Running

He's going to drive the companies out of the state of Alaska. But I do think it's important that we lease state land on a reasonable basis not an election year and under panic circumstances so that we have a consistent oil and gas policy. If you are consistent about it if you're willing to make a commitment I think that's somewhat reassuring to the oil industry even if at the same time you're tough in the revenue you want for this day. All right Senator you said that there obviously would be a limit somewhere do you have any idea where that taxation limit might be and how close do you want to get to it. Sure I think that we have a sound tax structure now and I think that we don't need to make major adjustments to that in the forseeable future. I do think it will it will produce a fair share for Alaska. And the real question now are we going to properly administer the law as it is taking us basically 10 years to put on the books. Thank you Senator cross the next person who will be asked questions specifically by the reporters as the first person asked the question is Hillary. Senator could the state just beginning to work toward its development or development of its

agricultural potential. Do you see any place in Alaska for the small farmer such as disappeared outside in favor of the more expensive and more expansive large agribusiness interests. Why favorite small farmer potential use of quark has just been the deal my background. I would like to see up to the three hundred twenty acre in the push for green housing local vegetable production in the near the urban areas market distribution area. I'd like to see that rot about as larger tracts need to be acquired for alternate agricultural practices. They can either be set aside by the state for that purpose are they can be bought up as time goes on if it if it's that it's not economic to continue a smaller agricultural practice. I think we're not talking so much about production everybody thinks production land distribution for production need the whole infrastructure of development. You need the processing you need

the ability of someone to provide the processing and you need facilities to provide land and provide for farming is not it. You have to have the whole system set up you have to have the transportation system set up and you have to have the farm product right to the market place. Next question comes from Don Byron. Stay with the farming issue for a moment Senator you are a farmer yourself and I believe you said in the past that agriculture as an industry is one that must be developed and protected. But it's been reported that shopping centers going up on what used to be a piece of your farm. Is there a contradiction there. Piece of property. We're still making a family farm a piece of land that you're talking about

a few years ago that took our farming more of the family farm. But the services are equal to the farm. But the fact that you have land there in any significant property and of course the property. Well the State Department highways took a 10 acre strip through that property right along the railroad highway or it's right away. Yes.

Next question is John Greeley Thank you. Two of of anybody on this panel here you seem to have the least the most waffling stand on the Capitol move you obviously in somewhat of a bind coming from Palmer and and campaigning statewide on this on this issue. It where do you stand. You said of Mt. McKinley you're undecided but are you are you for or against the big move small move Anchorage well over where you stand and stand Patty once on the 15th of May in another time very recently in a statement on that issue originally of course like the people in the Will area. I supported the capital move I also voted for it but I'm not supportive of the whole. It's going to be more than a billion dollar bond issue forward through a bit of the billion dollar bond issue for that program and in fact I just don't think that's the priority that the state can afford. Well I mean I know it was your bond issue. You're in

favor of moving the capital there at a lower cost they're saying I'm certainly not in favor of that with the present decisions that will provide it. I've just conceptually. Well unfortunately we have the FCC has stepped in and we've been talking a long enough run here for the moment it's time now to tell the FCC just who we are to keep things legal. You are tuned into a state wide debate among the Democratic candidates for governor of Alaska coming to you direct from Anchorage. We pause now for 10 seconds. Your station identification ier. Welcome back to the last 30 minutes of the debates for the day. Among the Democratic candidates we come now to the portion of the program where the candidates have a can a chance to ask questions of each other. Here's how this portion of the brain will work just before airtime. Each of the candidates a bit of the question to me to be

asked of all their opponents aside from me and the candidates who submitted the question no one has seen it or read each question out loud. Each of the candidates will respond in turn. The person who asked the question responding last the first question was submitted by chance he crossed the question is the first person to answer it will be ed Murphy's. The question is what management plan do you propose to limit the growth of the state budget. Mr Murphy's management plan is obviously dependent upon personnel. Having business experience in operating businesses and anybody who has any common sense about bank loans knows that management is the key element in any business decision would be credit for expansion the business he got apply the same principle to state government. My management plan would be Recruit outstanding people also recognize despite the criticism that there are many fine employees right now. They're totally frustrated due to the poor management due to bureaucracy on top. You've got to run the state government like you run a business.

People should be cost conscious they should be high morale. You do that by having competent people and the only way you get competent people is recruited you go after him. I don't think that's happening today is the thing. But what good is it if you have incompetent people administer the next person to answer that question. I would like you to state the question question is what management plan do you propose to limit the growth of the state budget. Commissioner Henry instituted essentially the zero based budgeting program and that's to open it all up and start start again in each department level and I think that is a very good program and we would have had it on board by now and not in this conceptual infancy if the president had followed through properly. You know we went to program budgets. From the line item program and I think zero based budgeting as a method and a good one. If we'd

taken the key out of it by now it's going to have to begin again. Frankly I believe that men tend to make the system and the best men can manage even a rather poor system. And I would go to the best of talent to manage the state at the department level at the commissioner level and I would expect efficiencies out of them that are not apparent. The question the question is what management plan do you propose to limit the growth of the state budget. What is your answer to your question. Obviously zero based budgeting is the best method. I think that it's important that all of us understand that there is a budget in management office in the governor's office right now and the question is not. Are you going to have some exotic new apartment but are you going to tell the bat Budget and Management Office how you want the budget prepared. Are you going to use the same old method but better people. Are you going to try and get the best people and to use the best method.

Zero based budgeting was developed by Texas Instruments. It was applied successfully in several states. I used it successfully to transfer a million dollars out of a 60 million dollar budget in Senate Finance. It is proven it does work and it would have provided this significant reduction in overall state expenditures if it were used throughout state government. Thank you Mr Cross the next question came from Ed Murphy's. The question is addressed to the other candidates Jake until and chance across. What is your evaluation of the manner in which Governor Hammond has balanced the need for the state to encourage job creating development against the need to protect Alaska's environment. And what would you do differently as governor. First person respond to me Jake until well some way said if we had the development of the level we've had the last 30 days the whole state would be paved over and we can't afford this type of development program. Frankly I think that we need programs right at this time in this peak and valley. And right now we're in a

valley because of the economic loss of the destruction programs and so on. I think we need a development during this particular time into the transfer into the transportation needs of the state. Other capital expenditures that are job intensive but also help to create jobs subsequent development. I frankly again believe that we should be building harbors into the bottom fishery so that free enterprise can invest we should be building roads into some of the mineralized areas. And I think we should be building programs for agriculture. All of these things can be done. The question is What's your evaluation of the manner in which the need for the state to encourage job creating development environment. And what would you do differently as governor. I think it's difficult to tell whether the problem with this administration is its policy or its lack of implementation of the policy. I think we've had a lot of ready rhetoric. We haven't had any concrete results.

Whatever the the ultimate resolution of whether it's a lack of of a good policy or if it's a lack of implementing the policy that somebody finally decided upon the result has not been beneficial for this day. We've been adrift in terms of the environmental concern and we've been even more adrift in terms of coming to grips with the economic future of the state. We waited until the very last moment to do anything about bottom fishery. And we hopefully have not waited too late but we sure pushed pushed the point past what any reasonable person would have done in the governor's office we've had no other ghastly sales. And again we've got ourselves into this boom and bust cycle which is not healthy for Alaska. Mr murders you asked the question What is your evaluation of Governor Hammonds balance of jobs against environment one argument differently than the administration's done a very poor job at the highest unemployment in the country can you imagine that Alaska has for example in Haines air it's about 50 percent. Fairbanks area about 19.

I can't believe that we have an administration that's so oriented toward no growth that it's incredible that they didn't think of conceding and executing the highway construction plan I said conceived and not just here in that bill even during the post pipeline era I think would Alaska needs is a balanced development and true growth. We can have the best of both worlds. This administration is too far to the non-development maybe some of the other Kinzer to Ford to the development of Alaska is so big that we can have both worlds and I think the major condemnation of the ham the ministration is just that what I do I put more balance I would for example nothing wrong with mining there's nothing wrong with bottom fisheries there's nothing wrong with agriculture three years ago not just six months before the election. Thank you Mr. Murray. Final question was submitted by J.A. to the first personal answer will be a chance across the question is what is your position on the sale of state education and state mental health trust lands Mr. Croft.

That should be decided of course by then the mental health advisory board as well as the State Board of Education which passed legislation in the last session of the legislature addressing that specific question. If what you are trying to develop is a cohesive land policy I think that those boards were not set up to manage land. They were set up to advise us on how to develop a first rate educational system and to come to grips with the mental health problem. I think that is where their expertise lies not in the question of management of land. Next person responds EDWARDS The question is What's your position on the sale of state education and state mental health trust lands when you go back to the constitution which requires the state government is trustee of the lands in the Board of Regents as trustee of their lanced to get the maximum beneficial use of those lands. I think that should be done. Can you imagine in mental health lands and in for example none the Kenai Peninsula

they're sitting there totally unused. I think somebody is guilty of omission. I believe that these lands should be utilized in some manner way shape or form to produce income for the purpose for which they have been permitted to go. Still I agree that you did a wise thing in what they did. I am for doing something with that land in block development all round it should be environmentally sound balanced development of these lands so that the purpose for the land is fulfilled. Thank you Mr Murray. What's your position on the sale of state education state mental health trust. While I am opposed to the sale of state and all health and state educational Lans I think they should be held in permanent trust and they should be leased intelligently at least for long periods of time but eventually coming back to support programs. There are a few enough of these state Trust Lands available now and I'm afraid that programmes in the future may not have the support necessary if we sell them. I'm opposed to it.

Thank you Mr. It is extremely aggravating. It's frustrating to be sitting in the middle of all this not able to ask a question I'm going to step in as moderator exercise my prerogative by asking one question of the candidates myself. One of the issues that's been raised both among Democrats and Republicans in this campaign has been the pace at which roads have been built in the state over the past four years. I'd like to ask all the candidates if they would step up the pace of road building in Alaska over the next four years specifically if elected will you propose to what would you propose to expand the Alaska road system to any towns or villages that are not now connected to the rest of the state by highways. First person respond to that. According to my chart is add more days where you know the services the Department of Transportation has driven a six year plan for highway construction. You just can't answer a question like that of the top of your head there are already roads planned to be built in the years coming. The only problem with the present administration is that they have been seed the new ones during this administration. Now my position is you've got to build roads. But they've got to be intelligently done. You go to

determine what resource area for example the road is needed. You've got to determine the use I think the city of Anchorage for example is in desperate need of roads and you consider the congestion here. I don't think you should build roads all over the state just to build roads. I think it's very important that roads be built because Alaska's future is intricately tied to transportation. But they should be intelligent built there should be environmental considerations but they should be built and not just sit back and let the state wall what is happening in the last three and a half years so my answer to the question my goodness you should build roads we do it intelligently. Mr. Rogers can I ask you to be specific on that what areas what roads if and what towns if any that are outside the roads just now would you connect to it. Well first of all you have to check the six year plan. I think the Cordova highway should be completed. I'm convinced that the highway should be repaired and I'm not suggesting you specifically build a road for example this time I don't think I'd like to build a road known to people known don't even want to row. I think it's important that you intelligently evaluate what you

want to do then build the road to the area. Thank you Mr. money's Mr. Croft would you connect any cities that are not not connected. Certainly I would and in the last session of the legislature supported the exploration of constructing a road to Whittier there are substantial problems involved with that I do think we ought to explore. I think it's Secondly important that we connect many of the the airports in the rural area to the cities that are close to them with with decent roads. And the third place I think it's equally important and in many cases is even more important that we improve the existing road systems we have. And that's why it was my amendment in Senate finance that added 10 million dollars to the present bond issue to provide for resurfacing of the existing road system that we have. It's important that we keep those in as good a condition as possible. Connected with the road system one can see the program introduced the first legislation failed but the

next time the key amendments to the first bond issue for the boroughs to contribute to the road system on the basis of the priorities they set subsequently of course we put it into the reconstruction of the road from FAIR banks it's been essentially for the oil companies and straight out of the road all the way from Homer to tie in that old system. Finally I would provide for the construction of the copper highway and I would provide for local roads to eliminate the ferry service that's required to connect with existing systems. Yes that is great. Thank you once again if this is a general question to be asked. They

will respond. Well first I apologize to the candidates who have answered this question at least in part but it is something we need to get out of the way and let everybody be specific god in November we have a nine hundred sixty six million dollar capital bond issue we also have the Franck initiative how will you vote personally on those those two issues. How do you feel about the capital move itself. First person respond is Edwards first of all I fully intend to vote for the frank initiative. I intend to vote against the bond issue. I think moving the capitalist fiscal insanity. I think there's so many other needs in this state it's incredible. If we move that legislature and rotate it we will have to spend a billion dollars on the Capitol look with the pipelines cut it cut estimated that 900 million with that it end up at 8.5 billion. And incidentally I think the people of Alaska and I are becoming are going to come to their senses when they start voting on the money for the company. I know there's an initiative that's just like authorizing something now the people of Alaska the very

people who voted the initiative if they appropriate the money or the legislature does among governor I'll move that gavel tomorrow. But the people of Alaska are going to make the decision they vote the money the capital moves if they vote against it is no money. The cap was going to stay where it is and we're going to rotate the legislature. So that means you're voting yes on the Frank initiative no on the budget correct. Thank you. Next person responds chancy gruff Captain Lou of course is the law of Alaska that initially requires that the move began in 1980. I voted against that initially. There are a lot of other laws on the books that I voted against in my 10 years in the legislature. I don't plan to look through the statutes and see what I voted for and what I voted against and in books and in force those that that I voted in favor of all and force all of the laws including that one. I do hope the voters change their mind. I don't think that that moving the capital from you know to Willow is in the best interest of the state of Alaska. I said that before I'm glad for the opportunity to repeat

it tonight but I will enforce the law. If it's still on the books at the time I'm governor I plan to vote against the bond issue and against the Franken issue. All right. Final first to respond on where they stand in the capital is Jacob. Well I'm opposed to the Franck initiative and I'm opposed to the bond issue is a further question then. That's all I think you answered it. Next person to throw a question out into the air is John Greeley. John thanks. The other problem with another proposition on the November ballot of course is recycled a lot of bottle the bottle bill. How do you know what your position on that. First person responds. Vote in favor of the bottle bill. I wish that the legislature had come to grips with that this session instead of killing the bill in committee I think it deserved a vote on the floor I think that any time you kill legislation in committee you you set a bad precedent. You name

it often means that you have laws by initiative which are often are not artfully worded as we've seen in the past. I hope the the initiative will pass and the legislature in the next session will address some of the problems that they're involved with. What's the first memory you'd make to the to the initiative that if it is passed to make sure that there are cycling centers that are available so that if there are small communities that will be adversely impacted by the bottle bill that the state will do all that is possible to eliminate. Properly bottle bill would include cycling Sanders Crofts mansion but also it provides mixed provisions for the breweries and transshipment problems at this stage I would vote against the present bottle bill. However I've supported the bottle bill moving it out of committee in the past. A different bill. Where do you stand in a bottle. I think there's economic implications of that but to build it we better

start thinking about it and I was not on the rule areas. Look at the cost of doing business. I think it should be handled by the legislature. I think it was I think there should be a rule areas and a bottle bill passed by the legislature passes it could be amended. I think right now the way to handle is legislative the and I intend to vote against the ball. But you're not necessarily opposed to it. I think the concept is excellent. It's just a matter of doing it I think the legislature with the implications economic implications on the bottle bill are too serious to be have a public initiative that they vote for it will be amended. Thank you Mr. Next question comes from Hilary culture. No you've had quite a bit of legislative experience but what actual business management administrative employee relations or. Economic experience in business do you bring. If you are elected to the governor seat. First first responders Jake.

Well I think I was in virtually every management position in the legislature coming with that background. I also ran the North Star Dairy corporation for a period of time and I was a director Secretary Treasurer and acting manager matters for a co-op for a number of years. I think I come with considerable knowledge of business considerable management capability and I think that I can bring that to government with some real force. All right Mr. Murray's what management background do you bring to the government. First of all I have a degree in dust and labor relations and Cornell University and labor law. I'm the senior partner of a law firm in both Fairbanks and Anchorage where we have over 40. I've been involved in a major agriculture development involving over two million dollars and still functioning. I've been a second city manager city council city attorney and I've been in numerous other businesses have been director of a bank airline. I

feel that the background and experience I've had in government in and out and in business qualifies me for the really awesome administrative responsibilities of governing. Right. And chance across the water you're mad as well. Back when I started my own small business which was a law firm it still unfortunately is a small business even though my present partners are improving on that considerably. I have been chairman of the board of a nonprofit corporation. I am no longer chairman of the board but. I have. Had considerable. Opportunity to observe various management techniques in that corporation that I think was important. I've been president of the Senate and I've seen what it takes to bring people of wide differing backgrounds and differing ideas together. I think that the question is what management technique are you going to bring to state government. There are some similarities between government and business but there are also some considerable differences.

Thank you Mr. Croft. We've come now to about the time where it looks like we're going to be getting pretty close to the end of the program here if we don't start pretty soon or closing statements. So the order of the closing statements will be the reverse order that we started out with. Each candidate has 90 seconds to summarize what why you should vote for him will start with chancy Groff. This is my last opportunity to speak to you tonight on on public television public radio with the assistance of various private broadcasters here in the state. I know that it's not normal. And may even not be political. But I want to take this opportunity in the closing days of the campaign to thank all of the people that have worked in my campaign. It's been a tremendous pleasure seeing the state of Alaska talking to people all the way from catcha can the cots of about the future that this state holds. I also want to thank both Ed Murphy and Jake are too. I served with both of

them in the legislature. I've known them for years. I think that the Democrats Democratic Party can say that we have brought to the state of Alaska a campaign that does discuss the opportunities that we have here. We've done it by talking about the issues by meeting those issues head on. And I think that it is the type of campaign that will produce the maximum opportunity for Alaskans in the future to really realize the potential that this great state offers. Thank you Mr. Cross the next person we'll hear from is a closing statement from Edwards Alaska is really the most important state in the union. And we're at a crucial time in history. Do you realize that with the resources of this state this great state of Alaska if properly developed an environmentally sound way could be the salvation of the United States. Do you realize that forty seven billion dollars of oil is being imported in this country which is devaluing the dollar. Do you realize that the state of

Alaska has a tremendous potential but nothing's being done about it. We last isn't talking about potential for years but no actuality here we have an opportunity with the proper type of leadership to do to bring the diverse groups in Alaska together instead of having developers against conservationists instead of having se owners against central acids. Let's have a common consensus in the less the less cool back to the statehood attitude and you need a governor who can bring people together. And with my background I think I can do it. I'm asking for your support. And again in closing I want to also thank the station. I want to thank chancy Crawford who ran a very clean campaign. And Jake are too and I want to thank the listening public for staying with us for an hour and a half. The governorship of Alaska is vital and your decision is now in your hands. Thank you Mr. murders last kind of they will be hearing from tonight is Jake or tools to get to it. I want to thank the many people that have helped their

family and friends of ours universe a great deal. When I was 29 or 30 years old I ran a hundred people a year. I think I know what the renewable resource is what the people expect of government under the program and I think that I would provide integrity and leadership to running for office. Thank you Mr Tulip. That brings us to the end of tonight's debate among the three Democratic candidates for

governor of Alaska. Trust you found this 90 minutes to be both interesting and informative. Candidates and the reporters have done their part. Now it's your turn to do yours next Tuesday the polls are open from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. local time. If you're not going to be home on Election Day be sure to cast an absentee ballot ahead of time. You're going to be out of your own hometown but still within the state you can also file an absentee ballot with the state elections office right up through Election Day. For information on where to vote. Call your local check your local newspaper or rather or for any other voter information call the nearest office of the state election supervisor and I got a call in Anchorage for voter information. It's on the screen now if you're watching television 2 7 9 2 5 9 1 in Fairbanks the number to call is four five to fifty one eleven in Juneau. The number for voter information is 5 8 6 6 1 8 1. If you're unknown The question is the phone number to call is 4 4 3 5 2 8 6. If you live elsewhere in the state

you can get in voting information by dialing the operator and asking for a Zenith 40 400 or whatever you do. And one of your choices in this year's election Don't forget to cast your ballot at this point I think I would like to thank the the candidates who have been sweating under the lights also the reporters who've been. Drawing the questions all right and left for the part one of the gubernatorial debates that doesn't. Join us tomorrow night for part two of the debates with Republican candidates think Jay Hammond while you go in Jimmy to Lockhart. Until then have a good evening wherever you may be watching or listening to this program. I'm Larry Macon Scn and so far one of the debates. Good night. The preceding program has been a presentation of cake am TV you know acreage

now.