Note: Following Mead's victory in the primary election for Lt. Governor, our campaign has merged with that of Governor candidate Sean Parnell. To visit our new joint website, please visit www.parnell-treadwell.com. Thank you!
Mead's Political Philosophy
Government exists to protect our liberties, not to take them away. I support limited government, lower taxes, and I have signed the taxpayer protection pledge We have to restore the constitutional relationship between the federal government and the states, and insist that the federal government respect the terms and conditions of the compact which made Alaska a state. They are taking away control of our lands and waters, our fish and game, and violating promises on revenue-sharing from federal lands. Government should help the helpless but not make more people helpless. I am pro-life. I am pro-learning. I am pro-family. I am known as a constructive guy who's helped make many good things happen in Alaska. I am passionate about our state and it's opportunities. I am angry when outside government is either mean-spirited or ignorant about what Alaska can do for the nation and the world. I'm even angrier when the federal government wants to take our liberty, our property, and our businesses, and replace our judgment with its own.
Click here to watch a short YouTube clip: Mead on Taxpayer Protection (Mat-Su Debate)
Mead on the Role of Lt Gov
The race for Lieutenant Governor is vitally important. Alaska's history shows that the Lieutenant Governor has to be ready to become Governor at any time. I have discussed the role of Lieutenant Governor with all three Republican gubernatorial candidates. I have worked well with all of them before. As the only person on the Capitol's 3rd floor the Governor can't fire, I would be fearless in speaking up for the people of Alaska. I would help in the fight with the federal government for our State's rights. Washington has to deal with Alaska's issues on Alaska's terms. I would help Alaska speak with the strongest possible voice. Within the state, I would help people navigate the confusing maze of government and work with the governor and the legislature to promote limited government and defend personal freedoms.
Mead on Running Elections
The Lieutenant Governor has to ensure free, fair, and honest elections. I was a part of the Wally Hickel campaign in the disputed 1978 election for governor. The court found thousands of irregularities in that election. I will never forget how an audit we did helped us to find over 200 votes hidden in a locker weeks after the primary election. Afterward I helped former legislator Tim Kelly improve election laws, and as Lieutenant Governor I would continue to work for free and fair elections in Alaska.
Click here to watch a short YouTube clip: Mead on Running Elections (Mat-Su Debate)
Mead on Parental Rights
I support the Parental Notification Initiative, and will be voting yes on 2 come August 24th. It is a sad, crazy day in Alaska when we need to go to the ballot box to restore the rights-and responsibilities-of parents. As a single parent of three, I sign a lot of permission slips. Pierced ears. Volleyball. Field trips. But according to the Supreme Court of Alaska, a trip to an abortion clinic for our underage daughters is none of our business. I understand my daughter's right to privacy, but as a parent, I feel it is my responsibility to be a part of the difficult emotional and moral decisions of our childrens' lives. Whenever any member of my family goes near a hospital, I pray hard - in overtime. I need to know. In a crisis, I'm there - with love, forgiveness, and counsel. It's called parenting. They're our kids. They're our families.
Click here to watch a YouTube clip: Mead Treadwell on Parental Notification (Mat-Su Debate)
Mead on the Alaska Economy
I'm running because I believe I can help advance the Alaska agenda: fill the oil pipeline, build the gas pipeline, diversify our economy, and expand our exports around the world. Alaska's economy is in the most dangerous place it has been in the 33 years I've lived here. We have to use state assets to build jobs rather than just managing our way to decline.
Mead on the Oil Pipeline
I began this campaign with a challenge to the president: Mr. Obama, fill up this Pipeline! Since I was a kid, revenue from North Slope oil has paid for our roads, our schools, a third of our jobs, and Alaska's Permanent Fund. Oil is the foundation of the Alaska economy. But the Trans-Alaska Oil Pipeline is running less than one-third full and production continues to fall. We have the resources to reverse this trend but we face fierce opposition from Washington. Three times this spring, the Obama Administration has made decisions that threaten to choke off the pipeline altogether. They denied us a bridge to bring oil already found in the National Petroleum Reserve (NPRA) across the Colville River to join the pipeline. They canceled exploration in the Chuckchi after years of preparation, without giving us a plan to get back on track. They are trying to permanently block oil development in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. I learned, as Chair of the Arctic Research Commission, that 13% of the world's undiscovered oil, and 30% of the world's undiscovered natural gas, will likely be found in the arctic. Other nations are moving ahead. With competitive tax and royalty policies inside the state, and an effective challenge to Washington, we could be leading the world in the safe development of arctic resources. Alaska needs to get tough.
Mead on the Gas Pipeline
Like most other Alaskans, I wanted a gas pipeline yesterday. As Lieutenant Governor, I would work with the Governor and the Legislature to set permitting, taxes and royalty policies that will help our gas be competitive in global markets.
I've learned in business that no project works without a buyer and a seller making a deal. Everything else is icing on the cake. In 40 years, with literally billions of dollars spent by various companies trying to get a pipeline, we still haven't seen a deal, and that's what I'm focused on. Four competing projects are spending money now to try again. We should aggressively pursue customers in every market, until we have a deal that works.
Mead on Diversifying the Economy
Candidates always talk about diversifying Alaska's economy. I've done it. As an investor, as a public official, as a citizen I've worked to bring good ideas, capital, and Alaska's resources together to get things done.
A few examples: Opening the border with Russia in 1988, and following up with trade and tourism. Working to sell Alaska energ - coal, oil and gas - on the Pacific Rim. Helping the timber and mining industries work through the maze of regulations, and going to bat against an initiative that would have killed off large mines in the state. Helping Cordova set up the Prince William Sound Oil Spill Recovery Institute after Exxon Valdez, and helping Seward build the Alaska Sea Life Center. Working with Barrow to bring public and private resources together to build the Barrow Arctic Research Center. Burning the midnight oil to support Governor Hickel, as he turned the tide in Washington to establish community development quotas which brought the riches of Alaska's fisheries onshore for coastal villages. Helping finance and build the Kodiak Launch Complex, and bringing additional support to our University research programs. Working with eight arctic nations to write the first plan for arctic shipping. Leading the fight to get a missile defense for America that brought jobs all over Alaska, from Shemya to Delta Junction. Starting several companies with Alaska and outside partners that pioneered new technologies on global markets.
Alaskans are innovators, capitalizing on our resources, our location, our brains and our sweat to compete on world markets. As Lt. Governor, I will help them - as I always have, and we'll start by making sure our government pays attention to all of our opportunities, not just a few. I support the comprehensive approach laid out in the recent Forward Alaska report by our regional development groups (ARDOR's.) I have served on the State Committee on Research, the US Arctic Research Commission, the board of the Prince William Sound Science Center, the Alaska Science and Technology Foundation and other public and private boards helping to build Alaska.
Click here to watch a YouTube clip: Alaska GOP Delegate Mead Treadwell addresses the Convention
Mead on Fighting the Feds
Before he passed away, my friend and mentor Wally Hickel asked to be buried standing up and facing Washington, so that he wouldn't have to get up and fight.' For years, the federal government has ignored our rights to our resources, be it oil, timber, or fish and game. We need to defend the rights we earned with that 49th star on the flag. For thirty years, I have been fighting for Alaska against the federal government, and I believe I can use my experience to continue this struggle as Lieutenant Governor.
Mead on Rural Alaska
Rural Alaska's challenges in health, transportation, sanitation, and economic issues are very familiar to me. I've worked for many years to help people help themselves - and to get Washington to understand Alaska's differences. As Deputy Commissioner of the Alaska Department of Envionmental Conservation, I pushed for joint federal and state investment in sanitation, health, and energy facilities, and infrastructure has dramatically in the last 20 years because of those efforts. On the U.S. Arctic Research Commission, I worked to bring the national research community to help Alaska deal with the horrible suicide epidemic we are seeing among Alaska youth in rural areas, and worked to get the Smithsonian Institution, the National Science Foundation and others to address the challenge of dying Alaska languages.
Please click here for a message from Mead about military and veterans issues.To read about Mead's efforts to help rural Alaska, please click here.