This article had been in creation for the past 2 1/2 years since both Chris Birch and Jennifer Johnston first ran for the legislature in 2016.
The tale of these mountaineers when both of these awesome people met as young man and young woman when Chris was living in Fairbanks in the 1970's. Both had the awesome amazing spirit of the outdoors.
Fast forward to 2005
In 2005 Chris Birch defeated Dick Tremaine to start his career in the Anchorage Assembly which lasted three terms.
In 2007 Jennifer Johnston runs for an open seat when Janice Shamberg decides not to run again due to fact she was no longer eligible to run again.
Both Chris and Jennifer during their time on the Anchorage Assembly may not agree on all the issues facing their district. They worked together to find solutions for all there residents in their district while they served on the Anchorage Assembly.
From 2014 to 2016 Chris was term limited and could no longer serve on the assembly advised Jennifer during her last two years in office on issues involving the Assembly district.
The next adventure of these two dynamic duo
In 2016 both Chris and Jennifer decide to run for seats in their legislative districts
Chris decide to take on an incumbent in the primary named Bob Lynn and won the primary. I made no endorsement in that race. I liked both candidates.
Jennifer ran for an open legislative seat since Craig Johnson ran for the State Senate. He lost to Natasha Von Imhof in the primary who became state senator. I did endorse Craig Johnson for the seat. I did not endorse either Natasha or Roselynn Cacy for that seat in the general election. She beat Ross Bieling in the primary. I endorsed Ross in this race.
Both won their races and began to work together again for South Anchorage this time in the legislature. Most conservative not happy with some of there votes.
Then in 2018 Kevin Meyer decided to run for Lt. Governor. This change the role of this dynamic duo from South Anchorage. You know had the two in two different chambers. You have Jennifer in the house and Chris in the senate. Both easily won their primaries. Chris was able to easily defeat Bekah Halat due to a last minute bomb shell of welfare fraud claim. Jennifer easily defeated Ross Bieling a second time. I may have to due a South Anchorage version of the Hatfields and McCoys like I did with the Higgins and Milletes in 2016. The South Anchorage version would be title it is Johnston and Bielings again. If Ross runs a third time.
At the time of Chris Birch's death both members of this dynamic duo had recall petitions against them due to their unpopular stance on the permanent fund dividend. Jennifer's decision to join the Democrat lead house majority and Chris's decision to go to Juneau instead of Wasilla during special session. Chris's recall campaign has been terminated and Jennifer's is currently on pause. I am suggested it be terminated as well.
Both served South Anchorage well in the legislature to the end. Both Chris and Jennifer are doing a great job.
Farewell to my good friend Chris Birch who died on Wednesday, August 7, 2019 at the age of 68.
Chris was born on August 28, 1950 in Sterling, Illinois. Chris was a pioneer Alaskan. That is any Alaskan that has been in Alaska before statehood. Chris like many Alaskans here either were born here or move come to this state for the outdoors. Chris liked hiking and hunting. Chris earned his degrees from the University of Alaska Fairbanks in mining and engineering in 1972 and in 1979 earned his science and management degree at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. In 1978 he married the love of his life Pam Bushey.
Chris's public service life
Chris started to serve in the Fairbanks North Star Borough assembly where served two terms from 1984 to 1990.
Chris serve three terms on the Anchorage Assembly representing Bayshore, Anchorage Hillside and Girdwood from 2005 to 2014. He beat Dick Tremaine in 2005. He was the voice of reason on the assembly.
He decided to run for a term in the State House beating Bob Lynn in 2016 served one term then ran in 2018 for state senate when Kevin Meyer decided to run for Lt. Governor. He won a very easy primary.
He served on various local boards and commissions throughout his life. They were the Hilltop Ski Area, Chugach Electric Board, East Anchorage Rotary Club and other organizations.
My experience with Chris is when I first testified in from of the Anchorage Assembly on a cab ordinance to prevent predators from having a cab drivers license if they are being charged with domestic violence and crimes involving sex. He enjoyed that I gave the assembly the perspective from a cab dispatch point of view which they never heard cab issues from that perspective.
He leaves behind his wife Pam, two kids Logan, his wife Heather, Tali and her husband Josh. He also leaves his 4 grandchildren.
Alaska will miss Chris Birch and what he brought to the state.
Since Mike Dunleavy has taken office on December 1, 2018 when he choose Adam Crum as his Health and Human Service Commissioner. They choose the private to operate it til at least til December 30, 2019 then possible competitive bid and here it the truth the State of Alaska will own the facility. It is back in compliance which according to a surprise visit. When a person does they said on the campaign trial and get the actual results.
However the two who voted to take your money funded by Vince Beltrami Sandwich the union called Poison Ivy Spinholz and Tiffany Zuliniski of Bethel. Ivy stole $15,696 for a family four for 3 years in her district. To be fair to Tiffany she voted to tax her district $4,580 for her district in SW Alaska for a family of 4 believe that he is selling API and wants taking jobs away from Alaska not true. As of now it is only the Administration it the actual workers will still employed the state may still run it. Dunleavy is still always been standing tall for Alaska and is for the people not the special interest.
Recently the House Finance Committee feel you should pay for government services instead of receiving your permanent fund dividend. They want to pass a $2,000 tax to pay for the Dunleavy vetoes of $444 million. When people apply for a PFD they expect a full PFD not a portion of it. If the homeless want funding they can solicit donations not get it from you. School Districts and University wants more funding then produce the results that justify the funding. Please tell them you want a full PFD's.
Spokane has two qualified people who deserve to advance in the August Primary they are Shawn Poole and Nadine Woodward. They do not have the experience of not dealing with Spokane's government like the current Nazi leader Ben Stuckart. Imagine if he is mayor you have a progressive council. The city would have unchecked balanced which we have seen is bad news remember what happened during the Geraughty administration in the early 1990's. Remember Spokane you are electing a mayor not a king. Ben does not want to mayor he wants to be king. Ben refuses deal with the addict problem. Spokane needs tough leader that is why Shawn and Nadine must advance in the primary.
Here is why Washington State Governor Jay Inslee should win the Democrat nominee for President. I have over 30 years of stuff on this man since he was first elected in the 14th legislative district in the state house in 1988 in Yakima. He is also the easiest for Donald Trump to be in reelection since he has accomplished nothing as six years as Governor of Washington State. Everything that happened in the past year is to help him in his run to the white house. The reason he has not be able to do anything the past six years. The Republicans have controlled the State Senate the past six years. A 1934 State Supreme Court ruling prohibits Washington State from enacting any additional new taxes without a public vote and the constant presence of Tim Eyman. He has been running on a new green agenda which he has not be able to implement in his own state. Raising the minimum wage was done by initiative as well as gun control. As far as suing the Trump administration that has been done by the Attorney General and wannabe Governor Bob Ferguson. Jay Inslee as president will be a do nothing president if elected. Please consider Jay Inslee for the Democrat nomination for President
Soon there will be a new prime minister in Great Britain. Theresa May last day in office will be June 7th, 2019. She unsuccessfully attempted to get Great Britain out of the European Union. I wonder if this means Donald Trump will lose in the 2020 election in the United States. Let's hope the next leader will be successfully lead Britain into an independent economy.
