Time for a new Alaska voice in Congress

I've never been one to sit back and watch when things could be improved in our community. I never envisioned having my name on a yard sign, but I am proud of what that stands for today. I'm an independent, not beholden to any party or special interest, and I can't wait to serve Alaska as our first congresswoman.

I'm a third-generation Alaskan. I was raised in Anchorage with an Alaskan family of builders, butchers, bankers, mechanics, misfits and outlaws.

Growing up, I witnessed family members struggling with addiction and abuse. When I was nine years old, I watched my father break my mother's arm. I decided right then and there that I was going to stop the cycle of violence and dysfunction in my family.

I went south for schooling, and paid my way through college working as a server, in construction and on the slime line. After meeting my husband, we moved back to Alaska and raised four healthy children in Anchorage and Juneau. That's why I'm running for Congress — so that my kids and yours can pursue happiness right here in our state.

Alaska's families have real needs — secure jobs with livable wages, affordable health care, safety in our homes and neighborhoods, and our youngest and our elders must be taken care of. We want a representative who works for Alaskans, not for corporate donors and special interests in Washington.

I'm a different kind of candidate — an everyday Alaska mom who is not in anyone's pocket. Unlike my opponent, I'm not taking a dime from corporate PACs. My campaign has raised more than $1.4 million from individuals, and our average donation is less than $20. The people of Alaska are ready for a change. My first action in Congress, along with 106 other House candidates, will be to co-sponsor the DISCLOSE Act, which requires more transparency and accountability in politics. Together, we can clear the way for Congress to do the people's business.

I know what it takes to work for the people. Over the past five years, I led Great Alaska Schools, a public education advocacy organization that I helped grow from 40 to 4,000 Alaskans. I brought together Republicans, Democrats, independents, parents, grandparents and students to hold the line on public education funding.

Imagine what is possible when we elect new leadership that isn't looking out for what their donors want, but is looking out for what Alaskans need.

Alaska has the highest health care costs in the world per capita. We can fix this. But we must have a representative willing to fight Big Pharma and private insurers to lower drug prices and other health care costs. Unfortunately, Don Young voted against free market measures to address high drug prices, such as allowing Medicare to directly negotiate with Big Pharma or allowing pharmacies to buy drugs from Canada where they are sold at reduced prices. Why? Two months after Don Young voted against the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Act, he accepted a check from Pfizer. In fact, Young has accepted millions of dollars in campaign contributions from corporations and special interests.

There's more that we can do for Alaska when we put the people first. It's no secret that Social Security and Medicare are on the chopping block. Sen. Mitch McConnell has already announced that he and his colleagues will raid vital federal programs to pay for a tax cut plan that benefits our nation's wealthiest, and has created virtually no new jobs in Alaska. According to the Alliance for Retired Americans, Don Young has a 12 percent voting record on issues affecting Alaskan seniors, elders and working families. I'm proud to be endorsed by the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare and Social Security Works. We owe it to our seniors, elders, and today's generation of workers to stand up for Social Security and Medicare.

There was a time when Alaskans were top-of-mind for Don Young, but Washington, D.C., has unfortunately changed him. American democracy should never come with a corporate price tag. It's time to thank Don Young for his 45 years of service. I'd be honored to be a new voice — our voice — in Congress.

Alyse Galvin is an independent candidate for U.S. Congress.

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