Hopkins, Wilson get support from politicos before runoff
Published Tuesday, October 20, 2009
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Stumble It!FAIRBANKS — The two remaining candidates for mayor of the Fairbanks North Star Borough have gathered an array of endorsements leading up to the Nov. 3 runoff election.
The Alaska lieutenant governor, a former federal magistrate judge and a taxpayer advocacy group have endorsed Assemblywoman Tammie Wilson.
Assemblyman Luke Hopkins drew endorsements from a U. S. senator and several prominent Fairbanks Republicans, including the borough’s outgoing mayor and former state legislators who are crossing party lines to support the Democrat in the nonpartisan municipal race.
“He has experience and intellect that are superior to his opponent,” borough mayor Jim Whitaker said of Hopkins.
Former federal Magistrate Judge Joe Miller is one of several prominent conservatives backing Wilson.
“Unlike Luke, Tammie understands the value of smaller, smarter government,” Miller said.
Wilson, 48, manages three rental properties — two in Illinois and one in Alaska — and was elected to the Borough Assembly last year.
Hopkins, a 61-year-old retired university carpenter and building maintenance superintendent, is a part-time land manager at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. He won election to the assembly in 2004.
Wilson has the support of Lt. Gov. Craig Campbell, who met the assemblywoman during trips to Fairbanks on state business, said Campbell’s spokeswoman, Renee Limoge. Campbell became lieutenant governor after former Gov. Sarah Palin’s transition out of office.
“He knows it’s down to a couple of candidates,” Limoge said. “He knows it’s a nonpartisan race. He shares a lot of her beliefs and that led to his willingness to endorse her.”
Hopkins, who began campaigning in October 2008, listed more than 500 individual donations, according to reports filed with the Alaska Public Offices Commission prior to the Oct. 6 election. Wilson, who began her campaign in June, had about 120 donations, according to APOC reports. For both candidates, most of the donors come from the Fairbanks area.
The Interior Taxpayers’ Association prefers Wilson, who also drew endorsements from North Pole Republican Rep. John Coghill, Fairbanks City Councilman Jerry Cleworth and businessman Craig Compeau. Joe Nava, who served on the National Rifle Association’s national board for 24 years, endorsed Wilson.
Coghill and Compeau said they endorsed Wilson because they believe she is the more conservative candidate.
“She’s the only conservative on the ticket,” Compeau said.
Hopkins has among his supporters Andy Warwick, a former Republican legislator who served as a state commissioner under Gov. Jay Hammond, also a Republican. Warwick had supported Garry Hutchison, who did not receive enough votes in the Oct. 6 election to make it to the runoff.
“You just kind of have to look at who is best able to handle the problems, and if it’s a Democrat, so be it,” Warwick said. “I think Luke probably is best able to deal with some of the economic problems of the borough and the air quality, military base retention and since he’s on the (Alaska Gasline Port Authority), I think he understands that issue better. He is better equipped to help get natural gas here.”
An e-mail provided by the Hopkins campaign shows former Republican Sen. Gary Wilken is a supporter and offered to make a financial contribution to Hopkins’ campaign. Wilken wrote to the campaign from a vacation in Spain.
Economics prompted businessman Jack Wilbur to endorse Hopkins, he said. Wilbur is a former chairman of the Greater Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce.
“I believe he’s got a handle on our economy, and he will do what it takes to allow our community to continue to prosper,” Wilbur said.
Fairbanks City Councilman Bernard Gatewood agreed. Gatewood belongs to state alcoholism and suicide prevention advisory councils.
“I am not going to lose any sleep if Tammie wins,” the fellow Republican said. “I have no issues with her at all. But because you have to make a decision on one or the other, I am supporting Luke. I just think that of the two, Luke has the broadest experience and presents the best chance of moving the borough forward.”
Sen. Joe Thomas, D-Fairbanks, said his support for Hopkins is based on the candidate’s longer involvement in community affairs. Thomas said he has known Hopkins for about 15 years.
“I know more about him and what his concerns are for the community,” Thomas said. “The only thing I know about (Wilson) is what came from her campaign.”
Democratic Sen. Joe Paskvan cited Hopkins’ long history in Fairbanks.
“I think it means something when you’ve lived in a community for 40 years,” he said.
Hopkins also drew support from Dan Hoffman, the recently retired Fairbanks police chief.
“Of the two candidates, I believe he displays a much more thoughtful, deliberative approach in the way he deals with people and issues,” Hoffman said in an e-mail.
Democratic U.S. Sen. Mark Begich is also endorsing Hopkins and contributed money to the assemblyman’s campaign.
Other Wilson supporters include Lynette Bergh, acting CEO and board president of Santa’s Seniors in North Pole, and Bud Burris, a retired biologist and former secretary of the Tanana Valley Rifle and Pistol Club.
“I am endorsing her because I am in favor of minimum government,” Burris said.
Contact staff writer Amanda Bohman at 459-7544.
Community Discussion
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From looking at that list, I'd have to say it's going to be Tammie Wilson in a landslide. I'd not like to have Jim/Obama/Hopkins as my mayor, thank you very much.
Hopkins should have asked Jim Whitaker not to support him. This is going to really hurt his chances. He should have begged. He should have gotten down on his knees and pleaded. He should have implored him to endorse the other candidate, or at least keep quiet. How's he going to recover from this?
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Democratic Sen. Joe Paskvan cited Hopkins’ long history in Fairbanks.
“I think it means something when you’ve lived in a community for 40 years,” he said.
I just made my 40th year here. Vote for me. I remember the pipeline construction. Man, that was fun, and I was just a kid. Down town was wild. All my buddies had older brothers knocking down big bucks working for Alyeska. Who was the mayor back then?
No, SlyArcticFox, the reason you are not voting for her is that you lack compassion for anyone who does not hold the same ideology as you do. And would you please explain further what you mean by the babies crowd. I get guns and Jesus but the "babies crowd" is a little ambiguous. I take it you don't like babies?
@denada: "From looking at that list, I'd have to say it's going to be Tammie Wilson in a landslide." Um, Tammie's listed supporters are the known hard right ideologues. Luke has the support of all the Democrats and about half the Republicans mentioned in the article. This is as much a race between ideology and pragmatism as anything; I hope pragmatism wins.
Vote for Luke on November 3.
roadie, now you are Jesus like even - you have compassion for those who hate you. Ol' turn-the-other-cheek roadtrip.
roadie, it was John Carlson - he was mayor forever - I've warned you about what the firewater can do to your brain --- I can't do anymore than suggest you seek help. You can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink.
dog
(This comment was removed by the Newsminer.com staff. Please see our User Agreement for further information.)
Obvious to me, experience and support across the board or a narrow-minded wing-nut. The Coghill endorsement clinches it for me. But thankfully I don't have to vote for either, I just come into town and buy things without sales tax. Thank you Fairbanks.
Coghill is a lightening rod for the God-hate crowd. Wing-nut is a term used by the Bush-hate crowd. The term is now used as a hate-speech epithet directed at anyone to the right of Nancy Pelosi.
Well, if it turns into a left-winger Obamanaut (Hopkins) vs a Sarah Palin Republican (Wilson) I'd have to say I really like Wilson's chances. Now, if this election were to be held in Juneau, I'd have to say it would be much closer, and give the edge to Hopkins.
Morpheus, you realize they're running for borough mayor, not city mayor, right? Do you at least live in the borough? Or do you come into town from Healy or Fort Yukon?
I hate to see this NONPARTISAN race turn into this. When I see those
endorsing both candidates I want to see none of the above slot on
the ballot. If either candidate thinks trotting out these turkeys
as supporters are going to impress us independents they are smokong
the wrong kind of tobaccy
Let's see... Begich and Whitaker support Hopkins. That should be a clue right there. As mentioned, he should have begged them not to.
Looks to me that some folks need to change their party affiliation to reflect their true leanings and stop their charade. Saying that this is a nonpartisan election is a cop-out--nobody believes that, including the candidates and their respective supporters.
Thank you DNM for another article about the candidates. Your articles are helpful for the voters as they decide who they will vote for in the run off election. Please continue to write them. There are a lot of issues about both candidates that can be addressed.
I agree with twain about this race. I actually am nonpartisan and vote for who I think the best candidate would be for the job they get elected to. It makes picking the "best" candidate more of a challenge but I do feel I vote as a more informed voter. I encourage all to look beyong the party politics and vote for the person you think will be best for Borough Mayor.
Jim Whitaker is exactly right about Tammie. Because he's worked with her, he knows she's not smart enough to be mayor. Not by a scary long shot. That's why the only people supporting Tammie are from the far, fringe right. They are blinded by ideology. Most moderate and some conservative Republicans are coming out for Luke. Anyone who thinks about the issue, knows that you need intelligence to run the borough. You can't do it on radical far right aphorisms alone.
Yippee. Just like fund raising for themselves, seeing fellow career politicians patting each other on the back really doesn't mean jack to me. One crook supporting another crook still makes them crooks.
Wilson for mayor.
....and several prominent Fairbanks Republicans, including the borough’s outgoing mayor .....
Uh, excuse me. Whitaker officially, publicly changed to the Democratic party and supported Obama during the last Presidential election.
You can have a college degree and still be a redneck slumlord/junkyard owner. C'mon Luke, you can do it!
Whitaker wants Hopkins to replace him on the Port Authority. This election is all about the Port Authority getting their person to become the chair. Even Bartos said that the Port Authority needs GVEA to buy it's gas to make the issuing of bonds a reality. Hopkins wants to be Chair of the Port Authority more than Mayor of the Borough. If you want another Whitaker vote Hopkins. Wonder what deals they dreamed up when Whitaker, Hopkins and Guttenberg all went to the democrat convention together to support Obama. A vote for Hopkins is a vote for Whitaker.
Since when did having a degree mean you were intelligent?!? Ask half the waitresses, baristas, and store clerks around town if they have degrees- and they do!
There's a reason why Wilson is the 'underdog';she's UNDER QUALIFIED.
Tammie doesn't have the experience, she hasn't worked in politics very long, and she has failed to reach out to most of the community.She hasn't really worked on this campaign very long either.
Remember what happens when you give redneck, unexperienced, bull-headed people power? Sarah Palin didn't quit her job to get rich and famous THAT long ago!
Let's extend this ideology to every facet of our lives- I want my next doctor to be a highschool dropout! I hope my next plane ride is piloted by a volunteer! Let's let a stay-at-home mom direct the military!
To hell with knowledge and experience in a field- vote for the 'Underdog'-- because somehow they deserve it, even if she hasn't really worked for it!
You can tell a lot about any one by the "company they keep"! Wilson attracts thoes who support less government, less tax, more personal freedom. What more could anyone want?
I have to agree with Joe Thomas and Joe Paskvan. It does mean something if you've lived in the community for 40 years, or you have more than one term on the Assembly. But, it doesn't mean everything. If it did, choosing who to vote for would be simple, just calculate Alaska longevity. Hell, I could run for office, and expect Joe and Joe's endorsements. I've known both gentlemen for decades.
But if a voter would like to see less intrusion into their lives, less restriction on their property rights, and less wasted tax money, then my guess is that the newcomer, Tammie Wilson, is the right candidate. That's who I'll vote for.
Right now, we have plenty of other elected officials anxious to spend our money and run our lives. I'd prefer a borough mayor ambitious in keeping the borough government slimmed down to the basics. But I guess that I'm just a "narrow-minded wing-nut" "known hard right ideologue[s]" member of the "far fringe right".
I agree sisu- all the crazy, irrational, doctrine-following wing nuts support Wilson!
Lets keep this like its supposed to be, nonpartisan. Are we going to have more Doug Isaacson types out there with used republican signs being recycled in nonpartisan campaigns? I don't care what any of these elected officials have to say. All it does is muddy the waters. I don't think the FDNM cares for Tammie Wilson any way.
And now, a word on Luke Hopkins' voting record.
Lest we forget.
Ord 2009-40: By his swing vote, Luke voted in a 5 cent fee (tax) on
plastic bags
Ord 2009-30: Advisory Question on PM 2.5, favoring the language that
would ultimately ban and/or register woodstoves
throughout the entire borough, and create a local
enforcement of the provision.
Ord 2009-25: 100 percent Morris Thompson property tax exemption
(placing the tax burden on property owners)
Ord 2008-30: Adopting Vision Fairbanks into the Borough's
Comprehensive Zone Plans
Ord 2007-51: Drama Association Tax Exemption
Ord 2007-47: Sponsored an ordinance for a gross receipts tax to be
placed on ballot.
Ord 2007-46: Sales Tax on ballot
Ord 2007-40: A Resolution COMMITTING to the development of a local
climate change impact plan (to study and reverse
global warming).
Ord 2006-39: Resolution promoting local awareness of global
warming/climate change.
Ord 2005-39: An ordinance creating a fine schedule for violations
and designating “Trained Code Enforcement Officers”
(making borough cops).
Resolution 2007-40: A resolution committing to the development of a
local climate change impact plan (to reverse
global warming).
Last, but not least, during Luke's tenure, the overall operation budget of the borough grew by more than $25 million.
The budget for 2005-2006 was $106,669,880
This year's budget is $132,307,500
A difference of $25,637,620.
gypsyfor life-
Are you saying that Wilson should not be voted for because she has a higher education (see post by NativeSon@3:24), and you conclude that because Palin shouldn't have been voted for because she didn't have a higher quality education? Huh??
I'm not following your train of thought.
I'm saying that it doesn't prove much in the way of intelligence, especially in a social science. I know what it takes for a social science degree, and most of all it requires paying lots of $$$, and then sometimes showing up.
>>and you conclude that because Palin shouldn't have been voted for because she didn't have a higher quality education? Huh??<<
And I don't get this double-negative sentence, but Palin does have a degree, in social science,and she was completely incompetent and self-serving, above all else.
gypsyforlife said: "I agree sisu- all the crazy, irrational, doctrine-following wing nuts support Wilson!"
I'm sorry, are you unable to debate on the actual issues at hand?
Do you support bigger government, registration and taxing of wood stoves, larger taxes, taxes that bypass the public vote like the bag tax (which is against borough rules)? If so, feel free to vote for Hopkins.
Show me where I'm being irrational because I'm voting for Tammie for the above reasons, because it looks like you need to look in the mirror.
Well, it would seem you did my work for me!
>>Do you support bigger government, registration and taxing of wood stoves, larger taxes, taxes that bypass the public vote like the bag tax (which is against borough rules)? <<
That is about as irrational as it gets.
And now, a word on Luke Hopkins' voting record.
Hopkins is on the extreme end of the political spectrum--
dangerously further to the left of Ralph Nader.
He spent a lot of time promoting the borough's involvement with an international council on global warming.
Ord 2009-40: By his swing vote, Luke voted in a 5 cent fee (tax) on
plastic bags
Ord 2009-30: Advisory Question on PM 2.5, favoring the language that
would ultimately ban and/or register woodstoves
throughout the entire borough, and create a local
enforcement of the provision.
Ord 2009-25: 100 percent Morris Thompson property tax exemption
(placing the tax burden on property owners)
Ord 2008-30: Adopting Vision Fairbanks into the Borough's
Comprehensive Zone Plans
Ord 2007-51: Drama Association Tax Exemption
Ord 2007-47: Sponsored an ordinance for a gross receipts tax to be
placed on ballot.
Ord 2007-46: Sales Tax on ballot
Ord 2007-40: A Resolution COMMITTING to the development of a local
climate change impact plan (to study and reverse
global warming).
Ord 2006-39: Resolution promoting local awareness of global
warming/climate change.
Ord 2005-39: An ordinance creating a fine schedule for violations
and designating “Trained Code Enforcement Officers”
(making borough cops).
Resolution 2007-40: A resolution committing to the development of a
local climate change impact plan (to reverse
global warming).
Last, but not least, during Luke's tenure, the overall operation budget of the borough grew by more than $25 million.
The budget for 2005-2006 was $106,669,880
This year's budget is $132,307,500
A difference of $25,637,620.
Jim Whitiker can go and work for his Democratic masters at the federal level. Maybe our prezident from Kenya has room for him somewhere on his whiner's out-of-work list. Gary Wilkins can go too. The group backing TAMMIE WILSON looks like a solid core of Fairbanks' common sense crowd. Those for Luke the Liberal need their heads examined.
Uh oh! Good ole boys are out for Luke. I still think I will vote for Wilson. The old Fairbanks crowd is usually bad news, I mean if we want to talk intelligence here.
Theres such a thing as common sense, some higher educated have it,
some dont, so the education bit dont move me on either side. Many
of our elected SERVANTS " they seem to forget they are our servants
in government work", after being elected tend to think they are our
masters and want to cram their ideas down our throats whether we
agree or not. IM program good example. Thats why Im willing at this
time to try another direction even if I am at complete disagreement
with the political ideology of the candidate. We must have change
from the good old boys who have run things in this town for decades!!
The U Lie T-Party Boys have got their Dander up early this a.m.
Does Natson work the nightshift at the Power plant?
He fades about 5 every morning. Then roars back after noon.
You have to love a candidate who gets endorsed by BOTH Whitaker and Begich. Two of the worst mayors in the history of Alaska. WOW.
CEO and board president of North Pole Santas Seniors! That's HUGE!
(This comment was removed by the Newsminer.com staff. Please see our User Agreement for further information.)
Can we get a new set of eight candidates and start over?
My endorsement of Tammie Wilson for Mayor.
http://newsminer.com/news/2009/aug/12/wi...
(This comment was removed by the Newsminer.com staff. Please see our User Agreement for further information.)
Whitaker was such a good double-crossing RINO Obama gave him time on the national TV at the National Convention!
With friends like Whitaker, Luke does not need any enemies!
As for ex -Republican Sen. Gary Wilken! He was one of the last raiders for the PF to leave office! The rest were fired because they did not understand the meaning of the word NO!
(In 1999 83% of the voters rejected a state-wide ballot prop destroying the dividends to fund state government. Until Wilken left office, he publicly supported raiding the PF!
EVERYONE WHO RECEIVED A DIVIDEND; RECEIVED IT BECAUSE WE SAID NO! And, canned those who did not understand the public mandate.
NO is NO, your fired!
End of discussion! Get out of my face and never bother me again.
~~~~~~~BY THE WAY,
RAIDING THE PF WAS PUSHED BY THE ~~~~~~~DEMOCRATS.
(I am sure! To this Day RINOS and Democrats have wet dreams of raiding the PF! )
How can the UAF/FNSB school district crowd support a college dropout? You would think that they would be backing the candidate that has a degree in education.
Of course the candidate with the degree in education isn't promising kickbacks to their unions. The college dropout will give them everything they want.
Maybe the UAF/FNSB crowd isn't all the concerned about education after all?
1AkFox.......
BEWARE of wolves who look like sheep. In my mind's eye they are lamb
> chops! You bet your butt!.I am carnivorous (and proud of it). Some of
> these "politicians" need to be gobbled up!
Qualified? Please define?
Tammie and Luke are both qualified to run for borough mayor because we voters qualified them. If Luke got there because of his experience in government Tammie got there because of her dedication to her community.
I don't want "business as usual" in our borough. If business as usual means a plastic bag tax then I want something different. And we have a tax cap in place. Any tax is supposed to be approved by the voters under the tax cap. So the "business as usual" borough government disguised this tax as a user FEE, not a tax, and circumvented the tax cap and our right to vote right under our nose. Trickery? And we all fell for it.
I am going to vote for Tammie because she beat other democrats, republicans, liberals and conservatives hands down in the first round. She is out for the people that live in her borough and not some party or sanitized philosophy.
Don't insult my intelligence or experience because I voted for Tammie the first round. I am very qualified and have enough experience to vote for the one I believe is qualified for the job.
"He has experience and intellect that are superior to his opponent,” borough mayor Jim Whitaker said of Hopkins."
This sure sounds insulting to me. If I said that, I thought someone was stupid on this comment; I bet it would be removed. But the Mayor gets away with it in print by camouflaging it with his superior intellect and dialect. Nice!
I am surprised that Whitaker just didn't say "also if Luke is elected he will make sure to move money my way in my new gig at the Port Authority/FNG"
As a matter of fact, I did say that Luke was kind of slow in my 3:24 a.m. post and the newsminer removed it. The funny thing is, I was just being sarcastic, using the liberal tool of belittling the opposition. I guess it's OK for them to do it, but conservatives are held to a higher standard. Oh well, we're classier people anyway.
NativeSon - FNM is just following the lead of the White House in controlling the media
If being experienced in governing the people means, the art of controlling and stripping people of their constitutional rights, then so be it, that is where experienced politicians have brought this government today. We need new blood, elected officials that work for their constituents, not for the next big contractor that wants to suck up the federal money. People in this country are starting to get a idea about how sick our country has really gotten. It is time for the government to live within it's means.
I would guess Tammy is going to sweep this, God is going to hate me for this, but the only thing to sink Tammy would be to have an endorsement from a North Pole Realtor !
NativeSon-
Your comment seemed pretty tame to me. We've all seen a lot worse. On this thread.
Joe Thomas' support more than likely comes because he's a union man -- as is Hopkins.
I keep thinking how Mayor Whitaker tried to push the Wood stove ban through at the last minute and how Tammy Wilson let the public know what was going on. I also remember how Luke Hopkins showed his frustration when Tim Beck proposed delaying the issue. Luke Hopkins voted against delaying the vote. During public testimony, Luke Hopkins visibly showed his contempt for every person that testified against the ban. I was there watching.
now why would acomment that I as a bleeding heart liberal plan to vote for tammie wilson be removed?
Power of O, so the white house is controlling the media? Good thing. Oh I guess they forgot Glenn Beck, Sean Hannity, Michael Savage, etc.
Seems we took away different thoughts from the meeting Graybeard- I was there too, and I didn't see contempt at all, really from anyone- everyone was tired, maybe that is what you are thinking of?
And you know, despite what Tammie says, there was no wood stove ban- just like there are no death panels. Where are you getting this BS? Just making it up, or what? I know you said you were at the public testimony, and lots of confused, terrified, morons turned out, thinking the government was comin' to git 'em, but it was about local control of air quality. As in, not getting orders handed down from Anchorage/Palmer/Juneau.
I know this issue is hard for a lot of people to wrap their minds around, but sheesh!
alaska4obama
try this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLR5jHlyt...
Or maybe this
Jake Tapper, ABC News: It hasn't escaped our notice that in the last few weeks the White House has decided to declare war on one of our sister organizations saying it's not a news organization and tell the rest of the news media to not treat them like a news organization. Can you explain why it's appropriate for the White House to say one of them is not a news organization and the rest of the media should not treat them like one.
White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs: We render opinion based on some their coverage and the fairness of that coverage.
Tapper: That's a pretty sweeping declaration that they're not a news organization. How are they different from, say another, say ABC, MSNBC, Univision?
Gibbs: You and I should watch sometime around 9 o'clock tonight or five this afternoon.
Tapper: I'm not talking about their opinion programs. Or issues you have with certain reports. I'm talking about saying that thousands of individuals who work for a media organization do not work for a news organization. Why is that appropriate for the White House to say?
Gibbs: That is our opinion.
Carol E. Lee, Politico: Does that mean the White House doesn't believe they should be part of the press pool?
Gibbs: The press pool is decide by the White House Correspondents Association.
Lee: So you have no opinion on whether they should be ...
Gibbs: I'm not going to delineate for the White House Correspondents Association how the pool is conducted. That's not my job.
So because of their ridiculous insistence of wasting everyone's time, over and over again, trying to claim that Obama isn't a citizen, they have been eliminated from the press pool by the White House Correspondents Association? Are you kidding me? That is your 'evidence' that the Whitehouse controls the media? Seriously?
LOL-You have got to be joking.
I am sure that all the hate-mongering, racist crazies are really hurting for real 'news'!
Bush's administration also eliminated people from the press pool when the relentlessly asked the same stupid questions, not being satisfied with any answer- it's fairly standard procedure!
gypsyforlife,
The resolution specifically listed "solid fuel" burning devices as a suggestion for registration.
Did you read the resolution, and the following proposed ordinance? It was pretty clear if you did, that they intended that to be the primary path of PM 2.5.
I did- and I just read it again, and nowhere in it does it say anything about banning or taxing woodstoves. Maybe you inferred that from the ordinance, but that is your opinion. Most likely, it would include the voluntary purchasing (less than $50) of hood filters/soot collectors for people purchasing new WOOD BOILERS (retrofits would be optional)- which are an entire beast all together, and use around 6 times the amount of wood to produce the same amount of heat as a woodstove. And wood boilers cost an arm and a leg- would an extra $50 really kill anyone, if it meant we weren't all hacking and coughing, and sweeping ash off our porches every morning?
I'll admit that I have an issue with wood boilers for a few reasons: my parents installed one, and it chews through wood so fast they could spend less money burning actual dollar bills, and also our neighbor (we have 6 acres, so they aren't that close!) installed one, and now for 9 months a year, everything we own (inside and out) is blanketed with soot. I heat with a woodstove (and have for almost 15 years), but I burn it hot to keep down on particulates, and have never had soot blanketing my property.
Had we not been given local control of our air quality, it would be handed down from Palmer, I believe. I don't think they are much into burning wood there, and would see no problem in forcing a ban. But that would NEVER fly in Fairbanks, and now that we have local control over the PM 2.5, we can actually solve the problem more constructively.
gypsyforlife
Do you choose not to think for yourself or does it just come natural?
The White House claims that the reason that they are not talking to Fox is that Fox NEWS (not the opinion shows) is an extension of the Republican Party (don't worry that many of the Fox contributors are Libertarians). Fox NEWS is not Glenn Beck or Sean Hanninty or Bill O'Rielly. Have you ever watched Fox News before or do you just get the break down from Robert Gibbs or Racheal Maddow?
Please do tell of the News Agency's that elminated from the press pool during the Bush Adminstration!
gypsyforlife
I'll admit that I have an issue with wood boilers for a few reasons: my parents installed one
_____________________
Let me guess you are 35 and live in your parents basement...
PathFinder
10/20/2009, 7:56 a.m.
And now, a word on Luke Hopkins' voting record.
Lest we forget.
Ord 2009-40: By his swing vote, Luke voted in a 5 cent fee (tax) on plastic bags
Ord 2009-30: Advisory Question on PM 2.5, favoring the language that
would ultimately ban and/or register wood stoves throughout the entire borough, and create a local enforcement of the provision.
Ord 2009-25: 100 percent Morris Thompson property tax exemption
(placing the tax burden on property owners) [ 1AkFox: Choice River front property ]
Ord 2008-30: Adopting Vision Fairbanks into the Borough's Comprehensive Zone Plans [ 1AkFox: a few downtown land lords make big money on their future slum peoperty ]
Ord 2007-51: Drama Association Tax Exemption [ 1AkFox: Choice River front property ]
Ord 2007-47: Sponsored an ordinance for a gross receipts tax to be placed on ballot.[ 1AkFox: the tax would be added onto what ever you buy like the bag tax ]
Ord 2007-46: Sales Tax on ballot
Ord 2007-40: A Resolution COMMITTING to the development of a local climate change impact plan (to study and reverse global warming). [1AkFox: 100% waste of money]
Ord 2006-39: Resolution promoting local awareness of global warming/climate change. [1AkFox: 100% waste of money ]
Ord 2005-39: An ordinance creating a fine schedule for violations and designating “Trained Code Enforcement Officers” (making borough cops).
Resolution 2007-40: A resolution committing to the development of a
local climate change impact plan (to reverse global warming).[1AkFox: I promise not to TAKE a whiz in the Chena and cause flood in Tokyo! 100% waste of money ]
Last, but not least, during Luke's tenure, the overall operation budget of the borough grew by more than $25 million.
The budget for 2005-2006 was $106,669,880
This year's budget is $132,307,500
A difference of $25,637,620.
---------- reply comment.
The $25,637,620 increased property tax revenue was because of NEW
construction! The Wal Mart Shopping, 2 new Hotels in that area, etc.
In 2008(?) there was an ITA ballot prop to use the 25 million from new
construction to reduce everyones property tax.
Luke, the mayor, and the unions defeated the ITA's effort to cut property taxes.
Per/ telephone to assessor's office.
There are 42,000 tax lots and estimated 30,000 property owners. Many
people own more than 1 tax lot.
cont part 1
part 2 from above
------
New construction (rounded numbers) averaged $250 million per year from
2006 to 2009!
For example, if the ITA's ballot prop had gone into effect in 2006 new property tax revenue on 1 billion dollars of new construction would have gone towards reducing EVERYONES PROPERTY TAX BY AN ESTIMATED by me 5-10%. Economic development would have benefited ALL of us; not just the people who live off the borough spending.
UNFORTUNATELY. The ballot prop was not effective in 2006. And if it had passed
it would have captured only 1 year of new taxes on $250,000,000 of new
construction.
Which is about $3,500,000 spread equally across 30,000 tax lots which is about $116 each.
Although, the amount is small over the years it adds up! 10 years = over $1,000 dollars.
Luke and the group he listens to costs us money.
IF you vote for him; you are certainly going to pay for him.... plenty
PS: if the $25 million in burro increased sending was used to cut property tax the drop would have been $830 spread over 4 years!
Hahaha- POO! That's a good one. Good god no, not nearly that old, and I happen to do quite well for myself, thanks:)
But you know, I know people disagreeing with you can make some people just so darn mad! I love that they you tried to take a personal shot, and it's so off base that it's hilarious, so instead of making *me* mad, I email it to all my friends, and it brings everyone quite a good laugh.
Carry on! You've always been *so* much fun!
How long does that take?
Let me rephrase. How many on that list?
Public records show that Luke Hopkins is married to David Guttenberg's sister.
Scotsman: So? That's pretty well known.
"Public records show that Luke Hopkins is married to David Guttenberg's sister."
At least he isn't married to David Guttenberg.
Good morning dirtprof and curmudgeon. It's simply a fact. Maybe relevant, maybe not. Many of us didn't or don't know it. Maybe it helps fill out an incomplete picture, maybe not. Maybe it's helpful to know who your politicians' connections are, maybe not.
A scotsman is, after all, just a simple device for turning water into good whiskey, not particularly noted for attaching fact and opinion. (To forestall the inevitable question, the device definition is not inverted.)
Your marriage opinion, curmudgeon, suggests some interesting pros and cons. Work that out a bit, would you?
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