Berta Gardner, Democrat
State Senate, District I
Why are you running for office?
Initially I ran for office out of a sense of duty. I was raised to give back to my community and believe that democracy can only be healthy when citizens are engaged, even to the extent of actually running for office. I found that I love this job and the opportunity it provides to learn about this state and my own community, with all its values, needs, hopes. I appreciate the opportunity to participate in solving problems of today and in planning for the future.
The biggest problem facing the state of Alaska is
Fiscal policy: We live year-to-year, relying almost exclusively on oil and gas income. Although still in the enviable position of having vast cash reserves & immense value of untapped resources, we cannot continue spending almost all of today's wealth today without looking down the road. The solution is a combination of three elements: less spending, new revenue (income tax? sales tax?) & wise investment of current assets.
Describe three ways in which the state should try to grow and diversify Alaska's economy
Demand "value added" for existing resources. We export raw materials not finished products. Provide and use cheap energy and an educated population to lure petrochemical industries, pharmaceuticals, etc.
Highly educated population is a valuable work force, a cadre of inventors and innovators, and a core of successful entrepreneurs.
Reduce healthcare costs. Easy step is Medicaid expansion, letting the feds pay 90% of costs for expanded access to health insurance for uninsured Alaskans.
What amount of state spending do you believe is sustainable? If cuts need to be made, where should most of the money come from, the operations budget or the capital budget?
I don't know what the exact level should be but clearly cuts will have to be made in both operating and capital. Capital cuts are relatively easy to make, operating cuts more difficult. With falling revenue but growing demand and cost of services, we can drawn down our reserves for a while but that will only delay the hard choices, and result in bigger cuts, higher new taxes and/or spending of permanent fund.
What additional steps can the state take to promote construction of a natural gas pipeline from the North Slope?
Stop spending money on competing projects like Susitna Dam and the small gas pipeline (AGDC). We cannot afford to continue with all the options, and the large export gas pipeline is the only thing that brings affordable gas to Alaskan communities while providing a hope of revenue to the state. In any deal, we need to be a full partner, not a junior partner, and we must retain sovereign power.
The voters have chosen Senate Bill 21 or the More Alaska Production Act to generate most of the state's tax revenues. How will you determine whether this tax structure is effective? Do you think any changes should be made to the law in the upcoming legislative session?
SB21 was marketed to Alaskans as a way to increase oil production of oil and create jobs. Since failure of the repeal Exxon said the decline in oil production will continue and British Petroleum announced the layoff of 475 employees, of whom 200 might be re-hired. How is it working for us now? In the SB21 debate legislators asked repeatedly for a measure of success. We got no definitive answer, nor solid commitments to new exploration or new development.
What additional steps can the state take to promote construction of a natural gas pipeline from the North Slope?
That time has come.
The last choice is reducing dividends. Oil income comes to the state mostly from severance taxes with smaller amounts from property and income tax, as well as royalty which is 12 1/2%. Only 1/4 of the Royalty goes to the Permanent Fund and of that little piece of our vast wealth, the earnings are used to inflation-proof the fund, pay the costs of running it, and lastly to spin off dividends. The corpus of the fund is for generations to come.
Should the state subsidy program for films and reality television programs continue? Explain.
I would want to look at the numbers. What is the direct value to the state? What about indirect value? What are the costs?
Taxation on oil and gas production in Alaska is ___ (Generally higher than it should be, About right; Generally lower than it should be, other):
Generally lower than it should be
Taxation on other industries in Alaska is ___ (Generally higher than it should be, About right; Generally lower than it should be, other):
Don't know
Taxation on individual citizens in Alaska is ___ (Generally higher than it should be, About right; Generally lower than it should be, other):
Generally lower than it should be
What are your specific plans to address the serious problems of leadership, morale and accountability within the Alaska National Guard?
Thorough house-cleaning in the sunshine. Release of full investigative report. Hire an independent investigator. Fire or demote anyone who participated in or failed to report problems. Set high standards for behavior, responsiveness, and corrections. Require illegal activities to be investigated and processed through civilian law enforcement.\
What are Alaska's three biggest education challenges? What is your plan to address each of them?
Preparation: Too many children lack basic skills when starting Kindergarten and without preparation they never catch up, and then they give up. Quality pre-k should be available to all identified as needing assistance.
Third graders should be able to "read for information". This should be inviolable goal of every school building and family.
Funding: without providing resources needed to achieve goals, we are just talking. Funding must be adequate to the need, consistent and reliable.
What are your suggestions to increase accountability of public schools?
There is no government activity held more accountable than public schools. By both state and federal law, students are subjected to multiple days of testing several times yearly. Test results are analyzed, reported, shared with district and state, and individually with families. Schools and teachers are both graded on student achievement. Attendance, graduation and dropout rates are measured and reported, and district budgeting is an open process with the public invited to participate.
Would you support a constitutional amendment that would allow public funds to be spent on private or religious K-12 education? If such an amendment were to pass, would you then support voucher or some similar grant to parents of state funds that they could spend on private or religious education for their children?
Absolutely not. I believe that state education funds should be spent on public education. I do not support vouchers for state funds to be spent on private education, religious or secular. I do support a parent's right to make education decisions for their children and to home school or send children to private schools....at their own expense.
What are your plans for improving the quality of education offered through the University of Alaska system?
I will listen to and evaluate the testimony of university experts, faculty and students, and give great credibility to university requests and goals.
Do you support or oppose expanding Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act? Explain.
Yes, I absolutely support the medicaid expansion, under which as many of 42,000 uninsured Alaskans can get medical insurance with a 90% federal match. Not only does this improve health and healthcare access, but it reduces costs for the rest of us (who will no longer have to cover uncompensated care) and is an employment generator.
Are you confident that the current level of state environmental regulation and oversight of offshore oil and gas drilling and shipping is adequate to prevent a major spill in Alaska? If not, where are we deficient and what will you propose to achieve adequate protection?
I do not know enough detail to answer this definitively. I do know that it is our responsibility to set high standards and to enforcement them, with clear guidance, regular inspection and swift consequences for failures. No matter how strong our intentions and efforts to avoid accidents, we have to anticipate accidents and spills, so must be ready with competent response.
What is your assessment of Alaska's transportation system? What, if anything, would you change?
We are still too small a population to build and maintain our own roads and infrastructure without significant federal assistance. At this point, we have a backlog of maintenance which should be addressed before building new roads we cannot afford. I believe the ferry system is not only iconic but a valuable and cost effective transportation system for southeast Alaska.
The Legislature has approved the use of state funds for four mega-projects: the Knik Arm Crossing, the Susitna-Watana dam and two gas line projects. Can the state afford all four, or should one or more be dropped? If so, which?
Given our current fiscal situation we cannot afford to waffle around with multiple and competing projects. I think KABATA should have a stake in its heart as the data they use is unrealistic and unreliable and we cannot afford it. The small gasline is not cost effective for our own use. I would put Susitna back on the shelf, and put all our effort into a big gasline for export, underwriting costs for gas to Alaskans.
State your position on abortion. When should it be allowed, and when should government pay for it? Do you anticipate pushing any legislation, policies or budget proposals that would change the status quo in Alaska?
I think abortion is a private decision and should be available until the point of viability and beyond when medically necessary. I anticipate continuing to fight against efforts to make it more difficult for women to make private decisions with health care providers, and with their families if they wish to do so. Government should pay for abortion when they pay for other medical procedures.
When is it appropriate to appoint a non-Alaskan to a state board or commission?
The only time it is appropriate to appoint a non-Alaska to a state board or commission is the rare occasion when we are unable to find a highly qualified and willing Alaskan to fill the position.
Are you satisfied with the process by which judges are selected and appointed in Alaska? Explain.
I think our current process of using an independent judicial council, consisting of both lawyers and public members, to vet potential judges and to make recommendations has worked very well for us. I do not support efforts to politicize it by adding more public members appointed by a partisan governor.
The number of Alaska State Troopers and Village Public Safety Officers is ____ (More than necessary, about right, less than necessary):
Less than necessary
If you answered more or less, what specific steps would you take to achieve the right level?
Part of our problem for both Troopers and VPSOs is a state retirement system which gives them no security. I believe we should institute a new hybrid retirement system, calculated to not increase the unfunded liability, but allowing employees to choose between a defined benefit and a defined contribution plan, even if the benefit plan offers less than previous plans.
Bio
Age: 60
Occupation: State Senator
Current employer: State of Alaska
Employment history:
2012-Present: State Senator District H, Midtown Anchorage
2005-2013: State Representative District 24, Midtown Anchorage
2000-2012: Bookkeeper & Office Manager, Brown Bear Software
1996-2000: Court Appointed Special Advocate (contractor)
1998-1999 Bookkeeper & Office Manager, Bosco's & Mad Al Distributors
1992-1996: Bookkeeper & Office Manager, Bosco's & Mad Al Distributors
Previous public offices held:
President, Rogers Park Elementary School, PTA
Co-President, Rogers Park Community Council
President, Wendler Middle School PTO
Co-President, East High School PTO
Board Member, Romig Middle School PTSO
Board Member, Tudor Area Community Council
Previous unsuccessful runs for office:
2004 Alaska State House
2006 Alaska State House
2008 Alaska State House
2010 Alaska State House
2012 Alaska State Senate
Postsecondary education: 1978 BA Psychology, University of California, Riverside
Military service: N/A
Spouse's name: Michael Gardner
Children: Cassandra, 1982; Jared, 1983; Dillon, 1985
Website: bertagardner.com