Opinion: Don Young’s ‘clout’ is a myth

I used to believe that Don Young’s many years in Congress meant better results for our state. Surely, his decades-long career would amount to positions of power that increased his ability to get us what we need. But like many Alaskans, I’m beginning to learn the truth: that he has lost all his clout in Congress and we suffer the consequences.

Due to FBI investigations and ethics violations, Don Young has been stripped of every committee chairmanship he once possessed. He also termed out of his eligibility to get new ones, which means he will never gain any of that revoked power back. And not only is he a weak legislator, he is an absent one: Don Young has missed 4,031 votes in Congress, which is 7 times higher than the median percentage of votes missed by a Congressperson. All those absences mean he’s not showing up for us and have made him the laughing stock of Congress. Even a member of Don Young’s own Republican Party joked, “He’s not a player anymore.”

I’m voting for Alyse Galvin because she has always shown up for Alaskans and will continue to do so in Washington. Her record getting real results as an education advocate shows she will do what Don Young won’t: rise through the ranks, show up for work, and deliver for Alaska. I am excited to vote for Alyse Galvin on November 3rd, and I hope you will join me.

Felisa Wilson, Major, Us Air Force(Retired)

Source: Frontiersman