News from Assemblyman Patrick Flynn

Everyone makes mistakes.  Indeed, if humans were on some sort of mistake quota system I’d likely be cadging ducats from friends in order to keep myself within limits.  And I’ll let someone else tell you about the “negative example” marketing plan once proffered on my behalf.  But the important thing about making mistakes is learning from them and doing better the next time.

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I recently received an e-mail with a pretty simple message – “will you ever blog again?”  The answer is yes; but I’ve been spectacularly busy and recent Assembly activity has been relatively mundane so the sense of urgency has been a little low.  Have faith, though, as budget season is approaching and with it many topics will surely come to the fore!

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Regular followers of this blog may recall I’m a big fan of Alaska’s Golden Heart City (that would be Fairbanks for you Cheechakos).  I’ve spent a lot of time in the Interior over the years (yes, mostly in the winter) and developed quite a fondness.

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Like many other Alaskans, I awoke this morning to a headline about who met the filing deadline for seeking a seat in the Alaska state legislature.  An item that did not, apparently, earn mention in local coverage was the entrance of two of my former railroad colleagues into the fray.

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I am sorry.  I’m going to write more to explain why I’m sorry, not to seek forgiveness or proclaim some semblance of innocence, but to offer perspective on how we got to this point.  None of it, however, will begin to excuse how we ended up with an election in disarray.

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As faithful readers know, this coming Tuesday (April 3) features our municipal election.  What some may not know is that, even though there are no Assembly seats at stake (“only” the mayor’s office, three school board seats and various ballot propositions are up for consideration), the Assembly will reorganize at our April 17 meeting.

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If, as it has often been said, politics is indeed Alaska’s second favorite indoor sport then redistricting is the ugly, bloody side of it where sportsmanship often goes out the window (and, for some, is perhaps a four-letter word).  Why?  Because there are few things more fundamental to the political process than determining how neighborhoods will be represented.  And as the state’s redistricting process moves forward the situation in which the municipality finds itself is, sadly, no surprise – hence our title term “snafu.”

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Well faithful readers, tomorrow (April 5) marks the conclusion of yet another campaign season.  Win or lose that’s something to celebrate (though I hope I win; I really do enjoy working for my neighbors on the Assembly).  And, since you may have heard there won’t be an “official” campaign central tomorrow evening, that makes two darn good reasons to throw a little party.  So I will, here’s the details: (more…)

Another day on the campaign trail, another surprise.  On Thursday afternoon I received a call from a reporter who has worked for two different conservative-leaning, web-based media outlets during my tenure on the Assembly.  Turns out she now works at YourAlaskaLink.com, which you likely know better as channel 13, Anchorage’s ABC affiliate.

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On Tuesday, March 15, the community councils of Fairview, Government Hill and Mountain View hosted a candidate forum for the downtown Assembly seat.  It was one of the few forums focused on that single seat, and it lasted about two hours, easily the longest of any this season.

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