by Calista Corporation Staff
The Calista Public Advocacy and Engagement Committee Formed in 2017.
Today (September 8, 2022), Calista Corporation’s Public Advocacy and Engagement Committee (PAEC) announces a series of endorsements ahead of the 2022 General Election. Calista is the Alaska Native corporation representing 56 villages spread out along the Bering Sea coast and two of Alaska’s mightiest rivers—the Yukon and Kuskokwim—and is the largest regional Alaska Native Corporation by number of shareholders, which totals over 35,000.
The federal endorsements are:
• U.S. Senate, Alaska: Sen. Lisa Murkowski
• U.S. House of Representatives, Alaska: Rep.-Elect Mary Peltola
The state endorsements are:
• Governor: Gov. Michael Dunleavy
• State Senate: Sen. Lyman Hoffman
• State Representatives:
o Myron Naneng, Sr. (District 38 write-in candidate)
o Rep. Neal Foster (District 39)
“In an election season unlike any other, we took our role seriously in endorsing candidates who have shown a willingness to listen and act on behalf of our Shareholders,” said Andrew Guy, Calista President/CEO and PAEC member. “Our region has great potential but is experiencing unique challenges that must be addressed at the federal, state, and local levels. The slate of candidates we are endorsing this year have been responsive to our needs and maintained an ‘open door’ policy for our leadership. We are also proud that our slate of endorsements represents candidates from across the political spectrum, proving Calista is a non-partisan organization that evaluates elected officials and candidates on policy and action, not party affiliation or politics.”
“The historic nature of Rep.-Elect Peltola’s candidacy played into our decision-making as well,” continued Guy. “We are immensely proud of one of our own—an Alaska Native Yup’ik woman from the region and a Calista Shareholder—and confident her pro-fish and pro-jobs platform will benefit our region and the entire state.”
The process for making these endorsements included discussion and debate among members of Calista’s non-partisan PAEC Committee, which is made up of four Calista Board Members, two staff members, and two at-large Shareholder community members.
“These candidates have demonstrated solid understanding of our region and how our needs differ from other parts of the state,” said Willie Kasayulie, Calista board chair and PAEC chair. “Too much is riding on this election not to take a position. We feel it is important to let our Shareholders know who we believe will best represent our values and priorities both in Juneau and Washington, D.C.”
Among the issues considered during the endorsement process:
• Continued low salmon runs and continued closure of subsistence and commercial fisheries for king and chum salmon
• Lack of infrastructure in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Region including vital broadband, transportation, and water and sewer
• Ice road construction and maintenance
• Support for a full, statutory Permanent Fund Dividend
• Housing for law enforcement officials in rural areas
• Yukon-Kuskokwim Regional Tribal Government
• Violence Against Women Act reauthorization
• Sustainable resource development in the region
Calista will continue highlighting the need for Shareholders, as well as all Alaska Native people, to make their voices heard by voting in the Nov. 8, 2022 General Election.
