The Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center played host to U.S. Congressional candidates Republican Nick Begich III and Democrat Mary Peltola. It was a candidate forum where they contested to get support and votes through discussing issues Alaskans face in hopes of being elected representative to fill out the remainder of the late U.S. Rep. Don Young’s seat after his passing in March. The Chamber of Commerce did say that Sarah Palin was invited to partake in said event with the other two candidates but did not show.
The candidates discussed a wide range of issues from inflation, housing shortages, the 2nd Amendment, illegal immigration, oil and gas leasing, and the AK LNG project. The candidates also discussed their priorities for Alaska and the United States if elected.
Peltola said she wants to see the Port of Alaska funded:
“I really think that that’s a big part of our inflation issue, but as Alaskans, we are very, very much at the mercy of ports. I think that we’ve got to develop the Port of Nome and work on arctic expansion and military security. We’ve got very formidable enemies with Russia and Iran talking with each other. China is a formidable enemy. I’d like to look at military spending in Alaska and arctic expansion. I’m also very pro choice and I would like to see that we codify safe and legal abortions through the legislative process.”
Begich said he wants to open up the state of Alaska:
“I don’t think you can represent the state if you’re not pro resource development and, again, very much pro resource development, whether that be traditional sources of energy or the minerals necessary for this so called new green economy, whether that be sustainable fisheries, whether that be timber or tourism. Secondly, I think that we’ve addressed already, inflation is a huge issue and it really, in this particular case, has been driven by profligate spending and a loose monetary and fiscal policy. I think lastly, making sure that we have the ability to speak with one another. I think the framers knew the importance of the First Amendment and making sure that big tech is not putting their foot on the scale for one side of the aisle or the other is really important.”
The moderator of the candidate forum was KSRM’s Merrill Sikorski, who started the joint chamber luncheon with an explanation of Ranked Choice Voting, as Palin, Peltola, and Begich all will be on the ballot for the Special General Election, which is the same day as the Regular Primary, which is on August 16.
Click player below to listen to entire candidate forum: