Q&A with Alaska Senate District P candidate Alex Jafre

The Alaska Beacon asked Alaska’s legislative candidates to answer a 15-question survey about their positions on a variety of issues. Read all of their responses here. Answers have not been edited.

Alex Jafre, Republican candidate from Fairbanks

Yes/No questions

The Alaska Constitution allows legislators to call a constitutional convention at any time. Are you interested in calling a convention?

Yes

Would you be willing to join a coalition majority in which the opposite political party controls a majority of seats?

No

Should new public employees have access to a pension?

No

Should the state take over the federal permitting process that regulates construction in wetlands?

Yes

Should Juneteenth be a state holiday?

No

Open-ended questions

How should the state of Alaska set the amount of the Permanent Fund dividend each year?

The amount of the PFD should be set by the original formula and needs to include back pay for the previously stolen PFDs.

What’s the biggest need in your district, and how would you address it?

From my perspective it’s corruption in none profits especially those who are put in positions with vulnerable minors. For example Flot having a registered sex offender on their board for years and then releasing a fluff peace to cover themselves. As well as the lack of publicly stating the criteria for what disqualified someone from participating in the organization in the future which they said they would do back in November. Not to mention their membership at the time was supposed to go through those checks as well and those results are nowhere to be seen nor do we have evidence it took place. As far as what I’d do to solve it. I’d give local governments and the state more oversight and authority to investigate the organizations as well as individuals connected to them. In cases where there is blatant corruption we need the power to shut those organizations down and criminally prosecute all culpable members.

What policies and laws should Alaska follow with regard to abortion?

An all out ban on the practice, life begins at conception.

How should the state reduce the threat of gun violence and mass shootings?

The phrase gun violence is disingenuous, I also don’t recall Alaska ever having a mass shooting to begin with. The solutions for reducing the likelihood of one from occurring are simple. Firstly, eliminate soft targets by ending gun free zones. For example allow employees to carry on the clock, a business has no right to endanger its employees by saying they can’t defend themselves. Further, we strengthen security at schools by having armed teachers and implementing strong security measures, Stronger doors, bullet proof glass, etc. Finally one of the best things we can do is to prevent violent crime in general is to get trained and carry guns ourselves, no police response is as fast at stopping a threat as someone in the area with a Concealed weapon or an armed would be victim.

How much should a legislator’s faith or religion determine state law and policy?

Ultimately whatever you believe will determine how you vote, Your entire world view is determined and influenced by your faith. To suggest it should do otherwise is shows a misunderstanding of the topic. To complain about conservatives being influenced our faith by would be hypocritical. Especially those who complain the loudest so called progressives, attempt to foist on the general public a constantly self contradictory and changing world view.

What should the state do to improve retention of public employees, including teachers?

Alaska has already spent more on so called education then nearly every other state. We need some massive budget cuts and to allow teachers to use proven methods. We don’t need to create “safe spaces”. We need a focus on curriculum, on objective reality not feelings. We need to get away from woke practices that do nothing but cause problems and get back to traditional values.

What does an ideal state ferry system look like?

Well maintained on a minimal budget.

What, if any, changes does the state need to make to ensure voting is equitable and secure?

Equitable is generally nothing but a buzzword, we need secure elections. We need a voter Id law, we need to clear off the voter roles. We need better ballot security and to get away from foreign companies manufactured machines which have caused a number of scandals.

What do you intend to do about the poor returns of salmon in the Yukon and Kuskokwim drainages, and what are the main causes of the problems?

When it comes to things like that you can study it and find solutions. However you need to protect commercial, individual and subsistence fishing rights as well. Going over board with environmental regulations always does more harm than good.

What constitutional amendments, if any, do you support?

• A full PFD using the original formula no exceptions and cutting of the states ability to rob from it as they have been.
• A ban on abortion
• Protections for Churches, Individuals and Businesses from ridiculous regulations such as so called equality ordinances. As well as protection from pointless lawsuits like the ones faced by the Masterpiece Cakeshop
• A ban on enforcing things like red flag laws and other unconstitutional gun control measures etc.