Karen Parr Alaska House of Representatives District 7 Working for Balance Working for All

Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce Editorial

by Karen Parr

The Republican candidates seem to be advocating a one-party legislature, without the complication of partisan divide. This is not the Republican party I was raised in, and it is not the Alaska the framers of our Constitution had in mind.

The whole idea of a democracy is based on open discussion, with every viewpoint allowed a voice. Yes, it is messy and inefficient. But it results in decisions that most people can live with, because they helped make them.

Recent world history is full of examples of the terrible consequences when one party has complete control of the government, shutting out all others. Yet our state legislature has been sliding in that direction, with Republicans enjoying a 70% majority. This allows them to override not only vetoes from the Governor, but any protests from other legislators.

How have they used this power? To shut out all others from serious deliberations. To make all decisions behind closed doors in the party caucus. To refuse out of hand to put any but their own proposals on the table. To declare that there would be no discussion on the floor of any topics they had “killed” in caucus, or decided by an informal poll of caucus members. As it turns out, their closed process has not been so efficient either, since they have not addressed the deficit spending crisis, or the subsistence problem, or the woes of rural education, or much else of substance.

During the candidate forums that are now taking place, most Republicans have made their closing pitch “Vote for me, because I’m in the majority and will be able to have a voice.” The implication is obvious: if you are not in the majority you will not have a voice. That is both unAlaskan and unAmerican.

The cure for this abuse of power is to restore some balance in Juneau. Without an extreme majority no party can impose such strictures on the whole body. Twenty years ago we did not have this lockout. Republicans and Democrats vied every two years for the leadership, and it was pretty close. Sprinkled in too were other members like Libertarians and independents. Everyone had a voice. Party caucuses were used to strategize, and to agree in general on issues. The real debates took place on the floor of the House and the Senate, in full view of the press and the public. That is how a healthy democracy works.

Press Release

Sunday, June 2, 2002

Why I Am Running

This last state legislature was the sorriest of the recent gridlocked series of legislatures. The 70% majority enjoyed by the House Republicans allowed their extremist leaders to close out public discussion and skip most public input. They made all important decisions in secret caucus and effectively disenfranchised most Alaskans. Furthermore, they failed to address most of Alaska's pressing problems. This isn't in the public's best interests. I'd like to see a Legislature that works together, even with differences of opinion and party. We're all Alaskans - we need to work for the common good, not rely on partisan exclusion.

I decided to run for State House because, after complaining for years about good people being unwilling or unable to run, I thought I should put my money where my mouth was. I'm sure not perfect, but I believe I can well represent our area after volunteering in public service, including nearly ten years of experience on the Borough Assembly and having been a businesswoman and resident of our district for several decades.

I will have more to say as the campaign gets going on how we can bring the Legislature back to doing the job we, the citizens of Alaska, expect them to do.

Feel free to contact me for information or suggestions, or if you would like to volunteer to help on my campaign.

Karen Parr
909 John Kalinas Road
Fairbanks, Alaska 99712
(907) 488-2555 / Fax (907) 488-2555
karen@karenparr.org

Karen Parr for State House, Arlayne Knox, Treasurer, Box 71467, Fairbanks, AK 99707