Elton is effective
After reading some of the letters in the Sunday paper criticizing Kim Elton's effectiveness as a state senator, I feel compelled to provide a different perspective.
I spent 25 sessions as a staffer for majority legislators and for minority legislators. A legislator's effectiveness is measured not by how many bills he/she has introduced or seen passed but by how well he/she is able to work with fellow legislators of both parties. Being in the Senate is particularly challenging and requires a legislator to tread that fine line between knowing when to stand up and fight and when to compromise. Experience is really everything.
Kim Elton's experience in the Legislature and as a member of the local Assembly is a major factor that sets him apart from his opponent. As such, he has been an extremely effective voice for Juneau.
Further, what people may not realize is that the present majority requires their members to vote for the budget they develop and, in the past several years, the majority's budget would have devastated Juneau's and the state's economy. It is only because the minority members of the Legislature stood up and fought for funding for education and state employees and many other items that the majority did not prevail.
So, for those who say that Kim's opponent would be better for Juneau because she would be in the majority, that is not a foregone conclusion by any means but if it were to happen, she would be absolutely obligated to vote for a budget which, if the pattern of past years were followed, would be harmful to Juneau. That does not sit well with me.
My vote will be for Kim Elton and I am completely confident that he will continue to be as effective and open to his constituents as he has been for eight years.
Paula Terrel
Juneau