Fisheries management is complex and essential for all Alaskans, coastal communities, and families reliant on healthy stocks. Raised on the Kenai River, the historic premier king salmon fishery, and with 30 years as a sport and commercial fisherman, I share the conservation concerns driving this debate. As a gubernatorial candidate, I call for substantive dialogue over sound bites. A blanket trawling ban is rash, risking economic harm and fishery instability. I urge fellow candidates to temper rhetoric; vows like "stop trawling day one" reveal incomplete understanding. We must prioritize science-based management with robust monitoring and technology, not emotion, and enforce existing laws for accountability. The Amendment 80 fleet drives most bycatch and bottom-trawls Alaska’s Exclusive Economic Zone; however and notably, one-third of this fishery is owned by coastal Alaskan communities (under CDQs: community development quotas, enacted via the Magnuson-Stevens Act (1976, 2007) and Sustainable Fisheries Act (1996)) dependent on it for economic survival. As Governor, I'd review the program to ensure alignment with Alaskan values and priorities. Bycatch is inevitable, but must be minimized through smart policies. King and chum declines stem from multiple factors, including foreign high-seas fisheries and trawlers, massive Russian hatchery releases, domestic bycatch, in-river egg predation and warming ocean habitats. Foreign trawling evades oversight despite treaties, while Russia's 20:1 hatchery release ratio outcompetes our salmon in shared feeding grounds, tackling this is crucial. Solutions may include new western Alaskan hatcheries for Chinook and Chum using indigenous stocks from struggling rivers. I commend the NPFMC's 45,000 chum bycatch cap, but note 85-90% are Russian hatchery fish, underscoring competition from billions of foreign releases. We must build on this with further measures.
I've witnessed emotion and outsiders fuel flawed policies, like the spotted owl controversy that needlessly shuttered logging in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska, industries still closed nearly 50 years later. Hindsight revealed inaccuracies and falsehoods, shaping my measured conservation approach. Today, out-of-state entities behind Salmon State linked to Arabella Advisors and funded by George Soros, Zuckerberg, and other radicals, advance anti-fisheries agendas. Broad attacks on trawling could eliminate remaining processors for all commercial fisheries. This is likely their true aim. We must expose their motives to prevent division and secure sustainable fisheries and local harvest for future Alaskans.
I am Matt Heilala, running for Governor.
Veterans
Alaska has the highest per-capita veteran population of any state making up more than 8% of Alaska’s population, over 59,000 Alaskans. Despite this, there is a common attitude among veterans that the state is not doing enough to help their group succeed, and that Governor Dunleavy is not listening to their concerns. With a state budget of roughly $60 million for state-operated veterans’ affairs, and additional underutilized federal resources available, Alaska needs to re-evaluate how it supports veterans and strengthen the systems that will help them thrive.
Although an estimated 59,000 veterans live in Alaska, federal agencies and VA programs recognize only about 35,000 (roughly 59%). This gap exists in part because some discharged veterans don’t know how to enroll, choose not to enroll, or simply delay or forget to sign up for VA health care and other benefits after discharge. Federal VA resources are often allocated state-by-state based on the number of veterans “in network” (enrolled/connected to the VA system), rather than the total veteran population identified through census estimates. As a result, every veteran who is not enrolled, reduces the level of federal services and investment Alaska receives.
This also has downstream cost implications. Some veterans may be receiving care through Medicaid or Medicare programs that can shift costs to the state when they could instead be served through the VA system, which would be more cost-effective and better tailored to veteran needs. For example, the Anchorage Tikahtnu Center offers a limited VA clinic rather than a full hospital, in part because the number of enrolled veterans is not high enough for the VA to justify a larger facility. If Alaska can implement a plan to increase VA enrollment and ensure veterans are recognized at the federal level, the state could reduce pressure on its budget while improving access to care and services that many veterans currently lack.
How can Alaska help veterans enroll in VA benefits? The state already identifies many veterans through the questionnaire included in the annual Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD) application, where applicants indicate whether they have served in the military (reportedly, a nuance in asking this question as “have you served in the military” versus “are you a veteran” was developed due to female veterans being less likely to claim they are a veteran due to a feeling they do not deserve or wish to be recognized as having served our nation). The challenge is converting that knowledge into enrollment. One practical step is helping veterans complete VA form 10-10EZ, which enrolls them in VA health care. Submitting the 10-10EZ can connect veterans to VA hospitals, clinics, and related services, including care connected to service-related conditions. Once the form is submitted, the VA can follow up and help the veteran navigate available benefits and services beyond healthcare.
Alaska can further support veterans by helping ensure veterans and their families have essential documentation in place for emergencies, catastrophic events, and end-of-life planning. Many veterans, both those enrolled in VA care and those who are not, do not have easy access to their DD Form 214 (DD214), which documents military service and discharge status. The DD214 is often required to verify eligibility for benefits and to support survivors after a veteran’s death.
For example, if a veteran dies and the spouse or family cannot locate the DD214, they will be unable to access certain benefits, such as a military burial and costs resulting from death. Helping Alaskan families obtain, store, and locate DD214 records is a practical step that can reduce stress during crises and make funeral planning and survivor benefit processes much easier.
Finally, Alaska can also borrow a page from Florida’s playbook and examine how Florida attracts veterans to put down roots. Through workforce and community development programs, Florida has prioritized attracting veterans because of the positive impact they can have on the economy and on local communities through employment, entrepreneurship, and civic leadership. Alaska could adapt similar strategies to strengthen both veteran outcomes and statewide resilience. Florida has also developed the FireWatch program to ensure their state population of not only veterans know how to identify and help suicide prone veterans or assist in defusing an attempted suicide. Alaska’s next Governor can also take a stronger stand with fellow state governors in the “Governor’s Challenge to Prevent Suicide” which is meant to help states understand the risks of veteran suicide and how to assist veterans reassimilate into civilian life.
I’m Matt Heilala, running for Governor.
Alaska’s Prosperity: Energy & Infrastructure
As your Governor, I will build an education system that puts Alaska parents and families back in charge of their child’s school day. You, the Alaskan families, know your kid best, not some bureaucrat in Juneau. Every family deserves real choices, not just the wealthy. It’s our constitutional duty to deliver a strong education to every Alaskan child, no exceptions. Stacey and I are proud products of K-12 public schools right here in Kenai and Soldotna back in the ‘70s and ‘80s. Times have changed. The old model of giant centralized brick-and-mortar campuses is fading fast.
The future is decentralized, flexible, and full of options including traditional public schools, charter, online, hybrid, and homeschool; tailoring education to best-fits for your child. Technology is roaring in like a supersonic tsunami. We will harness the good of it so our kids can get twice the education in half the time for less money. No special interests will stand in the way of that progress. Smart tech makes one-on-one learning possible, at least part of every day. That frees up real time for hands-on teaching, sports, extracurriculars, and the outdoor adventures that build strong, healthy Alaskan kids.
I will adequately fund our public schools, but will demand real results and accountability, measuring my goals of reading proficiently by the end of third and proficient in pre-algebra or algebra by ninth grade. Together, we will build a “no excuses,” transparent partnership between parents and teachers to rebuild the trust that’s been lost.
Alaska kids are our greatest treasure. With common-sense reforms, real parental choice, and results that matter, we’ll give them the world-class education they deserve, prioritizing families first.
I’m Matt Heilala, running for Governor.
Grand Jury
Government in Alaska must be of the people, by the people, and for the people. That means every public official from Juneau to your local courthouse has a clear duty to act with honesty, ethics, morality, and total transparency.
The Grand Jury is one of the strongest tools the Alaska Constitution gives ordinary citizens. It’s our direct line for redress when government agents fall short, act shady, or cross into corruption or even the appearance of it. Right now, that tool is badly weakened. A previous Alaska Supreme Court decision has made it much harder for regular Alaskans to use the Grand Jury process. Add in the growing concerns and perceptions of impropriety by those who enforce and run it, and public trust has taken a real hit. We have a chance to fix this right now.
The Alaska Supreme Court is accepting public comments and testimony on reforming the Grand Jury system. The deadline is April 6 and I strongly encourage every concerned Alaskan to step up, submit your comments, share your story, and demand a clear, open, and effective Grand Jury that actually works for the people.
Furthermore, I support Attorney General Stephen Cox. He gets it, shares our concerns and is committed to restoring the trust in this vital constitutional right. As your Governor, I will fight to make the Grand Jury strong, accessible, and independent again. The people must have the power to hold their government accountable. That’s common sense and real accountability, the Alaska way.
I’m Matt Heilala, running for Governor.
Healthcare
As a practicing podiatric physician and surgeon with nearly 30 years in Alaska, and as the owner of multiple ambulatory surgery centers, medical practices, and clinics, I bring a unique perspective on both the economics and business of healthcare and what it truly means to serve Alaskans with dignity and excellence.
I still recall my childhood in the 1970s, when my family doctor suspected a serious heart condition. We waited nearly a year for a pediatric cardiologist to visit Anchorage, many miles away from my home on the Kenai Peninsula, for an evaluation. Those anxious months left my parents and siblings deeply worried. In the end, it was just a harmless heart murmur requiring no treatment. That experience highlighted Alaska’s longstanding need for better access to specialty care, a gap that has persisted for decades. The oil pipeline boom changed everything. A surging economy drew specialists from across the country, lured by high pay and our unmatched quality of life. Alaska’s healthcare flourished.
Today, the story has reversed. A struggling economy fueled by rejected resource projects, shrinking revenue streams, and widespread scarcity has eroded pay, quality of life, and healthcare access across every sector. A strong healthcare system rests on four core pillars we all share:
1. High-quality care
2. Easy access without long wait times
3. Reasonable costs
4. A system that prevents burnout and high turnover among our dedicated healthcare workforce.
Economics drives it all. Reviving a booming Alaska economy is the single most powerful engine to fix these issues by boosting revenue, attracting providers, and easing scarcity. True reform must embrace market principles to lower costs and increase competition. Senator Rand Paul, a physician himself, has championed ideas that align closely with real-world needs, including:
1. Dramatically expanding Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) to make them available to all Americans (not just those with high-deductible plans), raising contribution limits significantly (e.g., up to $24,500 annually in recent proposals), and broadening allowable uses to include premiums, gym memberships, supplements, and more, empowering individuals with tax-advantaged, portable savings for healthcare.
2. Expanding Association Health Plans (AHPs) to let small businesses, sole proprietors, gig workers, and individuals band together for better negotiating power and lower premiums
3. Allowing insurance sales across state lines and promoting flexible, affordable coverage options.
4. Repealing burdensome ACA mandates while protecting those with pre-existing conditions through targeted mechanisms.
It’s high time Alaska ends the Certificate of Need (CON) process. This outdated regulatory barrier creates small monopolies, stifles competition, blocks new facilities and services, and drives up costs unnecessarily. In a state as vast and underserved as ours, we need more providers and innovation, not government gatekeeping that protects incumbents.
We should also pursue synergies between government-funded systems like the VA and Indian Health Service where feasible at the federal level, improving efficiency without duplication. Reversing the mistake of Medicaid expansion which added surges of patients and inflated costs in private insurance pools would help stabilize markets. Likewise, reinstating the ability for insurers to offer catastrophic (high-deductible) plans (the norm before the ACA) would give young, healthy Alaskans affordable coverage they actually value, without mandating bloated benefits they don’t need.
My real-world experience running practices and surgery centers, combined with an MBA focused on healthcare economics and business, has shown me the complexity of these challenges. But the path forward is clear: unleash competition, cut red tape, empower patients and providers, and reignite Alaska’s economy. Only then can we deliver the accessible, high-quality, affordable care our people deserve.
I’m Matt Heilala, running for Governor.
I still remember getting my first Permanent Fund check when I was 12 years old in Soldotna, $1,000, I was thrilled. My parents made me put every penny in savings and taught me a simple rule: windfalls are for building wealth, not blowing on wants unless it’s a true emergency.
I’ve owned and run several successful businesses. When the company was making money, we paid good dividends. When we were barely breaking even, we had to be disciplined. Some partners screamed for “cash right now!” and we would sometimes give a small dividend just to keep the peace, but we never lost sight of our goal of growing the business so the big dividends could come later.
That’s exactly where Alaska stands today. We’re like a good company that’s struggling because too many people keep raiding the checkbook. Alaskans are fed up and rightly so. We’re skeptical because we see the waste, the handouts, and the special interests getting fat while our dividends get skinny. If I’m elected governor, two things happen on day one.
1. I’ll create a hard-hitting commission loaded with the best auditors, tech, and consultants money can buy. Every dime of state spending goes under the microscope to expose waste, fraud, and abuse for Alaskans to see. Sunlight is the best disinfectant, and we’re turning the lights all the way on so you can trust your government again.
2. We stop saying “no” to Alaska’s future. For 30 years we’ve killed project after project while special interests and short-sighted folks cheered. They’re the real ones stealing your dividend. I’m flipping that culture from “no” to “yes.” We’ll open the door to responsible development that brings real jobs, diversified revenue, and yes, full PFDs again, even bigger ones down the road.
This isn’t rocket science, it’s basic business. We will argue, compromise, and then move forward together. It’s not the time to burn through our savings until they’re gone. It’s time for Alaskans to stand up, link arms, and build the strong, prosperous state our kids deserve.
Let’s quit the fighting and start winning, together.
I’m Matt Heilala, running for Governor.
Education
As your Governor, I will build an education system that puts Alaska parents and families back in charge of their child’s school day. You, the Alaskan families, know your kid best, not some bureaucrat in Juneau. Every family deserves real choices, not just the wealthy. It’s our constitutional duty to deliver a strong education to every Alaskan child, no exceptions. Stacey and I are proud products of K-12 public schools right here in Kenai and Soldotna back in the ‘70s and ‘80s. Times have changed. The old model of giant centralized brick-and-mortar campuses is fading fast.
The future is decentralized, flexible, and full of options including traditional public schools, charter, online, hybrid, and homeschool; tailoring education to best-fits for your child. Technology is roaring in like a supersonic tsunami. We will harness the good of it so our kids can get twice the education in half the time for less money. No special interests will stand in the way of that progress. Smart tech makes one-on-one learning possible, at least part of every day. That frees up real time for hands-on teaching, sports, extracurriculars, and the outdoor adventures that build strong, healthy Alaskan kids.
I will adequately fund our public schools, but will demand real results and accountability, measuring my goals of reading proficiently by the end of third and proficient in pre-algebra or algebra by ninth grade. Together, we will build a “no excuses,” transparent partnership between parents and teachers to rebuild the trust that’s been lost.
Alaska kids are our greatest treasure. With common-sense reforms, real parental choice, and results that matter, we’ll give them the world-class education they deserve, prioritizing families first.
I’m Matt Heilala, running for Governor.
Elections
We start by repealing Ranked Choice Voting, an ill-advised, poorly timed experiment jammed on us right when Americans and Alaskans were already doubting honest elections after 2020.
When the state has to run TV ads every cycle just to re-teach us how to vote, that’s not “progress”, its a red flag and failure for our voting process. Ranked Choice Voting is another triumph of technology over common sense, and common sense must prevail! We need to get back to simple, secure, in-person elections on Election Day, the way it’s always worked best for hundreds of years.
I strongly support the SAVE Act requiring proof of U.S. citizenship to register and a valid REAL ID to get your ballot. We will end the flood of mail-in ballots that invite doubt and delays and provide absentee ballots only for those who truly need them, including active-duty military, out-of-state students, and the disabled.
If Florida (with tens of millions of people) can count their votes and declare winners on Election Night, Alaska sure as heck can too. No more “election month,” we will bring back “election day.”
Rebuilding public confidence is a non-negotiable. My Lieutenant Governor pick will have this as a top directive and the knowledge, grit, and perseverance to make it happen. Alaskans deserve straightforward, honest elections we can trust. Let’s bring back common sense and trust in our elections.
I’m Matt Heilala, running for Governor.
Sex Trafficking and Human Rights
As a candidate for Governor of Alaska, I’m committed to advancing human rights and eradicating sex trafficking, a form of modern-day slavery disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations like Alaska Native communities. This one-page document synthesizes current state resources and outlines an actionable plan to build on existing efforts, address gaps, and implement much needed reforms. Drawing from Alaska's ongoing initiatives in human rights enforcement and anti-trafficking measures, the plan prioritizes prevention, survivor support, legislative action, and community partnerships to create a safer Alaska.
What's currently in place
Alaska currently employs a multi-faceted approach to fight sex trafficking with the help from our federal government (primarily FBI services); focusing on awareness, coordination, survivor aid, legislation, and enforcement. Governor Dunleavy's awareness campaign included designating a Human Trafficking Prevention Month, promoting education and reporting via the National Human Trafficking Hotline (1-888-373-7888 or text "help" to BeFree at 233733). Additionally, the Governor's Council on Human and Sex Trafficking, under the Department of Public Safety, addresses vulnerabilities, data collection, and services like emergency shelters and the Violent Crimes Compensation Board. Furthermore, in 2020 the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation (AHFC) implemented the SAFE-T program to help with emergency housing and services for sex trafficked, abused or harmed persons in need. These programs have already provided assistance to families and harmed persons in need, in an attempt to promote a safer Alaska.
Changes to be made
Upon election, I will prioritize human rights and anti-trafficking through a comprehensive, survivor-centered plan in tandem with our private sector partners like Priceless Alaska. This will build on current frameworks while addressing gaps like resource limitations in Native communities, legislative stalls, and data deficiencies. The plan will be a top implemented priority of mine, with annual progress reports.
I will immediately issue an executive order to reform the Governor’s Council on Human and Sex Trafficking by incorporating survivor-led input for transparency and accountability. The Council not only needs a readjustment of focus but will also need improved data collection in rural areas with the help of AI to combat online trafficking.
Through state partners like Priceless Alaska, local tribal organizations, churches and our SAFE-T program, we will be enabled to pursue annual training for schools, healthcare, and law enforcement on trafficking signs, with a focus on Alaska Native vulnerabilities while also collaborating with federal agencies for a statewide campaign for real-time alerts on missing persons or suspected sex trafficking.
As a state, we must also broaden our support and funding for Alaska’s premier law enforcement agency, the Alaska State Troopers to ensure they are properly equipped and funded to stem the problem of human sex trafficking in our state, protect the defenseless and ensure the public safety of all.
Fiscal Transparency
Alaska is in crisis. Our operating revenues are in decline while spending continues to soar, fueling a persistent operating deficit of $500M - $1B annually. Oil volatility, over-reliance on the Permanent Fund, and unchecked waste have widened a generational gap we can no longer dodge. Recent revelations including hidden inefficiencies, mismanaged funds, and forgotten promises, have shocked Alaskans and exposed the urgent need for truth.
Why is there no real transparency? Campaign rhetoric fades fast and both parties tune out when fiscal accountability is mentioned. Other candidates promise vague reform; I deliver proven results. As a successful business leader, I’ve built organizations on ruthless transparency: tracking every dollar, eliminating waste, and driving accountability. That’s my track record, not an empty slogan.
On the first day as Governor, I will launch aggressive transparency using tech such as Palantir’s Foundry platform which is already transforming governments nationwide by tracing taxpayer dollars, rooting out fraud, and rebuilding trust. The era of shadowy finances is over and I will bring full visibility to every revenue source and expenditure.
We will expose the facts, verify our economy, tighten our belt, rebuild sustainable revenue, align Alaskans, and bridge the fiscal gap without excuses or delays. Others talk about change after years of failure. I have the leadership history to make it happen. Transparency isn’t optional, it’s how we earn your trust and secure Alaska’s future.
I’m Matt Heilala, running for Governor.
Alaska Marine Highway System
Ferry service in coastal Alaska is absolutely essential to the vitality of our communities. That includes not only the Alaska Marine Highway System, but also locally operated feeder systems such as the Inter-Island Ferry Authority (IFA) that connects Prince of Wales Island with Ketchikan. For many Southeast communities, ferries are not a convenience. They are basic transportation infrastructure that supports jobs, commerce, healthcare access, and daily life.
When it comes to AMHS, my goal as Governor is to take the politics out of the conversation. Alaska does not need another cycle of debate about whether ferries are necessary. That question has already been answered by the communities that depend on them. The real question is how we create long term stability and reliability for the ferry systems that serve Alaskans.
That means addressing the fundamentals: scheduling reliability, operational funding, and capital investment. For too long we have allowed ferry policy to drift through committees and advisory bodies without clear decisions being made. We need to move beyond that approach and focus on practical solutions. While state resources are limited, I believe we must work directly with impacted communities to establish a realistic multiyear funding framework that supports both the Alaska Marine Highway System and community-based systems like the IFA.
Alaska is a geographically unique state, and our transportation policies should reflect that reality. A road serves Interior communities, and ferries serve many of our coastal ones. Road building efforts in Southeast, along with bridges and even the potential for modern tunneling, will reduce the need for some ferry routes. Until then, State policy should recognize both as essential infrastructure. Again, this is not a question in my mind, but a mandate.
I believe good policy starts by listening to the people who actually rely on these systems. That means not only the Department of Transportation, but also local governments, businesses, tribal organizations, and the communities that depend on ferry service. If there are regulatory, operational, or other policy changes that can help strengthen existing systems or make it easier for communities to develop feeder ferry services like the IFA, I will vigorously pursue those options.
I look forward to working closely with the Legislature and with coastal communities across Alaska to ensure that ferry transportation remains a reliable part of our state’s infrastructure and economic future. I am be prepared to use all tools available to the Governor to keep moving forward and protect the connectivity and economic stability that our communities depend on.
I’m Matt Heilala, running for Governor.