Yesterday I entered the race to represent Alaska in the United States Senate.
My declaration followed about six weeks of traveling from Sitka to Kotzebue, Bethel to Fairbanks, hearing from Alaskans. They told me Alaska needs a senator who doesn’t answer to the special interests. Someone committed to transparent government. Someone with the energy and independence to get back to representing Alaskans again.
I know I can be that senator for Alaska.
As mayor of Anchorage the past five years, we helped restore voters’ trust in their government. We eliminated the deficit I inherited, held the line on property taxes and invested in what matters most in growing cities – more police and firefighters, more fire stations and better roads.
We still have work to do in Anchorage, but we also have work to do for All of Alaska. More than ever, at a time of great national turmoil, we need creative solutions – we need Alaskan solutions.
To get a sense about where I stand on important challenges facing Alaska and America today and what just some of the solutions that I will fight for, I ask that you spend a moment reading through my Issues page on my site. I'll be honest – we're going to talk about a lot more than is currently on the website in this campaign, but I think you can get a sense for who I am by the topics that I will be addressing from Day One of this campaign.
Energy, Ethics, Veterans, Health Care, Iraq. I'm putting forward some of my positions now, but I know that it will be with the support and advocacy of the netroots community and sites like Daily Kos that we turn these ideas into law.
Our campaign is vital for Alaska’s future...and for increasing the Democratic majority in the Senate.
I welcome your help, advice, and the support you can give me today. Please check our website often for updates.
And if you like what I'm doing and want to support our campaign for change in Alaska, I would greatly appreciate it if you made a donation at Begich.com or on ActBlue.
Thanks for reading and I look forward to continuing the conversation in the comments.
Mark Begich