I will remember…
Wrong, wrong, wrong…afternoon talk‐show host and ADN opinion columnist says “Big spender Begich left money mess for Sullivan.” Let us be honest, fair, and up front with the facts.
Besides this liberal Assembly in 2009 allowing the sweet‐heart deals to go through before Begich left office for higher spending at the national level, the previously labeled “conservative” Assembly from 2005‐2008 is by preponderance responsible for the more than six years of the $150 million increase in the city’s budget.
Don’t you remember...the mediocre budget challenges coming from lookalike conservatives on the Assembly that were satisfied with lowering the budget by a mere $1 million in one 2‐year budget cycle? Don’t you remember the “conservative” Assembly Budget Chair Starr, along with another “so-called” Jennifer Johnston influenced and run by former Democrat and moderate attorney Assembly Chair Dan Coffey apologizing to Begich for his abrupt challenges to Begich’s budget increase request? Don’t you remember the Assembly in early 2007 ignoring the information finally given to us by Begich after numerous requests on city employee salaries, compensation and vacancy rates? How about the millions of dollars that were taxpayer donations and contributions to non‐profits throughout the city approved by Begich Administration department heads; don’t you remember nothing being done about anything?
Do you remember challenges from a couple of real conservatives (Bauer and Sullivan) to the Begich’s budget, followed by voting NO? Do you remember city road renovations in front of Begich’s family business costing taxpayers in 2006 about $4 million, now reaching to over $30 million, all this for less than one mile of pedestrian, snow‐free sidewalks and road improvements? How about the potential conflict of interests that goes along with it. Now the Begich’s moved out of Anchorage and the road in front of the business is complete, what about the rest of E Street?
Do you remember time after time, members of the Assembly caving in every time the Begich Administration fought us back on all issues? And, do you remember when local conservative talk‐show radio hosts like Rydell and Fagan were so accommodating when Begich and his side-kick Hasquet would come on the radio; allow them to spin their position, followed by the host’s mediocre challenges? Where was the anger and resolve to hold “them” accountable at that time?
Where were the sleepy Republicans?
I do remember the Chair of the Alaskan Republican Party, Randy Ruedrich inviting former Democrat and independent Dan Coffey to do the welcoming speech for the Party convention in 2008, until I stepped in; then Dan Sullivan did it. Remember?
I am simply amazed that after Mark Begich leaves the city for higher spending opportunities in our nation’s capital, that the so‐called “conservatives” come out of hiding to now throw little stones behind his back. The only real conservatives that should have that honor of throwing rocks are the ones true to themselves as a conservative, who consistently challenged and voted against Begich on the Assembly, and those voters in the voting booth that also tried to vote him out. Not many of those I’d say.
Begich won his second term with a wide margin of 56%. In Begich’s first term election, 53% voted for a conservative candidate. That says to me, many Republicans voted for Begich in his second term election.
I do remember I was there. So write down…I will remember…I will remember!