Landfield takes on McGuire for caucusing with Dems

Incumbent state Sen. Lesil McGuire will be defending her Anchorage seat, the new District K, against challenger Jeff Landfield in the Aug. 28 Republican primary. The winner will face Democratic opponent Roselynn Cacy in the fall.

McGuire said she is running to retain her seat because she loves Alaska and feels it is in a critical state.

“There’s still a lot of important work to be done on behalf of my neighbors,” she said.

McGuire said this requires someone with tremendous energy and vision with institutional knowledge. She said the voters should send her back because she’s demonstrated a history of action and passion in putting Alaska first.

McGuire said Alaskans should keep her in office because she’s not a “sideline-sitter.” She said her committee memberships and legislative introductions show her dedication to her goals. She said renewable energy and geothermal energy are big priorities.

“My vision of the world is renewables and hydrocarbons together, and I think Alaska has a place for both.

Landfield said he’s running because he’s worried about the state. He said spending has tripled over the last decade while oil revenues have dropped.

“I’m just worried about the state. I feel if we don’t do something soon we’ll be facing a real fiscal crisis,” he said.

Landfield said he’s challenging McGuire because he feels she has leaned more toward the Democratic side and given the opposing party more power by joining the Bipartisan Working Group.

Both candidates support reducing oil taxes. McGuire said Alaska is losing its competitiveness and so she’s tried to reform ACES over the last several years and has tried though a number of legislative efforts.

“There are multiple ways of getting at it. Any way we do it, the government take needs to be reduced,” she said.

Landfield said work needs to be done with the oil companies to reach a fair agreement as a partnership to help make Alaska competitive.

“I think it’s a general rule the lower the taxes, the more likely somebody will invest,” he said.

McGuire said quality of life has always been the most important issue for District K. That includes a healthy economy, a good educational system, a crime-free community and good infrastructure.

Her priorities if reelected will be ACES reform and commercialization of natural gas.

Landfield said a lot of people in the district ask about education. He said jobs, investments and oil are other big issues facing the area.

He said his priority will be to help reduce spending and create an atmosphere for more investment.

McGuire said her law degree and being a lifelong Alaskan, mother and homeowner in her community all go toward making her a good legislator for her district.

Landfield said he will make a good legislator because of his economic studies and his lifelong work in the private sector rather than being a career politician or bureaucrat. He said his worldview from many travels will also go a long way.