The Inaugural Issue

Welcome to my newsletter! Having started to serve you a few short weeks ago, I am happy to reach out and provide an update on the legislative session for District 32. If you know of anyone else that may be interested in receiving newsletters and other communications from my office, please forward this email. If you no longer wish to receive newsletters or communications, please click on “unsubscribe” in the banner below.

Being recently appointed to fill the seat former Representative Beth Kerttula held for fifteen years, I would like to extend my thanks to Beth for serving Downtown Juneau and Douglas for many years, and more recently serving Petersburg, Skagway, Gustavus, Kupreanof, Tenakee Springs, Excursion Inlet and Hobart Bay. I look forward to continuing her legacy of hard work on behalf of the district.

The appointment process was a learning experience, and I was very pleased with the openness and transparency used by the Tongass Democrats during their selection process. I was extremely impressed by all of the work put into the selection by the Tongass Democrats Chair, Nancy Courtney and the Selection Committee Chair, former Juneau Mayor Bruce Botelho. They put a lot of work into narrowing the list of nine qualified candidates to three. I want to thank all of my fellow applicants: Ken Alper, Nancy Barnes, James Betts, Sarah Hannan, Tim Lamkin, Jesse Kiehl, Kim Metcalfe, and Catherine Reardon. I admire their courage and dedication to public service for putting themselves forward.

I am serving on the Community and Regional Affairs Committee and am also an Alternate on the Education Committee while Representative Harriet Drummond is in Anchorage caring for her husband following open-heart surgery. We look forward to welcoming Representative Drummond back next week!

My legislative service started out with a bang, with multiple hearings on the governor’s omnibus education bill (HB 278). Our schedule on the Education Committee has been intense as we worked to move the bill forward in the committee process. The Education Committee made some significant and positive changes to the bill, adding some key provisions supporting the public charter school programs that exist in Alaska’s school districts, and enhancing education tax credits to provide support for early learning programs. One of the key issues still to be discussed is an increase in the Base Student Allocation (BSA). I will continue to advocate for a BSA increase of at least $404 in order to prevent additional layoffs of teachers and counselors.

I am fortunate to have Hannah McCarty and Ken Alper as staff. As many of you know, they worked with Representative Kerttula and have provided exemplary service to the district. Having them on staff provides continuity in the District 32 office for any issues that the office has worked on and will continue to work on for district residents.

Rep. Kito III served at the Thanksgiving in March fundraiser for the local food bank

Rep. Sam Kito III celebrated Read Across America Day at Dzantik'i Heeni Middle School

Permanent Fund Dividend Deadline is March 31

Don’t forget to apply for your 2014 Permanent Fund Dividend. The deadline to apply is March 31. You can apply online at http://pfd.alaska.gov/.

Rep. Kito III and Division Director Linda Thibodeau tour construction of the State Library Archives Museum project (SLAM).

Aetna health plan changes

After hearing concerns from many constituents, I joined Sen. Dennis Egan and Rep. Cathy Muñoz in writing a letter to the Division of Retirement and Benefits on changes to the Active Employee and Retiree health plans. You can read the Active Employee letter here and the Retiree letter here.

It’s not too late to comment on the changes to the state’s retiree health plan. The Division of Retirement and Benefits has extended the public comment period to April 30th. To view the proposed changes or for more information click here.

Rep. Sam Kito III attended the 5th anniversary of the Planned Parenthood Juneau Health Center

Rep. Kito with Rep. Geran Tarr and Erin Merryn at the Choose Respect Rally. Erin is a survivor of childhood sexual abuse and has made it her mission to help prevent childhood sexual abuse by advocating for legislation across the country giving children the tools to protect themselves from abuse. I have co-sponsored “Erin’s Law” HB 233 in the legislature.

Constituency Perceptions and Satisfaction survey

Please take a moment to fill out Jessica McKay’s (intern for Senator Egan) survey. The purpose of the survey is to examine Southeast residents’ satisfaction with legislative services. Click here to take the survey or to get more information. And listen to Petersburg radio station KFSK’s story on the project.

Rep. Sam Kito III gave Vietnam veteran Darryl Brown a certificate in celebration of Vietnam Veterans Day

If you have any questions please call or stop by my office in the Capitol building.

Sincerely,

Sam Kito III