The Anchorage Daily News asked candidates for Anchorage mayor to answer a series of issue questions. Read all of them here.
ALBERT SWANK | Occupation: Professional P.E. engineer, civil, structural, mechanical. | Age: 70
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1. Why are you running for mayor?
To correct the negative economic and other issues created by the current and prior Mayors, administrations, assemblies starting with Mr. Begich. These involve the Port of Anchorage, software system transition, utilities, roads & maintenance, sole source contracts, negative economics, stalled private development, Covid 19 business shutdowns, over-expansion of city government. I will open all businesses, stimulate development, business growth in the city and restore improve the city and citizens economics with growth rather than historical destruction. I will eliminate close door meetings, sealed legal settlements create total transparency. These Mayors, Administrations and Assemblies have served their interests and gains at the expense of the citizens of this city which must end. The Mayors, Administrations and Assemblies are employed and serve at the pleasure of the citizens of this city which is lost and must be restored.
2. What in your background or experience sets you apart from the other candidates and makes you suited to be an effective mayor of Anchorage?
Born 1950 Anchorage, Professional P.E. engineer. Performed planning, financing, development, design, project management and construction of approximately $18 billion of projects. These being in Alaska, US states, Canada and other Countries. Projects: Ports, Dams, Airports, Roads, Bridges, Utilities, Buildings and others. Managed staffs to 2,300, 54 years of business experience with my current Engineering and Scientific business started in 1980.
I have worked for the City of Anchorage, Greater Anchorage Area Borough, Municipality of Anchorage (MOA) and the State of Alaska. I have performed extensive financing of projects, bond sales, contracts/procurement, accounting, taxation, legal actions, expert in contracts and claims litigation. I Have historically work with every department in the City of Anchorage, Greater Anchorage Area Borough, MOA and State of Alaska. I thus understand all workings of the MOA and the State.
3. What’s the biggest challenge facing city government and how would you address it?
Correcting the historical actions of the current and prior Mayors that separated the governing body from the people of Anchorage. As Mayor I will sit with the people of Anchorage in assembly chambers and meetings and will until such changes. This being when Assembly members become more balanced politically and properly serve all people of Anchorage. Anchorage must be able to correct itself economically and in other areas. The Mayor and Assembly must stop dividing the people of Anchorage for their gain. If anyone thinks the Assembly or Mayor are not political positions they are wrong. The current and prior mayor are politically aligned with the majority of the assembly and thus pass anything they choose based upon mutual negotiations. The Mayor has the right to veto assembly actions but that would be hopeless as a re-vote would still pass by the assembly. It would be nice to see a Mayor veto as needed to expose such actions.
4. Describe how your administration would approach the coronavirus pandemic.
Open all businesses and make masks optional. Inform the public that corrective measures may be required if an expansion of the virus or variant occurred and was backed by proven scientific evidence not opinion. I would require 100% open reporting by hospitals in the City with regards to existing bed capacity and reserves that existed. I would require all death certificates prepared to list the primary and secondary causes of death. A person who tests positive with covid but has historical medical issues. Then what is the actual primary cause of death, Covid or historical medical issues. We have always had deaths daily and every flu season in Anchorage as well. Nothing within city government will stop death in Anchorage. Excessive actions by the city government however can destroy the economics and cities can die. We must allow the people of Anchorage to make their own decisions about this issue which is granted by our State constitution.
5. What’s your assessment of how Anchorage’s city government has responded to the pandemic over the past year? What, if anything, would you have done differently? Be specific.
Overreaching legally and controlling of the people of Anchorage without the properly-based scientific medical factors. Not properly disbursing federal COVID-19 funds to the people and businesses of this city. Utilizing a portion of federal COVID-19 funds received inappropriately.
6. What role should city government play in repairing economic damage to individuals, businesses and community organizations from the pandemic?
The city should do all that is legally correct to assist, correct and repair damage done. They also have a similar legal responsibility to the people to ensure that the city survives and regrows to economic stability. They can’t increase taxes, fees or other income sources that would hinder this. They have to currently find all ways to reduce costs and those imposed upon the people to ensure such to the best of their ability. They should put on hold/delay all capital expenses until the city has recovered adequately for positive growth.
7. Downtown Anchorage has been hit especially hard by impacts from the pandemic, with tourism, gatherings and events greatly reduced and many businesses and organizations struggling as a result. Another difficult summer with greatly reduced tourism appears likely. What’s your vision for downtown, and what specifically are your short-term and long-term plans for repairing damage from the past year?
This has been answered in No. 6 above.
8. Would you make changes to the Anchorage Police Department and policing policies? Why? Please describe in detail.
I would evaluate all departments of the Municipality of Anchorage to see what changes, if any, are necessary in these times ahead of us. I would not increase the number of police officers. I would enforce all theft and other laws that exist by the police with regards to actions by the homeless or others. The people of Anchorage are entitled to their property rights as well as others.
9. Is the Anchorage Police Department adequately staffed?
This has been answered in No. 8 above.
10. Do you support the bond issue on this spring’s municipal ballot that would fund public-safety technology upgrades, including body-worn and in-vehicle cameras for police officers? Explain.
No.
11. Describe, with specifics, how you would expand and diversify Anchorage’s economy.
The downtown and other areas have historically been hindered in new development or re-development of both commercial and residential units. The existing zoning unit densities have not been increased in over 100 years for the downtown area, and height restrictions have not been increased as well. The Title 21, Municipality of Anchorage planning, zoning and building permits process and costs are not meeting the needs of this city for proper growth. I have new industries that could be based and expanded in the city as well that I would assist with property and business tax delays as well as other economic advantages.
12. What’s your vision for Anchorage’s economy in the future?
I was again born and raised in Anchorage, my family started in the late 1800′s in Juneau and then moved to Fairbanks and finally Anchorage in 1930. I had three Uncles who were all pioneer multiple business developers and owners in Anchorage. I have continued this as well during my life, I want Anchorage to become vibrant economically. I want people to want to move to the City from the lower 48, I want the city to meet the needs of the people and to also become a more beautiful City.
One of the most beautiful cities that I have performed projects in is Vancouver BC, Canada. I would love to see such beauty in the City and the growth and expansion of the population.
The economy of the city can recover but not with mayors and Assemblies that are self-serving and dividing the people and lacked the necessary knowledge and experience required.
13. Is taxation in Anchorage too high/about right/too low? Explain.
To high, other cities of this size in the U.S. and in similar climates are as low as 50% of this cost base, and many around 75%.
14. Do you have ideas for alternative sources of city revenue? Explain.
First, as I have explained previously, the costs of this city government must be reduced. I have explained some of what can enable the city to recover economically, and then for the city to grow with regards to an economic base that can support the government body. I will not hinder the economics of this city to achieve alternative sources of city revenue. Similar actions have been done historically way too long to support and expand the city government by one of the prior mayors and Assemblies.
15. Are there city programs or services you would cut? Explain.
If necessary, economically I would. I would review all city income, expenses, programs, services, budgets and hold meetings with all departments and others prior to making such decisions. This would be a methodical analysis covering all areas and economics involved.
16. Are there city programs or services you would expand? Explain.
If necessary and economically viable, I would.
17. What’s your view of current Anchorage land-use plans? Would you push for changes?
Disaster, and yes, I would push for changes.
18. Homelessness remains a persistent, significant problem in Anchorage. What specifically would you do differently from previous administrations?
The current range of homelessness varies from 1100 to 2500 on a day most recently. Historically we have had around 1000 to 1200 with 40% to 75% of these being Alaska Natives. I was born in 1950 in downtown Anchorage and still live downtown. All of my life this group of Alaska Natives have existed in Anchorage initially suffering from Alcoholism and then later in my life drugs were added and in the last 5 years drug issues have increased. The other primary groups are the mentally ill, some that choose such a life style and the least a group that has suffered financial and/or emotional distress. A section of these Alaska Natives are responsible for crimes as well in their villages. The Alaska Native corporations need to increase their responsibilities financially and in programs and other areas, this should not fall all onto the people of this city.
19. Name a program dealing with homelessness in Anchorage that you believe is working.
The Clithroe program in the area of Anchorage International Airport and the Native corporation program located on the grounds of the Alaska Native Hospital complex.
20. Please discuss your commitment to transparency and openness in Anchorage municipal government. Do you have suggestions for improving either?
Total transparency and openness will be required in all of the City government with no exception. I will also not allow sealed legal settlements as well. I have many changes that have been formulated, but will not be unless I am elected.
21. What’s your assessment of Anchorage’s transportation infrastructure? Do you have a plan to improve it? How?
As a civil engineer who has designed extensive quantities of road systems within the MOA, yes, I have desires and plans for such. These will also have to be coordinated with the state of Alaska DOT to agree with long-range state planning as well.
22. Are there specific transportation projects you would initiate in the municipality if elected? Explain.
I will consider such, but only if funding can be achieved without additional current economic harm to the city.
23. The past year has been marked by increasing civic discord in Anchorage. What would you do to reduce frustration, distrust and anger that increasingly has characterized civic conversation?
Total transparency and openness to the public is mandatory. Elimination of all closed-door Assembly meetings and Municipality of Anchorage legally sealed settlements and other items form public view. The MOA is operated and exists for service to the people of Anchorage and is answerable to them. The MOA must honor all rights granted to the people of Anchorage by our great country and protect these with proper logic, analysis and legal responsibility. If differences still exist, then as a democracy, the people will have the final decision based upon public involvement, input and special voting if required. The public is entitled to overrule the legal actions of the Assembly and mayor if needed, by means of a special vote if they desire, and the MOA charter needs to be changed and revised if required.
24. What other important issue would you like to discuss?
Nothing currently, but lots later if successful.