Mike Dunleavy in 2018 AK Governor's race


On Environment: Opposes the "Stand for Salmon" ballot measure

Q: Where do you stand on Ballot Measure 1, also known as "Stand for Salmon"?

A: Dunleavy said he's a "no" on Ballot Measure 1. "We have environmental protections in place," he said. "If Ballot Measure 1 passes or similar measures pass and we continue to tighten up on our ability to create projects and put people to work, I don't know where we're going to get the money. I don't know what's going to become of Alaska."

Source: Anchorage Daily News on 2018 Alaska gubernatorial race Sep 11, 2018

On Crime: Let's shut down crime instead of sweeping it under the rug

I want to grow business in the state but there's one business we have to shut down, and it's crime. We have a growing criminal enterprise here that is not just stealing cars--it's stealing cars to do other crimes, it's stealing cars for chop shops and things like that.

The domestic violence, sexual assault issue that we championed when I was lieutenant governor has been kind of swept under the rug and we still have the worst rates in the country. I've experienced that sort of thing in our family and it's something that happens in many kinds of families and we're not giving it the attention that we need to solve it, and even if that solution takes a generation, like Mothers Against Drunk Driving did or helping us understand that fetal alcohol syndrome comes if you see a pregnant woman drinking, we have to keep up the heat on that issue. There's not enough federal cooperation on crime.

Source: Anchorage Daily News on 2018 Alaska gubernatorial race Aug 16, 2018

On Drugs: Comprehensive approach including prosecution & interdiction

Public safety, I think, has got to be job No. 1 for this next administration, my administration. Even if that solution takes a generation, like Mothers Against Drunk Driving did.

Our statistics are terrible. It's affecting a lot of Alaskans. It's impacting many businesses. I don't think there's an Alaskan that's either not been impacted by crime or knows somebody that's not been impacted by crime. So we're going to have to increase our trooper numbers. Prosecuting attorneys, we have to have the right number of prosecuting attorneys. We have to have the courts opened on Fridays. We have to have a comprehensive approach to dealing with this issue, including dealing with the opioid issues, the heroin issue and making sure that we're working closely with the federal government to prosecute and interdict drugs coming into the state.

Source: Anchorage Daily News on 2018 Alaska gubernatorial race Aug 16, 2018

On Environment: Monetize timber instead of letting it burn or rot

The only way we're going to have a long-term sustainability in the state of Alaska is if we put our resources to work. For example, I was just up in Tok, Alaska, a week ago, looking at a logging operation up there.

But for the most part, we don't manage our resources well in the state of Alaska. Timber, for example. What we do now in the state of Alaska is we basically let the timber just burn or rot and fall down. We don't put it to use. We don't monetize it.

The 300,000 barrels of oil that we have recently discovered on the North Slope, we need to get that into the pipeline as soon as possible. That will lower the tariff costs for the pipeline, providing more money for the state, royalties and taxes. This will provide the revenue we need for our programs.

So at this stage of the game, with oil revenues, prices of oil at about $70 a barrel, we may not have to cut like we had to or we envisioned a few years ago when oil was at $26 a barrel.

Source: Anchorage Daily News on 2018 Alaska gubernatorial race Aug 16, 2018

On Health Care: Eliminate all health care assistance by government

The 2015 decision to expand Medicaid triggered a lawsuit from the Senate, which accused Walker of overstepping the legislative process. Then Senator Dunleavy was one legislator who was critical of Walker's decision. "I want everyone to have affordable, quality healthcare. But when one third of Alaskans are forced to rely on Medicaid, is that something we should be proud of?" Dunleavy added that if elected his focus would be on helping more find health insurance without government assistance.
Source: KTUU on 2018 Alaska gubernatorial race Aug 3, 2018

On Energy & Oil: Backs Donlin goldmine/pipeline, for huge energy opportunity

Dunleavy pledged support for the Donlin gold mine. The project also proposes a 315-mile-long gas pipeline from Cook Inlet to fuel the mine's operations and power demands. Former Senator Dunleavy says that pipeline is a huge energy opportunity for the Y-K Delta and the state. "A lot of spin-off industries will benefit from it in the Y-K Delta and Southcentral Alaska so I think it's a huge opportunity for Alaska," Dunleavy said.

Dunleavy and three other top gubernatorial candidates have pledged support for the Donlin mine, which would be the one of the biggest gold mines in the world. It will require large treatment facilities for mercury and cyanide coming from the mine's operations. People living the Y-K Delta are also worried about what will happen after the mine stops producing. The site would have to be monitored forever, once it ceases operations.

Source: U. of Alaska press release on 2018 Alaska gubernatorial race Jul 6, 2018

On Welfare & Poverty: Alaska has gone from hand-up to a handout welfare state

I hear from Alaskans who don't understand how we can be the richest state in the nation of natural resources, yet be one of two states in recession. I hear from Alaskans who were told there would be no need to impose taxes or take their PFD, yet that is what is occurring. Alaskans have watched Alaska transform from a state where one could make an incredible living into a welfare state where a handout has replaced a hand up. If we want to turn our state around, we need a new person in office.
Source: Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman on 2018 Alaska gubernatorial race May 10, 2018

On Education: Manager of cutting-edge statewide teacher mentor project

Mike Dunleavy is the Program Manager for the Alaska Statewide Mentor Project. Each year the Project connects highly trained mentors to serve the needs of over 375 teachers new to the profession. Mike oversees the partnerships between the Alaska Department of Education & Early Development, the University of Alaska statewide system, and participating school districts. "We are on the cutting edge and lead the nation in the concept of teacher mentoring nationwide."
Source: U. of Alaska press release on 2018 Alaska gubernatorial race Jan 1, 2018

On Technology: Put infrastructure funds into maintenance, not just building

Q: What is your assessment of Alaska's transportation system? What, if anything, would you change?

DUNLEAVY: More attention needs to be given to the maintenance and operations of our roads and airports and not just in the capital outlays for the construction phase of such Infrastructure.

Source: Anchorage Daily News on 2018 Alaska gubernatorial race Jul 8, 2016

On Immigration: Against relaxing immigration laws for refugees

Dunleavy, a State Senator,˙released his statements in response to the recent terrorist attacks in Paris and Beirut. He wrote,˙"Obama and others are advocating bypassing our well-established individual immigration standards to resettle individuals from a very volatile region under the category of "refugee." The U.S. government is not requiring background checks, means of support, or job skills. No state should bear the brunt of this hasty, poorly thought-out reaction to unfortunate world events."
Source: Radio Kenai on 2018 Alaska gubernatorial race Nov 17, 2015

The above quotations are from 2018 Alaska Gubernatorial race: debates and news coverage.
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Page last updated: Dec 10, 2018