I have been a registered independent, or non-partisan, voter for almost 50 years. Like most Alaskans, I have and will continue to vote for candidates based on their individual attributes and not their party affiliation.
I will be voting for Cathy Muñoz on Nov. 8.
I could say this because Cathy is first and foremost accessible to her constituents. But accessibility without listening and actually hearing is not enough. Cathy listens, and most importantly, she hears what you are saying, whether she agrees or not — and she will let you know if she does not.
We expect intelligence in our representatives; Cathy certainly meets that expectation. Yet, brilliance without courage is of little use in the Alaska Legislature, especially now. We desperately need the courage she has shown confronting the state budget crisis head on. Unlike many of Alaska’s legislators, she does not avoid hard decisions by kicking the can down the road past the next election.
Our state would be better served with more representatives like Cathy. Juneau should be proud.
Dan Austin,
Juneau