September 23, 2010 Senator Hoffman Report

General Election: November 2, 2010

The voter registration deadline is Sunday, October 3, 2010

Don’t think that your vote doesn’t count – think of all the races that were too close to certify until all the questioned and absentee ballots were counted.Please register and familiarize yourself with the candidates and issues and exercise your privilege to vote for your choice!
The webpage address for details and more information from the Division of Elections is
http://ltgov.state.ak.us/elections/ei.php
You can get directions and applications to register or change your registration online,
BUT you must print out the application and mail or fax it in - so don’t wait until the last minute to do this.

Yup’ik Language Assistance

Toll Free 1-866-954-8683

Northern Waters Task Force

The Northern Waters Task Force mission is to help facilitate the creation of a joint federal-state entity to coordinate U.S. and Alaska interests that result from the warming of the northern oceans.  Many new challenges and opportunities are arising due to the warming of the northern waters in areas such as fishing, transportation, national security, and resource development.  It will be our job to hold public meetings in some of the communities feeling these impacts first-hand, and to make recommendations to the legislature by January 20, 2012 as to how the State of Alaska and the federal government can work in concert on these important issues. We plan on holding hearings in Barrow, Kotzebue, Nome, Bethel and Unalaska.

Members include; myself and Senator Bert Stedman (Sitka) and Donald Olson/alternative (Nome); Representative (s) Reggie Joule (Kotzebue), Robert Herron (Bethel) and Bryce Edgmon/alternative (Dillingham); public member (s) Chris Hladick (Unalaska), Mayor Edward Itta (North Slope Borough), Mayor Denise Michaels (Nome), Chuck Greene (Kotzebue), Dave Kubiak (Kodiak), Commissioner Larry Hartig (DEC), and Cora Campbell/Special Assistant to the Governor.

The first Northern Waters Task Force meeting is scheduled for October 1st in Anchorage at the downtown Legislative Information Office at 716 W. 4th Street from 8 am to 5 pm.

Higher Education Scholarship Funding Task Force

This task force was created to review and finalize a new financial aid program for Alaska students who want to attend college or career schools in the state. Alaska ranks last nationwide in the number of high school graduates from low-income families who go on to attend college or vocational training. A report is due April 2011 to the full Legislature.

The task force is composed of fifteen members; five appointed by the Senate President, five by the Speaker of the House, and five by the Governor. Senator Kevin Meyer (Anchorage) chairs the task force.

The next meeting will focus on the “Needs-Based” Component. The task force will be accepting public testimony. If you are interested in testifying, you can call 1-877-763-5073 on Friday, October 8th at 3:00 pm.