Galvin rally makes noise in Palmer

Tim Rockey- September 26

PALMER — Independent candidate for United States House of Representatives Alyse Galvin stood on protected farmland in front of dozens of cars for a drive-in rally in Palmer on Saturday.

Galvin is running as an independent against Don Young for the second straight election and already received more total votes in the primary election on Aug. 18 than Young, who has spent 47 years as Alaska’s lone representative in the U.S. House.

“If we want lasting change we must change the leadership behind the doors to better reflect what we value,” Galvin told the crowd of cars. “If you are ready for a new independent voice, a nonpartisan speaking for all Alaskans, please honk your horn.”

More than two dozen cars and more than 60 people gathered on the recently cut hayfields at Mountain Field Farm on Scott Road in Palmer. Galvin hopes the picturesque backdrop of the yellow leaves of fall indicates a changing of seasons in Alaskan representation in Washington D.C. In 2018, Galvin got the closest of any candidate who had run against Young, losing by 18,580 votes. In the August primary election, both Galvin and Young won their primaries, but Galvin received more votes than Young despite a greater number of ballots cast in the Republican primary.

“I don’t think he’s here much and I think it helps that we bring a fresh voice there that’s lived here recently, gets it, ready to serve and get people started on the small businesses that mean so much to Alaskans,” said Galvin. “He’s no longer ever able to be chairperson of any committee. He’s also in the minority so that gives him a very small voice. I’m different. I’m able to get in there, work with all people. I’m nonpartisan and I will also be able to get into a position of chair very soon that’s much different and that’s what Alaska needs. We cannot afford another two years of nobody showing up, we just can’t.”

Galvin detailed to a crowd of supporters how she plans to change Alaska’s representation in Washington if elected. With a long career as an educator among a laundry list of former professions, Galvin values the teachers who support Alaskan students and hopes that greater resources can be devoted to career and rural education in particular.

“The best thing I can do for education, believe it or not is fixing health care. If we get health care costs under control which is the highest cost and the most unpredictable cost for education then we would be really putting freeing up more money for it to go into the retirement and into their wages right now. That’s really the truth and so that sort of thing gets solved on the federal level,” said Galvin. “We’re great at farming, we’re great at fishing, we do a lot of things but we also need to have the infrastructure and supports to get us all the way there and particularly we need to have an education so that we’ve got the training. Whether it’s vocational training or even internships, just ways to get our kids. You know 70 percent of our kids are not going to be going on to a fancy four year college they need skills so that they can take care of their own.”

With a field full of cars, Galvin energetically detailed problems she sees that Alaska faces and how she plans to fix them. Galvin picked up steam with a call and response speech that was broadcast into each car over a radio frequency. Galvin asked those in attendance to “honk for Alaskan educators,” “honk if you’re ready for change,” and even at one point to “honk for Alaskan dogs,” after one furry attendee had voiced displeasure over all the honking. After her speech, Galvin put on a mask and walked up and down the rows of cars to hear concerns from each of the attendees.

“It’s important to be nimble, particularly in a world pandemic because if you want to get with voters you’ll figure out a way to do it and that’s what I’m doing,” said Galvin. “I want to make sure that Alaskans believe in better because we do have a good future ahead of us, we just need to stay together and work together.”

Galvin placed an emphasis on the civility of her campaign and juxtaposed that against her opponent. Galvin said that Young has become nervous after the results of the primary and hopes to carry momentum all the way to general election on Nov. 3.

“Every person matters. Every vote matters and I know how close this is going to be so I hope that every Alaskan appreciates the power in their vote,” said Galvin. “This time we’re going to get to 51 plus.”

Source: Frontiersman