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Letter to the Editor - Appreciate Ted

Author: Patrick Kerley
Date: August 20, 2008

News Miner Letter: Appreciate Ted

To the editor:

Andy Warwick’s letter to the editor, Aug. 5, was right on. Those of us here during the 1967 flood know well that most homes in Fairbanks are dry today because of what Sen. Ted Stevens started after 1967.

The levee is only one example of Ted’s success in gaining funding to build our state. Perhaps he earned his reputation as the Senate’s earmark champion — but that reputation must be viewed in the light of our plight when we became a state.

No other state faced the catch-up crunch as we did. Alaska’s infrastructure and social service system was dire. Roads were few and runways were short. While the rest of the nation was enjoying a new interstate system, Alaska had the Al-Can and Richardson highways with a few spurs to the Yukon. Most were unpaved.

Our largest landowner was, and still is the federal government. At the time of statehood Alaska was promised 90 percent of royalties from federal lands — which Congress later reneged on. If only we could tax Uncle Sam. Sen. Stevens did the next best thing. His distinction is that he brought home the best bacon.

Alaskans can never agree on much. Generally when you get two together you get three opinions. But we should agree that Sen. Stevens has served us well and recognize that the debt Alaskans owe Mr. Stevens cannot be taken lightly — by the past, present and those who will follow. Whether you support him in the ballet box is immaterial. Right now we just need to let him know our appreciation and thanks for helping Alaska mature and that we will be here for him.

As Andy pointed out, Sen. Stevens was the right person for Alaska during the transition between territory and statehood. If we are lucky, we may get another six years out of him.

– Bob Thomas, Fairbanks

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