Letters to the editor
Published 3:30 am Thursday, August 13, 2026
Heroes in our midst
I write this letter as the driver of the RV on the Sterling highway that was in the fatal head on collision that claimed the life of my mother.
I am seeking the heroes that assisted in the effort to keep my mother alive on that day.
To the man with the camper van behind me who started to cut my mother’s seatbelt off and snapped me out of my shocked lethargy, I appreciate you being the first to leave your vehicle and render aid.
To the younger woman, possibly a nurse, who initiated CPR on my mother and maintained it for what may be a world record. You are a heroine.
To the two anesthesiologists who wasted no time initiating CPR rotations and galvanizing the individuals willing to help, you are both heroes, I would love to thank you personally.
To the woman who lent me her phone so at the very least my father may hear the final attempts to restart my mother’s heart. Allowing him to be there with at least one of his senses was a small mercy. I would love to thank you.
To the EMT that allowed my dog in the ambulance, I appreciate you breaking protocol for one small comfort on the worst day of my life. I would love to thank you.
To those that retrieved my mother’s deceased dogs, Tazz and Anna, from the husk of an RV and laid them by her feet. I appreciate you ensuring she did not travel alone. I would love to thank you personally.
A hero is someone who acts on instinct agnostic of personal gain. If you know one of these heroes, please reach out to me Blaine.bronga@gmail.com.
Blaine Bronga
Governor candidate a problem solver
I first met Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins (JKT) in 2013. At the time, he was the youngest member of the Alaska Legislature, a distinction I once held 25 years earlier.
He immediately impressed me with his thoughtful questions but, more importantly, with his listening skills. He wasn’t asking questions as a segue to tell me his opinions; he genuinely wanted to hear my perspective.
Over the ensuing years, I was further impressed with JKT’s desire and willingness to work with anyone. He wasn’t focused on who got the credit; he was focused on achieving good public policy objectives. He listened to understand, and he worked tirelessly and patiently to build understanding and support for those objectives.
In the Legislature, JKT spent 10 years working across the aisle to get things done for Alaska. His neighbors back home kept re-electing him — a Democrat — even when his district also voted for Donald Trump. It’s not often that we get the opportunity to vote for that kind of candidate for governor: a unifier. A problem solver.
I’ve spent the last 40 years in and around politics in Alaska. As much as I am hesitant to admit at times, Alaska’s future belongs to future generations — JKT’s generation and my grandchildren’s generation.
He is young, yet has more experience in elected office than most of the field running for governor — a rare combination. It’s time to pass the torch to a new leader.
That’s why I’m endorsing JKT and voting for him on Aug. 18.
Mike Navarre
The choice to vote
Aug. 8 was the 61st anniversary of the Voting Rights Act. It represents work begun by presidents FDR and JFK, but ultimately was signed into law by President Johnson with the help of Civil Rights leaders Martin Luther King, Jr., John Lewis and others. All these presidents saw that the 14th and 15th Amendments giving all people no matter their skin color the right to vote, was not stopping voter suppression which was often violent. The Voting Rights Act protects racial discrimination in voting. It was a huge milestone for this country but one that, to this day, continues to be tested and dismantled.
Aug. 26 will be the 106th anniversary of the XIX Amendment, named the Susan B. Anthony Amendment, that gave women the right to vote. That too was a long journey begun by legendary suffragette women such as Susan B. Anthony in the mid-1800s, to Cary Chapman and later Alice Paul. It too was often violent.
In spring 1913, at the 1st Session of the Alaska Territorial Legislature, the first act of the all-male body was to grant Alaska women the right to vote. This Act did not include Alaska Natives.
It was not until the 1924 Indian Citizenship Act was signed into law by President Calvin Cooledge granting Native Americans U.S. citizenship regardless of tribal status, that Native peoples, including women, were allowed to vote. (State citizenship was still determined by individual states. New Mexico was the last state to allow this in 1962.) However, just like the Black American voter suppression tactics, the Alaska Territorial Legislature passed a literacy requirement of all new voters making it difficult for Native Alaskans to qualify.
Voting has practically become our only voice in a country where keeping democracy demands participation. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. The heroes of voting rights are our moral compass, we can’t let them down.
Everyone knows by now – Aug. 18 is the state primary, please show up.
Therese Lewandowski
Candidate’s plan meets Alaska’s needs
I’m writing to share my support for U.S. Senate candidate Mary Peltola. I’ve lived in Alaska for 57 years, working in the healthcare industry and commercial fishing. I support Mary because, from the beginning her plan: “Fish, Family and Freedom” meets the needs of Alaskans like me.
Fish: She will work to protect our precious fishing resources, our unique lifestyles and our pristine waterways. We depend on fish to feed our families.
Family: She will work to present a viable healthcare plan; support education; raise wages; lower housing costs; and lower energy costs. She will protect kids and hold those in the Epstein files accountable.
Freedom: She will uphold her oath to protect and defend the Constitution and follow the rule of law. She will enforce the separation of powers. She will only vote to confirm people into positions they are truly qualified to hold.
I’ll celebrate the day Dan Sullivan is voted out of office. He has been a huge disappointment to me. His blatant disregard for the Epstein survivors while kissing up to known Epstein associates is disgusting and amoral. From my perspective, he sold his soul to the highest bidder, enhancing his own net worth while he turned away from his sworn duty to represent Alaskans and our veterans.
Mary understands she’ll be working for us. Let’s bring integrity and honesty back into the forefront. Please join me in voting for Mary Peltola.
Debbie Standefer
Alaska voting is secure
Some people think that voting machines are connected to the internet and that our votes are not secure and can end up in India. Most people know, Alaska voting machines are never connected to the internet and are totally secure. To learn exactly how votes are transferred to Juneau without connection to the internet, I researched the State of Alaska Division of Elections, typing “election security” in the Search.
I also researched AT&T first Net (at&tfirstnet.com) since it allows transfer without connection to the internet. Their website explains how it works.
Details of all the information: Precinct scanners are not ever connected to the internet. Scanners are physically locked since purchase.
E election Night Transmission — over wireless connection: encrypted from scanner to the director’s office in Juneau using AT&T First Net with start to end encryption.
Alaska has used electronic ballot tabulating since the 1990s. When Dominion purchased Diebold in 2010, we began our relationship with Dominion. Alaska has not had issues with Dominion in our entire time with them. In 2025, they were purchased by Liberty Vote.
Alaska hand counts one precinct per house district, randomly selected. State Review Board audits all precinct work (ballots, signatures) and if any anomaly is found, hand counts that precinct too.
Cathleen Rolph
