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Opinions

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The Municipality of Anchorage election is underway, and if there's one thing Alaskans reliably have, it's an opinion about how things ought to be run. School board, Assembly, bonds, taxes — you name it, someone's got a take. Probably a hot one. Now's the time to put that opinion to work.

If you've got a case to make — for or against a candidate, a ballot measure or the general direction of the city — send it our way (and many of you have been — thanks for that!). Letters to the editor and longer commentaries are how those ideas get in front of your neighbors, not just your group chat. Keep it civil, and keep it focused on Anchorage and Alaska.

And here's a gentle nudge: The best Opinion section is one that reflects the full range of views out there. Lately, some perspectives have been more prevalent in the inbox than others. If you're sitting there thinking, "Well, nobody's saying what I'm thinking," that's probably a sign that you should. Good debate only works if all sides show up. Send us that letter to the editor at letters@adn.com or via our web form.

Also, a quick reminder: I'm stepping away from the keyboard this week and into the real world.

On Wednesday, March 25, I'll be at Kaladi Brothers Coffee (1340 W. Northern Lights Blvd., right next to Title Wave Books) from 1-5 p.m. for a very informal "Meet the Editor" hangout. Stop in, grab a coffee and introduce yourself. Tell me what you like, what drives you nuts or what you think we're missing. Or just come say hi and confirm that yes, I do in fact exist outside a newsletter. Either way, hope to see you there.

— Gary Black, opinion editor,

Anchorage Daily News
gblack@adn.com

From the ADN Editorial Board

Treat local elections like they matter — because they do

There's a persistent belief that local elections don't matter, or that a single vote won't make a difference. The numbers suggest the opposite. In low-turnout elections, each vote carries more weight, not less. When only one in four voters participates, the margin for influence is much smaller. Choosing not to vote doesn't remove you from the process. It simply leaves the decision to someone else.

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Letters to the editor

A funding solution for the DHS debacle

By not funding the Department of Homeland Security, Democrats in the Senate are flirting with a disaster of unknown magnitude.

There's just no proof of substantial voter fraud in US elections

If there is evidence of widespread noncitizen voting, we should address it but let's have proof rather than unsubstantiated claims.

SAVE Act misses the mark

The SAVE Act is nothing more than a solution looking for a problem.

Setting Anchorage's stage for Alaska's future

If we want a thriving community where families gather, businesses grow and the arts bring us together, we must invest in the places that make it possible. That is what Prop 5 does and why we should vote in support of it.

If Congress won't check Trump, then who will?

The framers of the Constitution created Article 1 to give the legislative branch of government a way to check the power of the executive branch of government. It won't work, however, if Congress just rolls over.

Sen. Sullivan is not a 'Reagan Republican'

In today's Trump Party, Ronald Reagan wouldn't even get elected.

Commentaries