Albert Swank Jr. - Downtown

Name: Albert Swank Jr., P.E.

Occupation: Engineer

Website: albertswank.com

Last book you read: In the Matter of J Robert Oppenheimer transcript of hearing before personnel security board, Washington DC 4/12/54 to 5/6/54

Favorite movie: "The Aviator" (Howard Hughes)

I am deeply concerned about the extreme rise in the city budget, the out of control (need, cost, schedule) port of anchorage expansion project, as well as preserving all the rights of all people and expanding the education opportunities of our children

City government should provide only basic services while minimizing involvements in our businesses and personal lives, without immunity for their actions or self interests and with total answerability to the people.

What letter grade would you give the current assembly, and why?:

A to F = D

The existing assembly and others prior have had too great an interest in their individual desires and not those of the City. The current assembly has not been fiscally responsible for the best interests of the city or community. When confronted about financial decisions they've made, they have back peddled claiming they did not have the "expertise or experience" in accounting, legal, and other areas with regards to the passing of the labor contracts and other issues. Assembly members need to have  the required experience and expertise to make decisions and be accountable for those decisions.

The port project has been chaired by my incumbent with little oversight of the massive cost and schedule overruns. The incumbent should have been demanding appropriate actions, stoppages if necessary, reporting to the community and assembly of any issues. He also should have been performing the appropriate reviews for economic viability and impacts to all of the people of Alaska and the city. Title 21 is a disaster to the continued growth and economic development of our community as well as removing many rights of the people. 

What letter grade would you give Mayor Sullivan's administration, and why?:

A to F = B

The mayor has assumed a very "out of control city" with regards to budgetary issues and many others, he has responded in a responsible manner for the best interests of the public with the exception of the port project.

What are your thoughts on the 2008 union contracts approved by the Assembly? Is there a link to those contracts and the city's current fiscal situation?:

I attended the assembly hearings that dealt with these contracts as well as the final meeting when the assembly passed the contracts. I listened to mayor Begich / Senator Begich and was disgusted with all the actions that took place. Mr. Begich stated and did what he did in support of these contracts to obtain at least 2700 votes from the city employees as well as their spouses and others. Simply stated I would never have  voted for the contracts, would not have been concerned over hundreds of city employees testifying in favor of the contracts and the possible negative impact to my own campaign. In summary the assembly members and Mr. Begich were promoting their own self- interests and not that of the City the other 95,000 tax payers or the 260,000 people of the municipality.

What are your thoughts on the budget reductions proposed by Mayor Sullivan over the past two years? Are they too much? Not deep enough? A right amount?:

They could be even greater with regards to the union contracts and demanding greater reviews and cuts as appropriate.

What city services would you like to see reinstated, and how would you suggest they are paid for?: None

Are property taxes too high? What consideration should be given to alternative taxes like the tobacco tax, or a sales tax?: