Girdwood is a small community of under 2,000 full-time residents within a Municipality of almost 300,000. It is too easy for the distinct needs of our community to be overwhelmed by the far larger city of Anchorage 30 miles to the west. But Girdwood has developed a local government structure that allows us a higher degree of control than any other community within the Municipality.

I am a strong supporter of Girdwood having the maximum local power that the Charter allows. I got involved in local issues when the State Troopers withdrew and we proposed a unique Girdwood-style solution that worked for Girdwood. We can do the same for our Housing challenges - starting with Proposition 7. But Prop 7 is just the next step on a longer road.

I have worked hard to understand the nuances of how government really works, and have been a tireless advocate for every aspect of Girdwood's needs at the local, state and even Federal level.

It is far easier to make an argument of "no" than to develop a practical solution to our most critical problems. And Girdwood needs solutions.

It requires the unsexy work of attending numerous meetings, hearing and distilling the voice of the community, doing the homework, listening to experts to learn what approaches work elsewhere and how they can be adapted to Girdwood's circumstances. It needs intelligence, flexibility, coalition-building, creative problem solving and a focus on results.

Local Girdwood politics strives to be non-partisan, but my personal political beliefs mesh easily with service to my neighbors:

• a belief that the power of a community comes from supporting each other and respecting diverse voices,

• that we can work together to benefit those most in need, and

• that a responsive and well-managed local government can be a force for good