Candidate Questionnaire: Alaska IBEW Local 1547

I answer every questionnaire honestly so Anchorage families know exactly where I stand. Parents deserve to decide what is best for their children. See my responses to the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) 1547 here. Submitted February 13th, 2026.

What office are you seeking?

Anchorage School Board - Seat C

Why are you running for office?

As a 20-year Air Force veteran, dad of two ASD students, homeschool parent, former educator and lunch lady in Anchorage schools, I am running because our kids deserve better than Alaska's near-bottom national rankings. I have seen firsthand why we are failing students and have tried to make positive changes, only to be told my voice as a parent and community member was not wanted. I bring a unique skillset from military leadership, teaching, coaching, MBA, Lean Six Sigma, and audit experience focused on results and fiscal responsibility. I want safe campuses where every child learns

without fear, smaller classes by cutting waste, parental choice over bureaucrats, local control by teachers and parents, and strong academics to build pride and purpose.

What grade would you give the School Board? A B C E F Why?

C-, because there is no D. The board has made some safety and efficiency efforts, but ongoing structural deficits, ignoring financial advice, and persistent staffing instability have left teachers and programs in fear year after year. Teacher safety has been overlooked for too long; many leave not just for pay but for their well-being. We need stronger fiscal discipline, waste reduction, and a laser focus on core academics to lift rankings and put students first.

What current member of the School Board best reflects your philosophy and views?

None fully align. I respect members who prioritize fiscal responsibility and student outcomes, but my views center on parental choice, local control, safety, and academics over bureaucracy. I am not beholden to any organization. If someone is satisfied with last-in-the-nation results despite top-10 spending, my philosophy is the opposite.

What area would you change regarding how the School Board runs and why?

Increase transparency and community input on budgets, contracts, and safety incidents.

Require clear breakdowns of administrative vs. classroom spending to cut waste and redirect funds to students. Emphasize evidence-based decisions to address deficits without harming core education. Connecting to a school board member should not be limited to a 9-5. I operate with a fully ‘open door’ policy.

The term “right to work” means a worker can choose to not pay union dues but would still be entitled to all the benefits and protections that come with collective bargaining. Do you support or oppose Right to Work legislation? Please explain.

Support. Workers should have the freedom to choose whether to pay union dues without losing protections or job opportunities. In public education, where taxpayer dollars fund operations and Alaska ranks near the bottom nationally in student outcomes, union bargaining strength must not come at the expense of students or fiscal responsibility. Unions benefit private industries, but in the public sector mandatory dues can drive higher costs that divert funds from classrooms to overhead instead of academics, safety, and smaller class sizes.

Do you support Alaska law that requires companies bidding on public construction

projects, both urban and rural, to pay the local prevailing wages and benefits

(Davis/Bacon)?

Support in principle, but with fiscal safeguards. Prevailing wage laws ensure fair pay and quality work on public projects. However, rates must fit within ASD's constrained budgets to avoid inflating costs that reduce funds for classrooms, teachers, and students. Any school construction or repairs must prioritize value to taxpayers and student outcomes without unnecessary escalation.

What is your position on public funding for education?

Strongly support robust public funding for education, but it must be used efficiently. ASD's $90 million FY27 deficit shows the need for fiscal responsibility: cut administrative waste, reduce large building footprints, and prioritize classrooms and teachers over bureaucracy to maximize impact for students.

What is your position on Project Labor Agreements (PLAs) and Student Community Workforce Agreements (SCWA’s)?

Support when they promote fair wages, safety, local hiring, and quality outcomes without excessively inflating costs. PLAs can ensure skilled labor for school construction and repairs, but must be balanced with fiscal oversight to protect education budgets.

Do you believe all workers (public & private) should have the right to organize for the purpose of collective bargaining? Why or why not?

Yes, workers deserve the right to organize and bargain collectively for fair pay, safe conditions, and benefits. This supports good jobs and stability for families, including ASD employees who serve our students. However, in the public sector the focus must remain on benefiting the community and students, not becoming one-sided to the detriment of outcomes. Better solutions can always be found when needed.

Do you feel any services currently provided by the school district should be contracted out?

If so, which services?

Only non-core services where outsourcing proves more efficient and saves money for classrooms (e.g., certain maintenance or custodial if bids show clear savings and quality). Core education, teaching, and student services should remain in-house under local control by teachers and parents.

Will you vote to fully fund labor contracts negotiated with employees? Why or why not?

Yes, when contracts are fiscally sustainable and negotiated in good faith. Fully funding fair agreements supports dedicated staff and stable learning environments. In ASD's deficit situation, this requires cutting waste elsewhere to avoid cuts to classrooms and programs.

Have you ever voted against funding a union contract? Why or why not?

No, I have not served in an elected position to vote on union contract funding.

However, in my 20-year Air Force career as a resource advisor, I was responsible for approving work order contracts. We were required to obtain multiple quotes, and union contracts were consistently the most expensive while often not delivering the same outcomes or value as private providers. This experience reinforced my commitment to fiscal responsibility: every dollar must be used efficiently to maximize benefit for students.

Do you believe any school district department should be cut? If so, which departments?

Yes, administrative overhead where possible. Reduce redundant bureaucracy and non-essential central office functions to redirect funds to classrooms, teachers, and smaller class sizes. Focus cuts on waste, not student-facing services. We also have over a million square feet of building space compared to the 1970s with 3,000 fewer students today. Right-sizing must include all departments sharing the burden, not just closing one or two schools.