Capital likely to stay put under Parnell

JUNEAU EMPIRE ^ | 7/5/2009 | Pat Forgey

[skeptoid]

Local leaders are welcoming Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell as the state's new governor, saying he should be good for the capital city and the state.

"Sean has been a friend of Juneau for some time," said Sen. Dennis Egan, who has known Parnell for many years.

A former Republican legislator from Anchorage, Parnell was co-chairman of the powerful Senate Finance Committee for part of the time Egan served as Juneau's mayor in the 1990s.

Parnell represented Anchorage but never joined in the anti-Juneau sentiments expressed by some others from Anchorage and the Mat-Su, Egan said.

"He was never that way - Railbelt versus Southeast - in the conversations I've had with him," Egan said.

[skeptoid]

Robert Deberry / Frontiersman
Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin hugs Alaska Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell on Friday in Wasilla,
after she announced she would be stepping down as governor

.

This is significant because Juneau is relatively small and so isolated from the rest of the state, and is only accessible by sea or air; you cannot drive to Juneau on a road.

State of Alaska >680,000

Anchorage/Kenai/Mat-Su area >400,000

Juneau 30,000

All Southeast Alaska <70,000

There has been an effort to move the capitol from Juneau to the Anchorage area since the first flood of pipeline wealth hit in the late seventies.

See Who is Sean Parnell? and his State website for a little more on the incoming Governor.

[ScottinVA]

No doubt Parnell will do a fine job. I trust that if Sarah had any concerns she wouldn’t be stepping down.

[Eska]

Parnell is a good guy, Ak is a mostly repub state. Sarah Palin ensured Parnell will be elected nx gov in 2010.

[ASOC]

Ak is a mostly repub state

Not so much - take a close look at the last return from the latest Senate race - looking pretty demish out in the bush

[Lion Den Dan]

Is the money going to satay or the seat of government? Iggernant “news” scribblers. Sheesh!

[Eska]

Indians are all dem for the $$$$. Still the population of MatSu outnumbers the entire bush. Many parts of the interior are locally controlled by very conservative people.

[Ron C.]

I have never understood why Alaskans continue to keep Juneau as the capital. Talk about isolation - from the people!

I'd think that voters would quite likely move the capital to Anchorage, if they had a choice.

[ASOC]

Yup

Been hot up your way ?

Hit over 80 here at the Air Base - gotta be cooking up there for you....

[Eska]

It was 80 some today, people are picking up some kings in their nets; I’m enjoying summer; killin the brews. I just hope we don’t get any late July frosts, been common last couple years with all the global cooling. Taters flowerin, be eatin new taters in a month.

[ASOC]

Wow, my spuds are just now 6 to 8 in of plant. And I had to cover to protect from frost.

What type did you go with this year?

I went with basic white, but in the past have had luck with blues...

If we get cold early this year, I do have a portable greenhouse I can use.

[Eska]

We put in 350 lb this year, 2nd week of may, ground was still frose 8 inches down under top, but they still started. Had them sent in from the valley, getting more expensive every year too; $630 with shipping. Nx year,I'm saving my own seed, and checking them every month in basement come March.

We really like iditareds from old Dearborn; but only planted 50 lbs of them. 200 lbs of yukon golds from Pyrah in the butte and also 100 lb of some new red called robiniet or something, supposeably stores like golds. I put down 125 lb fertilizer and been watering religiously, but we have got some rain.

On good years, I'll get 3-4 thou lb, but last 3 have been getting killing frosts in late july, only small taters;only lke 800lb. Luv them new tatoes just the same. Wifey keeps hollarin about maybe grow a couple hundred lb less nx year. I tried makin a deal with her, only 100 lb nx year if she lets me get that new 82 inch mitsub, diamond series; she ain't hearin too well though. My 4 year old 720 sam is getting old, after seeing all the new ones. ha ha. Maybe one of these years??????

[ASOC]

Wow - ALl I have is a large garden. We put in peas and sunflowers around the spuds. We did get ours seed spuds from the Valley.

You are right nothing like little red spuds fried up in real butter to go with the eggs on a cold winter morning.

Lets hope the warm holds till late this year, but I did put up the greenhouse just in case.