Through strength and unity, we can move Alaska forward

On Tuesday, Alaskans will vote for the next governor and decide whether we move our state forward or risk going backwards. This election is about the next generation. Our kids and grandkids are counting on us to bring Alaskans together and build the best future for our state with a strong economy, safe communities, and great schools.

We have challenges to overcome, but Alaskans don't shy away from big challenges. We put on our boots, grab our tools, join our neighbors and get to work. We need that same spirit in the governor's office to put our state on a sustainable and secure path for the next generation of Alaskans.

I hear from too many Alaskans who fear the Alaska they love is slipping away. We face low school achievement, high crime and soaring unemployment rates. Families are struggling just to make ends meet, much less invest in their retirement or children's education. If we unite and put Alaska first, we can tackle these problems no matter how big they are.

Tuesday's election will set us on one of two very different paths because of the stark differences between my opponent and me when it comes to addressing our state's challenges.

I have a plan to constitutionally protect the Permanent Fund dividend, allowing it to grow with no cap, while Mike Dunleavy has voted nine times against your PFD and has already admitted that his plan may not be sustainable in the long-term.

I have laid out a comprehensive crime plan to make our rural and urban communities safer and earned the endorsement of the Anchorage Police Department Employees Association because of my record fighting crime. Mike Dunleavy, however, has said he is, "too busy campaigning" to tell Alaskans how he would make Alaska families safer. As governor, I will hire more prosecutors to ensure those who break the law actually go to jail just like I did as mayor of Anchorage. As a legislator in Juneau, Mike Dunleavy voted to cut state troopers, prosecutors, village police and corrections officers without regard for the consequences those actions would have in our communities.

I support constitutionally guaranteeing long-term education funding to provide a stronger education for all Alaska students, while Mike Dunleavy wants to drain public school funding and send kids to private school. He even wants to close rural schools and send kids to boarding schools, breaking apart families and communities.

When it comes to determining the best path forward for Alaska's future, voters deserve more than rhetoric. That is why Debra Call and I have campaigned all across this state talking about our positive vision and detailed, comprehensive plans that will help build a better future for all Alaskans. If you still have questions, please visit my website.

I am running for governor because I don't sit on the sidelines when there are problems to be solved. The Alaska I was lucky enough to grow up in has always been a place of endless opportunity and that is the Alaska I want to leave behind for the next generation. If Alaskans come together in this election and vote for a positive vision, I know our best days will be ahead of us. I hope you will join Debra Call and me in working together to move Alaska forward. We can't afford to go backwards. We would appreciate your vote on Nov. 6.

Mark Begich is the Democratic candidate for Alaska governor. He lives in Anchorage.

The views expressed here are the writer's and are not necessarily endorsed by the Anchorage Daily News, which welcomes a broad range of viewpoints. To submit a piece for consideration, email commentary(at)adn.com. Send submissions shorter than 200 words to letters@adn.com or click here to submit via any web browser. Read our full guidelines for letters and commentaries here.