Candidate Questionnaire: Alaska Public Employees Association (APEA-AFT)

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 Alaska Public Employees Association here. Submitted February 15th, 2026.

1. Tell us a little about yourself. Why are you running for office? What qualities

distinguish you from other candidates running for this 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 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: military leadership,

teaching/coaching experience, MBA, Lean Six Sigma, audit capabilities, and a proven

focus on results and fiscal responsibility. Unlike the status quo candidate, I am not part of the current board direction that has led to last-in-the-nation results despite high

spending. I am independent, not beholden to any group, and committed to safe

campuses, smaller classes by cutting waste, parental choice over bureaucrats, local

control by teachers/parents, and strong academics that build pride and purpose.

2. Are you currently, or have you been a member of a Union? If so, which one.

Yes. I was a member of Teamsters Local 959 when I served as cafeteria manager at

Alpenglow Elementary. I am also on the Executive Council for the Air Force Sergeants

Association JBER Chapter 1473, where I have received multiple accolades over 20+

years around the world, including International Member of the Year topping 110,000

members, dozens of team awards, and many other individual awards for advocating for

military pay and benefits on Capitol Hill.

3. Tell us about your election strategy. What media sources/platforms will you be

using? Please be as specific as possible.

I use social media across all platforms with the handle @AlexForSchools (X, Facebook,

IG, TikTok, YouTube) and a website (www.alexforschoolboardak.com) that sets a high

standard for transparency and what every “politician” in Alaska should strive for. I host a weekly X Space/podcast called "Sunday School Board"; answering voter questions

directly (over 250 videos/shorts to date). I have been recognized as a "top fan"; by

several local media outlets on Facebook. I have an active door-knocking crew

canvassing Anchorage and have amassed over 5,000 doors knocked personally. My

main approach is direct, ongoing communication at all hours, not a 9-5 campaign. I bring military dedication and focus to engage voters personally.

4. Please list all organizations, including unions, community groups, and issue-based

organizations, that have endorsed your campaign to date.

A few organizations have endorsed me, but I am not beholden to any of them now or in

the future. I am running to represent parents, teachers, and students first and foremost,

not any special interest.

5. Our union is a part of the Alaska Public Pension Coalition, and our members are

universally concerned with issues of retirement security. During the last several

legislative sessions, the APPC helped to develop and promote legislation (SB 28 and

HB 78) which if passed would return Alaska’s public employees to a defined benefit,

or pension, style retirement instead of the current 401K style of the current PERS Tier

IV or TRS Tier III. We believe this is important for a variety of reasons, including

retirement security for our members and increased retention in public employment.

We are especially concerned because most Alaska’s public employees will not

receive social security upon retirement. The loss of a defined benefit pension has

also created significant recruitment and retention problems at the municipal and

school board level.

Do you support the effort to restore a sustainable defined benefit pension for all future

public employees, and those hired after 2006?

No to a full return to the old defined benefit model without sustainability safeguards.

The 2008 Tier IV change was driven by the state's inability to sustain the prior $20

billion unfunded liability (still paying down 8 billion). Alaska cannot afford another

unsustainable system. Every worker deserves retirement security, but not at the

expense of the district or taxpayers. I support a blended retirement system (like the

military's TSP + pension option) with direct contribution choices. One-size-fits-all

does not work for employees any more than it does for students. A flexible, affordable

plan would improve recruitment/retention without risking education budgets. I value

the retirement security that helps retain dedicated ASD staff who support our

students every day.

6. Do you support collective bargaining for public employees? Yes or no? Would you

restrict any issues or items from collective bargaining?

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. In the public sector, however, the focus must remain on benefiting the community and students first. Bargaining should not become one-sided to the detriment of outcomes. I would not broadly restrict items, but negotiations must prioritize fiscal sustainability and classroom funding.

7. Contracting out work within the school district could range from custodial services to

maintenance to IT to food services, removing valuable institutional knowledge. What

is your position on contracting out or privatizing school services?

Contracting out non-core services is a valuable option when it provides better service at

lower cost and frees resources for classrooms (e.g., certain maintenance, custodial, or IT

if bids show clear savings and quality). It prevents reliance on any single group that may

underperform. Alaska's near-last education results are not just from teachers/administrators; inefficiency in support areas contributes. Core education

(teaching, student services) should remain in-house under local control by teachers and

parents.

8. With the projected shortfall for the district, what do you see as the best way of

keeping our schools fully staffed and provide students with the best learning

environment?

Right-size the district's physical footprint. Fifteen schools have been recommended for

closure in the last 10 years; only five made the final list. We have over a million square

feet more space than in the 1970s with 3,000 fewer students today. Our 59 elementary

schools are severely underutilized; consolidating to around 38 could still serve every

student more efficiently without forcing staff to cover multiple sites. Digitized learning

trends have harmed outcomes; we spend too much on unproven tech instead of proven

basics. Focus savings on smaller classes, teacher support, and safe, effective

environments.

9. Do you support an increased local contribution to education funding from the

Municipality in 2026? Why or why not?

No. Alaska funds education at over $23,000 per student (higher than most states per

NEA and state reports), yet ranks near last nationally in outcomes. More money does not fix mismanagement. An increased local contribution taxes families already

overburdened, including many Veterans and one-income households. The district must

first prove responsible spending and positive results before asking for more from

property owners.

10. Do you support the proposal that will be on the ballot in April 2026 for a one-time

property tax levy to address the Anchorage School District shortfall? Why or why not?

No. The levy targets homeowners disproportionately, straining military veterans and

families already taxed heavily. Anchorage has one of the largest veteran populations in

the country; many risk being taxed out of their homes to fund a system with a $90-111 million deficit. An $11.8 million levy is a small drop that rarely goes directly to classrooms as promised. Fix inefficiencies first.

11. What do you see as your role, as a School Board member, to work with State

Government to forward fund schools and increasing the BSA?

The school board's role is not to lobby for perpetual BSA increases, especially when not

a single member can properly explain how the multipliers work. It is to operate fiscally

responsibly, be fully transparent with spending, and hold mismanagement accountable at every level. The current Alaska Legislature Education Task Force struggles to account

for BSA spending and allocations. The board should listen to district experts and

prioritize Alaska-first decisions, not external pressures with hot button phrases. I, along

with many parents, support responsible forward-funding that ties increases to

measurable improvements in student outcomes; however, those outcomes can never be

promised because money does not fix problems.

12. What is your stance on private schools: should they receive public funding?

Thoughts on property tax breaks for private schools?

Parents should choose the best education path for their child. A prosperous community

provides resources for all students, public or private. Denying public funding to private

options is outdated and selfish. Private schools often succeed with less per-student

funding (even after tax breaks) because parents prioritize results. As a retired Veteran in

a one-income household, I speak from experience: competition and choice improve

outcomes for everyone.

13. Please add any additional comments/thoughts you would like our members to know

about you or your focus on issues important to you.

I am running for a second time because I have a unique skillset honed through 20 years

in the military, leading organizations worldwide, true nonpartisanship on finances, and a deep commitment to amplifying the voices of parents, teachers, and students. I started this journey after being told, as a Dad, that I could not speak or know about safety concerns in our schools. I will never allow any family to be silenced when their children are in the district's care. I have always been an advocate for those who could not speak on their own. Parents, teachers, and students come first. I am the proven results-based leader to get Anchorage Schools back to where they were at the top in the nation.