Mary Peltola Democratic candidate for U.S. Congress “Alaska needs minority communities to thrive and grow” by CARLOS MATías
Even her Republican political rivals remark on Democrat Mary Peltola’s great kindness. She is now running for U.S. Congress forAlaska and Sol de Medianoche has interviewed her.
Mary Sattler Peltola was a member of the Alaska House of Representatives from 1999 to 2009. After representing the 39th district from 1999 to 2003, she represented the 38th district for the remainder of her term. She is now the Democratic candidate for U.S. Congress.
What has prompted you to run for Congress for Alaska? Alaska needs diverse, experienced leadership. I spent 10 years in the state legislature bringing people together to find reasonable solutions. Politicians are too busy fighting with each other to benefit themselves. We need more leaders that understand the needs of the people and know how to compromise in order to improve the lives of regular folks.
What can you contribute to the benefit of Alaska if elected? Cite the main problems of Alaska and the solutions you propose. Inflation is a huge issue for Alaska families. A quick passage of a bipartisan infrastructure bill will create high paying jobs in Alaska. This will help curb inflation and boost our economy. It will bring back good paying jobs that have gone to out of state workers. We also need to increase the minimum wage and index it to the cost of living. As a mother of seven I also understand the need for affordable childcare.
What are the most important points of your political program? I’m pro-jobs, pro-fish, pro-family, and pro-women’s rights.
What do you want to say to Alaskans to encourage them to vote for you? I have 20 years of service experience from the local to the legislative level. I’m running against two millionaires, but like many Alaskans I know what it’s like to struggle to pay the bills and put food on the table. I have a history of bringing diverse groups of people together to solve problems. What will you do to achieve equal rights and equity for Hispanic, African American, Asian, and Alaska Natives? I have seen my children being treated differently based on the color of their skin. I know that there is inequality in our healthcare and our education system. I will fight to bring affordable and accessible healthcare to all Alaskan communities. Improving our public education from K-12 and beyond is a top priority for me. Alaska needs its minority communities to thrive and grow without the need to leave the state for better economic and education opportunities.
