LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR's REPORT

Loren Leman
Lieutenant Governor
Juneau, AK
March 6, 2003

GOVERNOR'S BUDGET MAKES TOUGH CHOICES:

Governor Murkowski's speech last night to a joint session of the Legislature outlined the financial challenges we face as a State, and a plan to meet them. Governor Murkowski offered a number of ideas to reduce our dependence on our State savings account. Change is seldom easy. However, now is the time for bold action. You can read his speech online here.

A WHIRLWIND TRIP TO KOTZEBUE AND SELAWIK:

I was in Kotzebue and Selawik Friday, February 28 and Saturday, March 1 to meet with leaders and address a regional conference. I visited the Alaska Technical Center in Kotzebue where I met with school staff and local leaders over a lunch of fresh sheefish, then it was on to Selawik, where Mayor Oran Walton, Sr. gave me a ride from the airport on his snowmachine and the people gave me a very warm welcome.

In Selawik I visited the new bulk fuel tank site, primarily funded through the Denali Commission. <> The training for locals is a success, and four of the workers recently received their introductory welding certifications. Friday evening I attended the Maniilaq Association <> annual meeting in Selawik and on Saturday morning spoke to the conference on the Murkowski/Leman Administration vision for opportunity in rural Alaska and the Denali Commission partnership. You can view the text on my website.

I also visited Mapfsigvik, known better locally as the "Spud Farm." The camp, 40 minutes upriver from Selawik by snowmachine, is being renovated for use as a wellness center where entire families will go for recovery from alcohol abuse. "Mapfsigvik" means "a place to heal, a place to get well." Finally, on my way back through Kotzebue I visited the Wind Generation Project developed by the Kotzebue Electric Association. The wind generators supplement diesel energy production and save on fuel costs.

Now that's seeing a lot in 30 hours!

THE FB(C)I STORY:

Since I held the first meeting on Faith-based and Community Initiatives (FBCI) on February 20 the response from organizations, community leaders and the public has been strong. In the last two weeks my staff and I have had discussions with meeting participants and other community leaders and have further developed ideas on how to help Alaskans. We recently sent out a synopsis of our meeting to people who were unable to attend. If you are interested in receiving this information or being included on our mailing list please contact Gwen Hall in my Anchorage office at 269-7460.

MILITARY MATTERS:

Events involving American military services and people are happening around the world, and Alaska is no exception:

ALASKA AIR GUARD UNITS DEPLOY:

On Thursday, February 27 at Kulis Air National Guard Base in Anchorage I addressed members of the 176th Wing as they prepared to deploy "overseas." Although they could not say when or where they will be going, it is likely to be a challenging, possibly dangerous assignment. I'm proud of these Alaskans who are leaving home, their families and jobs to help defend our nation and hope you will keep them in prayer. For more information see the Alaska Air National Guard website.

NORTHERN EDGE EXERCISES:

I will be observing the annual Northern Edge training exercises near Valdez on Thursday, March 13. This year we will pay special attention to the joint operation of military and civilian agencies in protecting critical infrastructure in Alaska as well as a pilot demonstration of the Alaska Land Mobile Radio (ALMR) project. For a look back at Northern Edge 2002 see here.

YOUTH MAKE A TURNAROUND:

On Friday I will speak to the graduating class of the Alaska Military Youth Academy at Fort Richardson. Most of these youth were high school dropouts who may have been headed for a troubled life. The military atmosphere and academic regimen work wonders in giving these talented Alaskans new direction. I will tell them of the importance of individual responsibility--and of the large investment their parents and the State have made in them.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

I met with British Columbia Minister of State for Intergovernmental Relations Greg Halsey Brandt, and Keith Olgilvie, Senior Advisor for International Relations this afternoon and will attend the Canada Gala, a celebration of Alaska/Canada friendship on Saturday. On Saturday and Sunday, March 15-16 I will be speaking at the Faith Christian Community's Parkside and Lakeside campuses in Anchorage on citizenship and opportunities for people of faith to invest in our neighbors.