Kawasaki-JuneauNote

Elections have finally ended (woohoo!) and though many results are still being tabulated, it is time to breathe a sigh of relief and recommit ourselves to the real hard work – delivering results for the over 730,000 people who call Alaska home.

With fall in full swing, we are all working very hard to prepare for the coming winter. If you ever need any assistance with issues you are dealing with around Fairbanks and the Interior, as always I urge you to call my office and I will be more than happy to assist you in any way we can

Fall is in the air, bringing with it many events to learn, grow from and celebrate. I hope you had a wonderful summer, and that it was as busy and enjoyable as mine. As we head forward to the coming winter, it is important for us to take a moment to remind ourselves of what we need to accomplish to keep our community safe and our spirits high. In this issue, I will discuss traffic safety, the start of the school year, the Alaska Defense Forum and much more!

Summer is coming to an end and the new school year is right around the corner! A new school year means new notebooks, school activities resuming, learning, growth and a fresh start. Whether you have a child that is in elementary, middle or high school, back to school season can be exciting, yet turbulent. In this edition, I’ll share some important information on what’s going on around the community as our kids head back to school.

It is the middle of the summer and it has been an eventful season! In the past week, an attempt was made on the life of former President Trump while he spoke at a rally in Pennsylvania. I am relieved that the former President is unharmed. There is no room for violence for a thriving democracy to survive. The attack is a significant indicator that we, as a country and as Americans, must work to unite in times of political unrest and uncertainty and remember the principles on which our great country was founded. In my role within the Senate, I strive to embrace these principles as a member of the bipartisan Senate Majority while working to make Fairbanks and Alaska a great place to live, work, raise a family and retire.

It’s the middle of the summer, and, unfortunately, it is getting smokier by the minute. This is due to the numerous wildfires throughout the Interior. The McDonald fire, which is located south of the Tanana River and west of North Pole and Salcha, has grown to over 130,000 acres.

It is about a month after the session ended and summer is in full swing! Sweltering temperatures, sunshine and endless daylight has made Fairbanks the perfect backdrop for picnics, floating the Chena, fishing, bike riding, hiking—the list continues.

After being back for a few weeks since the end of session, I have already been to multiple events in the community and was able to chat with Fairbanksans, visit newly renovated facilities, eat with friends at barbeques and honor soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice in defending our country. I also recently submitted my paperwork to officially run for a third term in the Alaska State Senate.

The second session of the Thirty-Third Legislature ended just over a week ago, and it is now officially interim. I’ve moved back to Fairbanks and am nearly settled back into my office, which is in the Global Credit Union Building by Home Depot.

The legislative session is in the final days and it has been hectic although the focus is now only on a few pieces of legislation that are in their final bit of polishing.