So Who is Scott McAdams Anyway?
People are still asking the question, “Who is Scott McAdams?” They know they don’t want to vote for Joe Miller, but they want to know that they’re doing more than voting against something. Fortunately for them, they’ll be voting for a fantastic candidate. Dennis Zaki interviewed Scott McAdams a few days ago. Here he is with a brief bio, and how he feels about federal spending, and education. Pass this link to all undecided Alaska voters you know, and anyone who wants to make a political donation to a state with LOTS of bang for the buck. BANG!
My name is Scott McAdams, and I’m the Mayor of the City and Borough of Sitka, and the Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate. I have been Mayor for two years, and a local elected leader for eight. I have served as the President of the Association of Alaska School Boards, have on the Alaska Municipal League Board of Directors. I’m the Chair of the Southeast Alaska Conference of Mayors. I’ve worked as a commercial fisherman, I’ve worked as a High School football coach. I am currently the Director of Community Schools with the Sitka School District. I serve on my local church’s Pastor-Parish Relations Committee. I’ve been married to my wife Romee for 17 years. We have three kids – Kaitlyn, age 16; Chloe, age 8; and Gavin, age 5.
When you take a look at the state of Alaska, it’s hard to imagine as a young state – as a state that didn’t have the opportunity to live through the industrial revolution, and neither has the benefits nor bears the scars of that period – to say that the era or the need for investment in Alaska from the Federal government is over, I think is very short-sighted. Now certainly, I understand that a 13 trillion dollar deficit is a huge problem for our future in this country. I would add that I’m the only candidate in this race who has ever voted on a public budget. I’m the only candidate in this race who’s ever had to cut a public budget. This year in the City and Borough of Sitka alone, we had to cut 1.4 million dollars out of a 25 million dollar budget, and we made those cuts across every department. Now, we did that through teamwork; we did that by asking our staff to come to us with the best ideas for savings, and we lead through it. We didn’t grandstand or shame people into doing the difficult work of cutting a budget, but we actually collaborated and worked with folks.
I believe that we can, overall as a nation, get our fiscal house in order, but I think that Alaska just like every other young state in this country has every right to be developed and to see federal investment continue to come into the state. Because again, it’s one third of our state’s economy. If Joe Miller came in said that we need to cut out 100% of oil and gas.. well, oil and gas is one third of our economy. To say that we’re going to limit all federal spending to the things mandated in the four corners of the constitution would be devastating to Alaska, and would put a lot of people out of work.
I have a lot of experience in education. I have my degree in secondary education from an Alaskan college, Sheldon Jackson College. I’ve worked as an educator. I’m currently the Director of Community schools, but most of my experience has been fighting for Alaska Schools, fighting for local governance and local control of Alaska Schools, as a member of the Association of Alaska School Boards, and as its past president.
I believe that a robust and healthy public education system is critical to a functioning society. It’s an economic development issue. People don’t want to live in communities that don’t have good schools. Even the United States Chamber of Commerce would say, and has stated in the past, that there’s a direct correlation between the performance of schools and the property values in the neighborhood.
As Alaska’s next United States senator I’ll continue to support efforts to localize control of Alaska’s schools, but also to make sure that the unfunded mandates that the federal government puts down on Alaska schools are paid for.
Recently, we have seen some progress in this area in the realms of special education and other programs, but we need to keep up the fight to make sure that Alaska’s schools are well-funded, are ready to serve kids, and ready to serve communities.
I would vote for this guy,but am in CO. have to vote Bennett!!
Hmmmmm.
Complete sentences. Topics that are developed. Experience in many areas, and no sign of quitting.
Can’t be an Alaskan candidate, can it?
Alaska – you have a great candidate in Scott McAdams!
I live in Kansas, but will budget for a donation for him soon. We need level-headed, community-minded education-loving Senators. Wish we had someone like him to vote for Kansas.
He is simply a great choice for any state: someone you can actually be proud of representing you.
What a nice change! Refreshing!
Yay!!! I am very happy to have him as a candidate. Passing the link on!
“Who is Scott McAdams Anyway?” Hopefully, he will be Alaska’s next United States Senator. Everything I’m reading about him is great and he seems to be the antithesis to Joe Wilson. I really hopes this happens, not only for Alaska, but for our Senate.
Good article. I hope further interviews will bring out Scott McAdams opinions on Pebble Mine, drilling in ANWR, oil drilling in Chukchi and Beaufort Seas, Health Care, protection of our Denali, etc. A friend brought visitors over the other night. One of their observation after going into the park was that it is one of the only places left where due to the control on how many can go in at a time, etc., they knew they were seeing all its glory in its original natural state. And, even though they didn’t see a bear, they found it beautiful. Wow, what a statement since some would like to open it to trapping of wolves, etc.
We have many good thoughts and love of our time in Sitka. A wonderful community and glad to see Scott McAdams interest and work there.
Here’s also a good piece on Huffington Post about Scott McAdams: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/alaskadispatchcom/meet-scott-mcadams-an-ala_b_705852.html
[[AKM -- I sent you an email w/ some possible edits for the article...hope you don't mind. beth.]]
Thank you for doing that, Beth.
Best of luck to Scott!
[[AKM -- make that two emails... beth.]]
we tried to do our part to help candidate mcadams while in sitka today.
but, alas, there was no mc adams for senator campaign office at which to donate.
hubby had wanted to surprise the staff by hopping off the ship and trekking directly to the office to offer support from california.
would have been fun
I have been anxiously awaiting more news about Adams’ positions, and my first impression after having read this brief article is “Wow… it’s about time!” Someone who is involved in multiple aspects of the community and state. Someone who recognizes that tough choices (i.e. budget cuts) require collaboration and buy-in from multiple groups of constituents. Someone who recognizes that education is critical to Alaska and our nation’s future. Someone who doesn’t hold extremist views. Someone who I’m beginning to believe will be worthy of earning my vote in November. The next couple of months are going to be an eye-opener for a lot of Alaskans who normally would never consider voting for a Democrat.
Will there be any debates? Bet he could more than hold his own!
Apologies to all. This is one of those times when my butterfingers hit “Publish” by mistake and you were all subjected to my rough notes, with no videos included. It’s been a long week…
So here is the post complete with edited transcript, and actual videos you can watch.
chortle… nothing that 50 lashes with a wet noodle won’t cure ! It’s ok if you slip up once in a while, we won’t fire you…
I don’t make campaign contributions lightly, but when I learned about Scott McAdams, I jumped at the chance to help his cause (& ultimately our own). I will be working in Hawaii this November, but will make certain that I turn in my absentee vote. Alaska has been turned into a laughing stock by people of Miller & Palin’s ilk. Scott sounds exactly like the sort that could change things for the better for us.
When I heard that Murkowski was out I was really worried. I assumed that the election would be given to creepy Miller, but after seeing Mayor McAdams on Rachel Maddow I was really impressed w/ him.
He’s bright, articulate, has a deep love and understanding of Alaska.
He has the potential to be a new and improved (and Democratic) Ted Stevens. Say what you will, Stevens loved and brought a lot of needed pork to Alaska.
So how do we get the DNC and unions to get McAdams some love and pump some money and support into his campaign?
Maybe I’m naive but I think this is a very active race and that McAdams can win.
He sounds very knowledgable and informed and qualified to be a U.S. Senator who will lookout for the best interest of Alaska. The only problem I see is that some people may be turned off simply because of his appearance or body weight. He is morbidly obese, and some people can’nt see past a persons physical appearance and judge him on his qualifications alone. It’s unfortunate, but it has been well documented that more attractive individuals tend to be promoted over those who are less attractive. Sarah Palin is probably a good example of this. I just hope that the voters ignore this and consider him more for his qualifications and intellect and not his physical appearance.
[as she covers her head and sprints past, quick-like-a-bunny, so she doesn't get hit by chucked sourdough pancakes...]
Hey, we’re talkin’ Alaaaaska, here, M Baker…ain’t no rhyme nor reason for *who* wins a spot on their ballots — ain’t no telling *who* they’ll vote for, either. beth [as she scampers out of flying food-turned-missile range...]
You know, big people deserve representation in the Senate too! As I write this, most of the USA has a weight problem. Also, being a big person doesn’t mean that you’re a blob on a couch. Scott McAdams looks as if he could kill someone w/his bare hands, if he absolutely had to. He’s a former football coach, after all, which means that he probably played football in high school. We therefore know that he’s not allergic to physical activity.
In his picture, Mayor McAdams looks like a guy with a very solid frame, who, no matter how much he weighed, would still look like a big, strong guy, a man’s man. I was wondering if he was part Alaskan native. If so, he would be the first Native American in the Senate since Colorado’s Ben Nighthorse Campbell.
Sorry… but just becuase he can remember and regurgitate party lines doesn’t make him a valid candidate. Phrases like “I’ve worked as a High School football coach”, “a lot of experience in education”, “get our fiscal house in order”… what do they mean? if McAdams is going to get votes he needs to stop the clique campaign “I’ve been married for X years and am respected in church” rhetoric and focus on real issues. As of yet he’s been unable to do so (see http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2010/09/03/mcadams_shows_fight_in_ak_but_hesitates_on_policy__107005.html ).
It seems Democrats are up against a wall in this election… we have a good chance of putting another Dem senator in office – but the senate candidate doesn’t appear to know how to articulate anything beyond small town talk. In the governor’s race we have a strong candidate who pledges to dismantle ACES and AGIA. A Democrat candidate who wants to roll back regulation and tax reform and pull the plug on the pipeline? No wonder democrats (like myself) are disillusioned.
*********************************
Actually, the senate candidate articulates quite a bit –
Mudflats interview part 1 – http://www.themudflats.net/2010/06/02/mudflats-chats-meet-scott-mcadams-alaska-democratic-candidate-for-u-s-senate/
Mudflats interview part 2 – http://www.themudflats.net/2010/06/03/mudflats-chats-scott-mcadams-democratic-candidate-for-senate-part-ii/
Mudflats interview part 3 – http://www.themudflats.net/2010/06/05/mudflats-chats-scott-mcadams-ak-democratic-candidate-for-u-s-senate-part-iii/
Video interviews by Dennis Zaki – http://www.themudflats.net/2010/09/05/so-who-is-scott-mcadams-anyway/
Podcast of interview with Shannyn Moore – http://www.themudflats.net/2010/09/07/scott-mcadams-is-on-the-shannyn-moore-show/
And that’s just what’s been printed on this blog. You should be able to find extensive information at http://www.scottmcadams.org also. In addition there have been articles on The Alaska Dispatch and the Anchorage Daily News. Try the Google! AKM
The 3 interviews he did for Mudflats make him sound articulate … the above videos not so much. That said I find it ironic how he can go in one breath from talking about the decimation of fisheries (due to oil spills ) to how we need to drill ANWR.