Alaska governor candidates pitch visions for tribal relations, fisheries at AFN convention

Three of Alaska’s gubernatorial candidates laid out plans for Indigenous relations and fisheries during a forum at the Alaska Federation of Natives convention on Friday. Democrat Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins and Republicans Dave Bronson and Treg Taylor participated, while Bernadette Wilson did not attend. Over 75 minutes, they discussed the relationship between tribes and the state, rural public safety, the marine highway system and fisheries. Taylor emphasized trust-building and consultation with tribes as sovereigns, using proposed $7 billion of Fighter Town construction at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson to highlight the need for coordination. Kreiss-Tomkins prioritized strengthening subsistence rights. All three backed easier voting for rural Alaskans, including ballot tracking and language access.