Editor’s Note: Alaska’s state primary elections are less than a week away, and except for the incumbents, most of the names on the ballot probably aren’t familiar to most Alaskans.
In these last days before the primary, the Empire will be introducing you to the men and women appearing on the Aug. 16 ballot. This is the fourth of six stories devoted to the topic. For the first story, click here, and the second, click here. The third is here.
When it comes to the U.S. House on Tuesday, three Democrats are facing off against each other. So are four Republicans. The two Libertarians in the race seem similar on paper, but each man says he represents a different choice for voters.
Jon Watts of North Pole and Jim McDermott of Anchorage each say they believe in traditional Libertarian values but differ on some individual issues.
“We libertarians are the ones who want to take over the government so they leave you alone,” Watts said.
The Libertarian winner in Tuesday’s election will face the leading Republican, leading Democrat and independent candidate Bernie Souphanavong in November.
Watts and McDermott each served in the Air Force for more than 20 years, each have a background in small business, and each hold degrees from Wayland Baptist University.
Both men believe in reducing America’s military presence overseas in favor of a strong defense at home. Watts said he would only support foreign military intervention if the United States was directly threatened.
“Personally, I like the idea of bringing our troops home,” said McDermott, who explained that he doesn’t believe that American airstrikes have helped matters in the Syrian Civil War.
“We’ve poured fuel on the fire,” he said.
Both men also believe in Alaska Native tribal sovereignty and a broad interpretation of the Second Amendment.
“I don’t think that for whatever good reason, it’s just or moral to take away an individual’s capability of self-defense, regardless of circumstances,” Watts said.
Watts said he believes the biggest national issue is “the ongoing debasement of our currency.”
He believes in the abolition of the Federal Reserve and “some commodity-based standard” for American currency. He said that doesn’t necessarily have to be the gold standard.
McDermott said his principal concern is the wave of regulation and restriction placed on small businesses. “Federal government itself … has become a barrier,” he said.
Both men agree that while personal liberty is important, there must be some restriction on the ability of Americans to donate money to political campaigns. Each man said “artificial entities” like corporations and political action committees should be restricted or banned.
With regard to immigration, Watts and McDermott each said Donald Trump’s idea of evicting illegal immigrants would be impossible to implement and might restrict American freedom.
“It just seems insane to me … is he going to start asking people for their papers?” McDermott said.
McDermott said he’s passionate about making immigration an easier process for people who do it legally. Watts said he thinks increased screening is necessary to prevent terrorism, but he’s “really against banning (specific) groups,” alluding to Trump’s statement that he would ban Muslim immigrants, at least temporarily.
With regard to climate change, each man said he supports the idea of increased research and is concerned about the idea of a broad new tax on emissions or industry.
Watts and McDermott differ on what should be done about the wave of racial violence that swept across the United States this summer.
Watts said he doesn’t think the problem is one that can be fixed by the federal government. “In communities, we need to meet each other hand to hand and eye to eye. … I don’t know that the government is appropriate to that,” he said.
McDermott said he believes there is a role for the federal government, which must oversee local police departments to ensure they are operating fairly.
He pointed to a report released Wednesday that found significant injustice within the Baltimore Police Department.
“I love that the Justice Department is coming in, helping these communities,” he said.
Regardless of which Libertarian candidate wins on Tuesday, Watts said he hopes that voters will go with the victor in November.
“It’s not about right or left,” he said. “It’s about free or not free.”
• Contact reporter James Brooks at 523-2263 or james.k.brooks@juneauempire.com. Follow him on Twitter at @AK_OK.
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Jim McDermott
