UPDATE: Since I originally wrote this post, trails have become a regular part of many candidate interviews for the upcoming Fairbanks Borough Assembly elections. Below are the most recent items I have found. The rhetoric has toned down since the Interior Taxpayers Association forum on September 3 when Jimi Cash called the Fairbanks Comprehensive Recreational Trails Plan a “communist land grab” and Tammie Wilson said the plan needs to be revisited.
What Candidates Have Said About Trails
In Sept. 29 candidate interviews by the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, candidates for Fairbanks Borough Mayor had nothing specific to say about trails, but both mentioned support for parks and recreation.
- Grier Hopkins: (When responding to a question about “the most pressing concerns the borough should focus on,” Hopkins first mentioning a “strong economy,” then “improving our schools.”) Then improving our quality of life with new access to the great outdoors, parks and rec, and places for families to play.
- John Coghill: (When responding to the question, “How do you maintain services that attract working age professionals?” Coghill said “Childcare is at the top of the list,” then he mentioned the borough parks and recreation department.) Our parks and recreation department is of huge value to families and is supported by committed and generous participants.
- Robert Shields: Sheilds’ interview did not mention trails, parks, or the outdoors.
In Sept. 27 candidate interviews by the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, opposing candidates Jimi Cash and Kristan Kelly were asked: “How would you address the perennial argument of public trails verse private land use?” Here’s how they answered:
- Cash: When I was on the assembly, we placed funds in the Capital Improvement Program for the borough to be proactive in legally purchasing land trails that would not infringe on a private property owners. The taking of private property for public recreation is wrong.
- Kelly: It boggles my mind why anyone would want to interfere with the borough’s Trail Plan or change the way trails are designated. To refer to them as a “communistic land grab,” shows a misunderstanding of the basic knowledge of how easements work in the borough. It also shows a lack of awareness of the economic powerhouse trails and outdoor recreation bring to the borough and the state of Alaska. Winter visitor industry is growing faster than our summer tours and much of that tourism is reliant on using our trails.
We would jeopardize long trail systems like the Yukon Quest or developing the Alaska Long Trail if we make granting trail easements optional like my opponent has supported. I consider our trail system the bedrock of our community and our greatest natural resource. Borough residents benefit economically, physically and mentally from the use of our trails.
In Sept. 26 candidate interviews by the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, opposing candidates Garrett Armstrong and Tammy Wilson were asked: “How would you address the perennial argument of public trails verse private land use?” Here’s how they answered:
- Armstrong: I would look for a balanced approach that respects the rights of property owners while keeping the public trails that we all enjoy. I grew up in Chena Ridge area, and one of my favorite parts of my childhood there were the numerous local trails that my family hiked in, walked our dogs on, and I went exploring. Several of them were on private property that the owner allowed neighbors to walk through, provided that they leave motor vehicles at home. One went through my parents’ property and we enjoyed visits from neighbors passing through. Our wonderful landscape is something we all appreciate, and I believe we can find a way to share it while respecting one another.
- Wilson: When I was on the assembly, we placed funds in the Capital Improvement Program. This allows the borough to be proactive in legally purchasing land for trails that would not infringe on a private property owner. The taking of anyone’s property just because they want to subdivide is wrong!
In the 09/25 KUAC morning newscast, Cash and Kelly had some things to say about the Fairbanks Comprehensive Recreational Trails Plan. Start listening HERE at 5:30. (Cash elaborates on his “communist land grab” comment made at a Sept. 3 candidate forum, as described in the original post below.)
Other KUAC morning newscasts had comments from Wilson and Armstrong (09/24) and Guttenberg and Ramirez (09/23), but none of the comments regarded trails.
In Sept. 25 candidate interviews by the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, opposing candidates Miguel Ramirez and David Guttenberg were asked: “How would you address the perennial argument of public trails verse private land use?” Here’s how they answered:
- Guttenberg: “There has to be a balance between private land use and the trails system. The trails system has been under a lot of public review and conflicts are generally mitigated. Sometimes it’s between private property owners and other times it’s with land developers, we make it work by working together.”
- Ramirez: “Capital Improvement Programs for the borough have to be vigilant when legally purchasing trails that do not violate the rights of the property owners To divide land by taking someone’s property for trails is without a doubt inherently wrong!”
In a News-Miner story about a Sept 17 candidates forum, in response to a question about making Fairbanks more attractive to businesses, start ups and entrepreneurs, “Kelly, Armstrong, and Guttenberg said that improving the quality of living through trails and arts would also make Fairbanks attractive.”
At the League of Women Voters forum on Sept. 13, Kelly said “she would fund trail development,” according to this Fairbanks Daily News-Miner story. According to a KUAC story, Kelly also said several other positive things about trails at the forum and Guttenberg said “The borough is about solving practical problems,” and used “getting trails done” as an example.
Original Post (with Cash’s “Communist land grab” comment)
Normally I steer clear of mentioning elections regarding trails, except in the most general terms. I believe trails, for the most part, cut across party and ideological lines. However, recent comments by some Fairbanks Borough Assembly candidates about the Fairbanks Comprehensive Recreational Trails Plan deserve attention.
At the September 3 Interior Taxpayer Association candidate forum, the trails plan came up. Tammie Wilson, Jimi Cash and Miguel Ramirez, all candidates for the Fairbanks Borough Assembly, had some critical things to say about the trails plan. What they said suggests that if they get elected, the trails plan is in danger, or at least portions of it. (See the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner article HERE.)
A Brief History
After a contentious months-long process, the Assembly passed a update of the plan in June 2023. The plan had not had a update since it was adopted in the 1980s. The plan was contentious because some members of the Assembly felt aspects of the plan impinged on private property rights. Others felt it did not.
The plan passed after a last-minute compromise deal was devised by then-Assemblyman Aaron Lojewski, and then refined by Mayor Bryce Ward and his staff. The plan passed 7-2 with Assemblymembers Barbara Haney and Brett Rotermund voting no. (But even Rotermund said he was “pretty happy this thing passed.”)
Assemblymembers Tammie Wilson and Jimi Cash voted for passage. Also voting for passage of the trails plan were Assemblymembers Kristan Kelly, Mindy O’Neall, Savannah Fletcher, and David Guttenberg. (You can read about it in this blog POST.)
Since then, Wilson and Cash lost their reelection bids at the next borough election. Lojewski could not run again because of term limits. Kelly, O’Neall, Fletcher, and Guttenberg are still serving, as are Haney and Rotermund. Wilson and Cash are running again. Cash is running against Kelly. Miguel Ramirez is running against Guttenberg. Wilson is running against Garrett Armstrong, who has never served on the assembly but who has expressed strong support for trails. (You can see an example of the ballot HERE.)
But whoever was elected to the Assembly, the trails plan update finally seemed settled.
Communist Land Grab?
Then at the ITA forum, Wilson and Cash said the trails plan should be revisited, according to this Fairbanks Daily News-Miner ARTICLE.
Wilson and Cash, who voted for the trails plan in June 2023, said property rights are sacrosanct.
“We need to revisit it because your land doesn’t belong to everyone else in the borough,” Wilson said.
Cash called the trails plan a “communist land grab.”
“That’s what it is because if the government … can take your land and use it ‘for the common good’ then it is communism or socialism,” Cash said.
Cash had also sponsored an ordinance in January 2023 the trails plan adoption that would have made easement creation optional on properties during the subdivision, rather than mandatory. However, it was shot down after Borough Mayor Ward promised that he would veto it in a rare use of his veto powers.
Ramirez said he would vote against such measures because “your land is your land and is your family’s legacy.”
(An early version of the News-Miner article said Wilson and Cash voted against the trails plan, but the article has since been corrected.)
Several borough assembly candidates – Kelly, Guttenberg, and Armstrong – were not at the forum. The News-Miner gave them a chance to respond to the list of questions posed the other candidates, though there was no question specifically about the trails plan.
Candidates on Tuesday were asked whether they would vote to rescind past policies or vote against future ones that potentially endanger private property rights. The question directly referenced an updated comprehensive trails plan the Assembly adopted in a 7-2 vote in 2023 and the Climate Action Adaption Plan adopted in June.
Kelly chose not to respond to any of the questions, saying she does not think the ITA forum seems “like it is a legitimate forum.”
Guttenberg, in his written comment, said “too many rumors, not enough facts” concerning the question on policies. Armstrong said he needed further clarification.
You can see the entire article HERE.
Power of the Assembly Regarding Trails
The Borough Assembly has a limited number of things it can do regarding trails, mostly its powers are budgetary, such as funding aspects of the Borough Parks and Recreation Department and paying for funding for trail projects. The latter is usually voting whether to approve match funding for larger grants, though the assembly has approved the yearly Public Community Trails Improvement Program through the Capital Improvement Program. That program has been funded for $350,000 a year for the past few years to make improvements, such as buying trail easements, putting up signs, and making trailhead improvements.
The biggest statutory power the Assembly has regarding trails is to change the trails plan. The trails plan update went through an extensive public process that included many compromises. The result was not everything I had hoped for, but I think it was a reasonable compromise. Based on the assembly votes at the time, I thought Cash and Wilson agreed. Apparently not.
I think the trails plan update was a good compromise between protecting private property rights and helping ensure public access to public trails. I definitely don’t think the trails plan unfairly impinges on private property rights. And it’s certainly not a “communist land grab.”
Please Vote
I do not advocate for people to vote for candidates based on a single issue. Nor do I think that people who are critical of certain aspects of the trails plan are anti-trails. But if you are a supporter of the Fairbanks Comprehensive Recreational Trails Plan, please keep in mind the comments of the three candidates – Cash, Wilson and Ramirez – about the plan. If they are elected, the plan – or aspects of it – could be radically altered. (Though it should be noted that while Cash and Wilson know the details of the trails plan, it wasn’t clear from the article how much Ramirez really knows about it.)
Voting turnout in local elections is typically abysmal. Often 20% or less of eligible voters bother to cast a ballot. Local elections will be on October 1 this year. Early voting is again available. It starts Monday, September 16, at Shoppers Forum Mall, 1255 Airport Way. You can also request a ballot by mail. Find out more about voting, early voting , and requesting a ballot by mail HERE.
No matter how you feel about this issue please vote. A healthy democracy relies of voter participation.
Leave a Reply