Alyse Galvin, Alaska’s independent candidate for U.S. House of Representatives, holds a town hall-style meeting to an overflowing room at Centennial Hall on Sunday, Oct. 21, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Alyse Galvin, Alaska’s independent candidate for U.S. House of Representatives, holds a town hall-style meeting to an overflowing room at Centennial Hall on Sunday, Oct. 21, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Opinion: I’m voting Alyse Galvin for real change

Time is running short. We have a chance to make a real change in Alaska by electing independent candidate Alyse Galvin for U.S. House. Her opponent, U.S. Rep. Don Young, is 85 years old and has been in office since 1973. More than two-thirds of his campaign money comes from large out of-state donors.

Galvin accepts no money from political action committees and is beholding to no one but the voters of Alaska. She is the mother of four and is from the working middle class. She believes in science, the free press, the need to address global warming and the absolute importance of supporting affordable health care, Medicaid and Social Security. If elected to the House, she has pledged to work across party lines for the good of Alaskans.

Galvin has proven her dedication, work ethic and leadership by organizing and growing Great Alaska Schools. They have lobbied against cuts to public education nationally and statewide. I appreciate her efforts on behalf of teachers and our students. Before retiring from teaching, I experienced two lockdowns due to gun threats. Galvin believes firmly in the right to bear arms responsibly, but supports background checks, doing away with bump stocks and funding mental health services.

Let’s restore the checks and balances needed for a healthy democracy. Galvin is traveling around the state. If you have a chance to meet her, do it. I believe you’ll come away convinced that she is the real deal, dedicated to ending gridlock in Washington. Join me and vote for Galvin!

Debby Johnson,

Juneau


• My Turns and Letters to the Editor represent the view of the author, not the view of the Juneau Empire.