ISSUE: Dave Harbour’s Responses to ANCSA Regional Association Questionnaire

Dave’s experience supporting Alaska Native business and cultural interests is substantial. As a Senate candidate, Dave believes that while his primary allegiance is to the citizens of District K, he is committed to decision making that also represents the broad best interests of all Alaskans. Therefore, his responses to these questions will be of interest to not only Alaska Natives, but also to all Alaskans.

Responses to ANCSA Regional Association Questionnaire

Dave Harbour Senate Candidate District K

General Response: instead of giving yes or no responses to complex questions, I chose to more fully respond to the issues raised. Since a vote on any particular piece of legislation can move from no to yes based on changes of a few words, my yes or no answers would be less useful to Native voters than the following responses. In 1972, I served as a consultant to the Bureau of Indian Affairs (Morris Thompson and John Hope). My assignment was to maximize worldwide enrollment of Alaska Natives for ANCSA benefits. I retained Cher Bono, Chief Dan George and Jay Silverheels to produce highly successful radio public service announcements responsible for recruiting thousands of applicants and which were distributed to broadcasters throughout the Lower 48 and via the worldwide Armed Forces Radio Network. In the mid-1970s, I sponsored Emit Peters successful Iditarod victory and created the Howard Rock Journalism Fellowship to sustain Howard’s Tundra Times endeavor. In the late 1970s I arranged for my employer (ARCO) to create an Alaska Native joint venture program which subsequently spread throughout the industry. -dh

RURAL/URBAN RELATIONSHIPS: (Questions dealt with experience in rural Alaska, the rural-urban divide, and recognition of tribal governments.)

1. Familiarity with rural Alaska. I have spent time in Seldovia, Kaktovik, Nuiksut, Barrow, Dillingham, Kodiak, Port Lions, Adak, Bethel, Ruby, Galena, Tok, Healy, Cordova, Skagway, Wrangell, Port Alsworth, and other rural areas over a 35+ year period, commercial fishing, sea wall contracting, conducting VIP tours, assisting with creation of Native joint ventures, as a Native corporation consultant and in support of Native Iditarod participation.

2. There is an obvious, rural/urban geographical divide; as to psychological or other divides, those making the claim must define the term and then we can judge the accuracy of the charge and justification for any governmental fixes, if any.

3. Re: tribal governments. I fully support provisions of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act. As to providing further settlement benefits or Native claims via recognition of varying forms of tribal sovereignty, I am willing to hear the proposals and decide based on a record.

EDUCATION: (Questions addressed educational funding for rural Alaska, state support for pre-schooling, vocational education and regional high schools.)

1. The Alaska Constitution requires state support for education. That support should provide equal opportunity for rural and urban students.

2. The state should strongly consider supporting a universal pre-school program when considering the long term financial obligations of the State government.

3. The State should strongly consider improvement of education by lengthening the school day and/or school year: adding optional programs to include vocational education, technological, cultural, outdoors, arts and music, physical education, tutoring and study hall options.

4. Regional, rural high schools would be a wonderful luxury but the sustainability of current educational facilities and programs must be assured before undertaking new financial obligations, particularly when considering that Alaska natural resource revenue is both depleting and cyclical.

FISH AND GAME/SUBSISTENCE:

1. I am inclined to support a Constitutional Amendment supporting a rural subsistence preference and would look forward to reviewing a detailed hearing record while approaching a final decision.

2. I support professional game management for sustained yield, including techniques such as predator control.

PUBLIC SAFETY/CORRECTIONS: (This category questioned candidates on support for VPSO, rehabilitation and incarceration.)

1. After education, public safety and corrections are my highest priorities. This includes adequate support for VPSO.

2. We should have rehabilitation programs within the Corrections Department and we should also review the relative unattractiveness of prison as a deterrent to committing violations in the first place.

3. Creating new facilities that bring prisoners closer to their families is a luxury for some that must be considered in light of how such funding can be sustained, particularly when considering that natural resource revenue is both depleting and cyclical.

OIL/GAS PIPELINE: (Questions dealt with support for a gas pipeline, ANWR, off-shore development)

1. I support a natural gas pipeline project.

2. I support opening of ANWR to oil and gas exploration and development.

3. I support off-shore oil and gas development both for Alaska and for the other states.

4. The Alaska Natural Gas Pipeline Act of 2004 provides extremely generous protections for Alaska, including those for training, jobs, exploration, a loan guarantee and access to gas for in-state use. Having Alaska add other requirements, or must haves, for an unnamed number of hiring halls in unnamed hub communities will add project costs and reduce the wellhead value of gas for all Alaskans. While hub hiring halls may make little economic sense, I am open to hearing specifics from advocates.

ECONOMICS: (Questions dealt with rural Alaska economic policies.)

1. Parts of Alaska are strong contributors to Alaska’s economy and parts of Alaska are net drains on the economy. Our goal should be for every area of Alaska to contribute to Alaska€™s economy and become a sustainable, local economy.

2. Rural outmigration to urban Alaska is not a solution to rural economic challenges; it is a result of economic realities.

3. Vocational training for rural residents moving to town. We already have various educational and vocational programs; if more are needed the case should be considered on its merits.

ENERGY:

1. Alternative energy for rural Alaska. It should be considered wherever feasible and sustainable and promoted primarily by private enterprise.

2. Power Cost Equalization. Sustainability of the current program should be reevaluated, with advice from the Alaska Rural Electric Cooperative.

3. Funding for rural fuel storage and distribution. Sustainability of current storage and distribution systems should be reevaluated with advice from the Alaska Rural Electric Cooperative.

VILLAGE INFRASTRUCTURE:

1. State revenue sharing should be equitable throughout Alaska.

2. Expansion of water and sanitation systems in rural Alaska should be supported in concert with sustainability efforts.

3. Global warming funding. Justification for projects will occur on a case-by-case basis on their merits.

HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES: As to a position on funding for the Office of Children’s Services, I do not know if the agency is providing adequate service, or not.