The joint Kenai Soldotna Chamber luncheon heard from U.S. Senate Candidates Mark Begich, Mark Fish, and Dan Sullivan.
Although the initiative aimed at banning set netting in urban areas is a state issue, the candidates weighed-in.
Libertarian candidate Mark Fish…
Fish: “Initiative is not a good way to solve those complex issues, what we need to do is elect honest people into government that looks at the common interest of all Alaskans, and then have the professional testimonies and go through the arduous work and process of coming up with a reasonable policy.”
Incumbent Sen. Mark Begich said fisheries policy is very complex.
Sen. Begich: “It’s not as simple as an intuitive process with all kinds of things on the ballot and you usually have to deal with them in the legislative process after those pass because usually those initiatives are not very clear. But I do believe with the fishers policy there are better ways to deal with this through our process of magnuson stevens act. through the council and other process.”
And Dan Sullivan…
Sullivan: “The best way to manage for abundance which is what we all want, what all our fisherman agree on is to do it through sound science and working together. Again both the state and the federal government with regard to salmon, that’s certainly an area that crosses jurisdiction.”
That initiative to ban set netting in urban areas is set to be voted on by Alaskans in 2016. Originally it was turned down by Lt. Gov. Mead Treadwell however was upheld by an appeal.
Those candidates will face off in the November 4 general election.