SITKA, AK - The board of the Alaska Longline Fishermen’s Association (ALFA) voted this week to endorse Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins (JKT) for governor of Alaska.
“Endorsing a political candidate is a rare move for our organization,” said Linda Behnken, Executive Director of ALFA. “This year we are taking a stand because all our fishermen recognize the need for real change in management of Alaska’s fisheries and our board is united in support of JKT.”
“JKT recognizes the value of Alaska’s fisheries and has repeatedly worked both behind the scenes and in political forums to promote our industry and Alaska’s working waterfronts,” said Behnken. “JKT is a problem solver, a coalition builder, and unswervingly committed to reducing bycatch and its impacts on Alaska’s fish, fisheries and fishing communities. He is the governor Alaska needs.”
JKT understands Alaska’s fisheries, communities, and the need for balanced and sustainable management. He has been a champion of small boat commercial fishermen for over a decade, in and out of the legislature. JKT served as a member of the Alaska House of Representatives Fisheries Committee for 10 years, was engaged in the North Pacific Fishery Management Council advocating for Alaska’s interests and served on the board of the Alaska Sustainable Fisheries Trust. JKT has fished commercially and grew up in a fishing community.
Trawl bycatch and habitat impacts have been widely discussed this political season, but JKT will follow through on his commitments to get Alaska’s fisheries back on track. JKT has earned the trust of ALFA’s executive board of Republicans, Democrats, and independents.
“Commercial fishing is the backbone of coastal Alaska. I represented commercial fishermen for a decade in the legislature, and ALFA’s endorsement means a tremendous amount to me personally,” said Kreiss-Tomkins. “As governor, my administration will stand up for Alaska’s small-boat commercial fishermen and the coastal communities that depend on them. I will nominate members to the North Pacific Fishery Management Council who support reducing bycatch, who will make sure Alaska communities and Alaskans benefit from our tremendous fisheries resource. ALFA has been a leader on these issues, and I am grateful for their support. I encourage all fishermen to get out and vote in the primary election on August 18.”