Trio of gubernatorial candidates offer visions on ferries, mining, tourism to Southeast leaders

Republicans Dave Bronson and Treg Taylor, and Democrat Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins put regional spin on their approaches to governing at forum hosted by Southeast Conference

Gubernatorial candidates (from left) Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins, Dave Bronson and Treg Taylor participate in a forum during Southeast Conference’s annual meeting in Ketchikan on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026. (Photo courtesy of Southeast Conference)

By Mark Sabbatini

Juneau Independent

Three of the four candidates for Alaska governor expressed support for growing tourism, mining, the state ferry system and other economic-related activities in Southeast Alaska at a candidate forum in Ketchikan on Tuesday, but with some very different views at times on how those goals can be achieved.

Participating in the forum hosted by Southeast Conference at its annual meeting were Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins, a Democratic former state legislator from Sitka; Dave Bronson, a former Republican mayor of Anchorage; and Treg Taylor, a former Republican attorney general under current Gov. Mike Dunleavy.

The fourth candidate in the ballot, Anchorage business owner Bernadette Wilson, a Republican, did not participate in the forum. All are seeking to replace Dunleavy in the Nov. 3 election since he cannot run again this year after serving two consecutive terms.

The three participating candidates, in their opening statements, reiterated oft-stated fundamentals reflecting their backgrounds and political allegiances.

"God has blessed this state with vast resources and there's absolutely no reason we can't unleash these resources," Taylor said.

Bronson, noting the candidates are seeking an executive branch office, declred "I've already held the position that's most closely related to that position."

As the lone Democrat looking to replace a Republican governor, Kreiss-Tomkins said "I think we have been frustrated, as I think many Alaskans have, with the inability to find common ground and collaborate and compromise and get things done."

Bronson and Taylor both said they support a 20-year plan for the Alaska Marine Highway System unveiled last year, which has been met with some skepticism due to its heavy reliance on uncertain federal funding and the extent to which the plan will address existing service gaps. Taylor said he believes the fleet should be modernized to improve reliability of service, while Bronson said he favors an update fleet that doesn’t include electric-powered ships.

"Some people want to come in and say, "Well, we're going to take one or two of the ships and make them all electric for some reason,’" he said, adding "Diesel over electric is fine, but an electric ship is not."

Kreiss-Tomkins said a statewide infrastructure bond should be considered to help fund ferry and other transportation projects, and "I think, in addition, there are real structural changes that are needed (to make) sure that governance of ferry system is not political."

"I ultimately want to see ferry system leadership be more independent from the changing politics of whoever is governor, even if that's me," he said.

The forum occurred on the day when direct deposits of the year’s $1,200 Permanent Fund Dividend began arriving in people’s bank accounts — a couple days ahead of the official Oct. 1 start date — and the candidates were asked about what dividends they feel are possible while still balancing the state’s budget.

All three candidates have stated they favor altering the Alaska Constitution to put a cap on how much can be spent from the Permanent Fund without a statewide vote (Wilson has previously opposed the idea). Kreiss-Tomkins and Bronson also said Tuesday the so-called "statutory" PFD that this year would have resulted in a payout of about $3,800 — under a formula not used for nearly a decade — is not affordable, while Taylor did not take a definitive stance.

Kreiss-Tomkins said he favors boosting state revenue by requiring privately owned companies to pay corporate income tax, which they’re currently exempt from, and also favors a sales tax on internet commerce that Dunleavy vetoed after the Legislature passed it this year.

Bronson, after asking audience members how many owned a private company and seeing a show of hands, said he opposes imposing a corporate income tax on them. He also said he believes state government is still spending too much, and favors increasing revenue by "stimulating greater exploration and development of our natural resources." Taylor, like Bronson, said he opposes imposing new corporate taxes, and supports reducing regulations that are inhibtiing resource development and other projects.

Regulation also surfaced when candidates were asked about their views of a healthy tourism industry.

"We've got to just make sure that we're not beating up too much on the cruise industry and in environmental regulations," Bronsons said. "I think they're doing a very clean job, and I think we just need to support them."

Taylor, expressing agreement, said "just keep get keep government out of it. Let this thing grow. Let this thing continue to to boom." "We have a regulatory duty as the government, right?" Taylor said. "But that regulatory duty does not mean that you have to constantly be antagonists to everything that industry is trying to do."

A different point of emphasis was offered by Kreiss-Tomkins, who said "I think housing is the the answer that comes first and foremost to mind."

"If you are running a tourism business right now in Southeast, and I know many of those owners, probably one of the biggest challenges you're facing — maybe the biggest challenge you're facing — is that there's nowhere for your employees to live, in particular in the summer," he said.

All three candidates also expressed support for additionng mining projects in Southeast and elsewhere in Alaska, with Kreiss-Tomkins putting an emphasis on "responsible resource development," while Taylor and Bronson expressed support for aggressive natural resource development sought by President Donald Trump.

When asked if the governor should live in Juneau — with Dunleavy absent from Governor’s House during nearly all of his tenure — Bronson and Taylor both said the governor should be where the job duties require, whether in Juneau, elsewhere in Alaska, or overseas. Kreiss-Tomkins declared "I will live in the governor's mansion."

• Contact Mark Sabbatini at editor@juneauindependent.com or (907) 957-2306.