issue we need to address, but I believe it is an issue that needs to be dealt with at the state level. There is no need to add another layer of bureaucracy to the process. The administration and assembly will always have a voice with the state to express our ideas on how any program should be shaped.
The borough has an obligation to provide quality education to our children, but continually growing the budget is not the answer to improving education. Parents need to reinforce education as a priority at home. Parents need to be involved in their children’s education, check homework, communicate with teachers, and be up front to our children that a limited education equates to a limited future.
This coincides with being a trusted steward of your tax dollars. My grandmother, Rose Messina, told me long ago that the drip from a faucet may not look like much, until you put a bucket under it and give it some time. We need to locate these drips in the borough and fix them. We need to tighten our operations. The savings may be seem small, but they will add up and help restore trust that our tax money is being used responsibly.
Fairbanks is our home. I will never forget that each of us has a voice in the community. I want the opportunity to represent your voice. Thank you.
Matt Want is a candidate for Borough Assembly Seat A.
Community Discussion
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You have my vote, Matt!
As does Tammie Wilson for mayor!
(Matt is also endorsed by the ITA)
Good letter, you've got my vote!
Mr. Want, you will be representing the North Star Borough, in which Fairbanks is about 1/3 of the people. Please start using North Star Borough. If you want to represent Fairbanks run for city council. The people in the borough who prefer a rural lifestyle have had to pay the price tag for Fairbanks way to long. It is time to build outside city limits with borough tax payers money. Heck even the borough building is located in the city limits. There is a heck of a lot more to this borough than the the city. But the borough government seems to be nothing more than another arm for economic development for the city limits.
http://interiortaxpayers.org/
I like man who respects his parents and chose to learn from them. Matt has some compelling opinions about the PM 2.5. Matt, you have my vote.
Love your letter Matt. However, FreeDarfur is right you should be including the whole borough in your representation, i am sure it was just an honest mistake on your part considering I have had conversations with you before on Borough issues.
You still have my vote!!
Mr. Want is the only candidate endorsed by the Interior Alaska Conservative Coalition and the Interior Taxpayers Association. He would be a fantastic choice for the borough assembly.
Free darfur, i'm sure Mr. Wants omission of North Star Borough was due to word limitations from the NM. According to the borough website, Mr. Want lives outside the city, I'm sure he has no intention of ignoring the rural community. I am more astonished at the choice of headlines used by the NM for each of the candidates. After reading Mr. Want's article, did they really come away with 'Leaky Faucets'? compared to his two opponents essays. Pfft.
Am I the only one who hears, "Matt Want," and thinks of a Frankenstein
s Monster-like conversations?
"ME MATT. WHAT THIS?"
"Oh, it's a seat on the Borough Assembly."
"MATT WANT SEAT!"
"Well, you have to run."
"MATT WANT!"
I have a lot of respect for a self-made businessman, but being a businessman is not automatically a qualification for being a good representative of the people. I'm currently undecided.
I am voting for Matt and for Tammie, as is my husband.
Just want to mention, that the PM2.5 issue is a totally made up thing. The standard was lowered to 2.5 and that it what has pushed Fairbanks air quality into noncompliance. What reasons were given for lowering the standard? Was it based on actual scientific research or was it simply arbitrary? Is there a specific scientifically proven link to some health hazard or this is just an assumption?
Anyway, please vote for Matt and for Tammie!
Crazy Cat Lady: The "2.5" in PM2.5 isn't the standard, it is a particle size. PM2.5 means "particulate matter 2.5 microns in size," not parts per million or anything else.
The standards for that type of pollutant have been in place since 2006. You'd have to ask the EPA why they changed it, but I suspect their website may have some useful information.
www.epa.gov
Henry...forget your medication today?
Yes, you are the only one that hears that. The rest of us hear someone who isn't driven by an agenda.
Henry,
I want MATT WANT too...
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