Party: Republican
Age: 28
Occupation: Realtor, (just shutdown the business to campaign full time)
Current Employer: Self
Employment history: UAF / Northern Alaska Tour Company / Self / Remax
Previous public office: Director at the Interior Gas Utility
Previous unsuccessful runs for office: 2012 District 5 Republican Primary (48%)
Postsecondary education: BBA Finance, UAF 2009, MS Resource and Applied Economics, UAF 2013
Military service:
Spouse's Name:
Children:
Website: www.lojewskiforstatehouse.com
Why are you running?
To fix the budget by correctly long term overspending by Juneau and bring the total levels of spending down to sustainable levels.
What was the last book you read?
Economics in One Lesson
The biggest problem facing the state of Alaska is _______
Unsustainable State spending.
Describe three ways you think the state should try to grow and diversify Alaska's economy.
I do not think it is the role of the State government to grow or diversify the economy directly. The State's role should be to provide an environment where individuals and small business can freely operate to grow and diversify the economy based on market signals.
Unemployment in rural and off-the-road Alaska is a major issue. What are your ideas for growing a sustainable economy in areas of Alaska that are inaccessible by road?
Similar to the question above, it is the role of the Government to provide an environment where individuals and small business can freely operate based on market signals.
What's one idea you have for improving Alaska's schools?
Stabilizing the budget by no longer overspending will give school administrators confidence in future budgets and the ability to adequately plan. This will help our schools to better function.
The current University of Alaska budget is:
About right
The state's minimum public-school size of 10 students to receive state funding is:
About right
Describe your vision of a long-term fiscal plan for Alaska.
I envision us in the short term aligning spending with long term expected revenues. This will ensure that the state stays on solid fiscal footing over the long term and we are well protected from fluctuations in state spending as they will be somewhat levelized over time with this approach.
Do you think that the state should make reductions next year from this year's $3.86 billion agency budget?
Yes
The Legislature's line-item operating budget for each agency program run by the state is here: http://www.legfin.akleg.gov/BudgetReports/LY2016/Operating/Enacted/Stwd-AllocationSummaryUGF.pdf. If you think the state budget should be reduced, tell us which three line items you'd reduce most, and by how much. (Use specific line items from the budget)
All line items are on the table. We have a roughly $4,500 deficit per Alaskan.
What sources of revenue, if any, do you support using to balance the state budget for the next fiscal year?
The earnings from the Permanent Fund do three things, pay the Dividend, inflation proof the fund, and go into savings. The portion that pays the Dividend should not be touched. The portion that goes to savings should be redirected by simple majority vote of the legislature to the general fund on an annual basis. Using this model will, to a large effect, realize Gov. Hammond's vision of the fund that I agree with. No restructuring is needed.
What will you do differently from our current Legislature that will get a workable budget passed?
For starters I will show up to work. The person I am running against has had 17 absences from floor sessions. When compared to other interior representatives, this is a staggeringly high rate of missed work. The next worse had only 4. Next, I will bring in new ideas that I have personally been writing about in editorials / community perspectives over the last year in major papers around Alaska. Lastly, I will work with any member of the legislator on any all all positions we have in common.
Would you vote to use Permanent Fund earnings to balance the state budget?
Yes
If yes, what is the proper proportion between using fund earnings for state revenue vs. using fund earnings for dividends?
The earning that pay the Dividend should not be touched. The extra is on the table.
Taxation on oil and gas production in Alaska is:
About right
What is your position on oil tax credits?
They need to be completely reevaluated with a basic economic test, as if we where investors.
Taxation on other Alaska natural resource industries, like mining and commercial fishing, is:
About right
Taxation on individual citizens in Alaska is:
About right
What should state government do to reduce high rates of sexual assault and domestic violence in Alaska?
The state should provide an environment where victims and high risk individuals can safely receive help after a crime has taken place and receive help to prevent crime.
The number of Alaska State Troopers and Village Public Safety Officers is:
About right
If you answered less than necessary or about right to the above question, how would you pay for additions or for keeping the status quo?
They will be paid for the same way other items are, as a part of a total sustainable budget.
What is your position on abortion?
I choose life. No state dollars should go to abortion.
Do you anticipate advocating any legislation, policies or budget proposals that would change the status quo regarding abortion in Alaska? If so, what?
I will support pro life legislation.
Do you believe that humans have played a role in climate change or global warming?
Yes
If yes, what's humanity's role in causing it? If not, why is Alaska warming?
The greenhouse gas theory holds logical weight. There is not enough data to explain how significant this effect is. Climate change was happening long before human beings ever existed. To pretend we are the only influence, as your question implies, is nonsense.
What measures should the state take to respond to climate change?
There should be no Alaska policy to combat global warming.
Are there specific wildlife and fisheries management concerns that you intend to focus on as a legislator?
No, at this time my priority is fixing the budget.
Who are you voting for in the presidential election? In one sentence, why?
That is between me and the Lord.
What are you going to do about health care costs in Alaska?
I'd like to undo the unilateral Obamacare / Medicaid expansion forced on us by Gov. Walker. Additional reform may be necessary to make the system we have work better, even if undoing the expansion proves unworkable.
How do you get your health insurance and what's your monthly premium?
I pay my own medical bills as they arise.
Should the state provide additional resources to help Alaskans with substance-abuse problems? If yes, what specifically?
I'm not sure the state has the resources to do this given the current fiscal environment.
Would you vote for legislation repealing, in whole or in part, the citizens initiative that legalized marijuana sales and consumption in 2014?
No
Does the Legislature's current organization of majority/minority caucuses work? Is there another way the Legislature could organize itself?
It clearly has had its issues but there will likely be new leadership and many new members of the legislator in 2017. There is hope that this will be enough.
Should the law allow a lobbyist to buy you dinner if you are elected?
No