Les Gara
Democrat | Alaska
Candidate Profile*
Verified Liberal
*Additional information appears below for educational purposes; however, only data received prior to the candidate deadline was considered during Panel Evaluation.
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Les Gara
Party
Democrat
Election Year
2022
Election
General
Race
Governor
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
Freeport High School, Freeport, Graduated With Honors, 1981
Boston University, Boston, BA with Honors, 1985
Harvard Law School, Cambridge, MA, JD With Honors, 1988
WORK & MILITARY
Candidate did not provide
AFFILIATIONS
Facing Foster Care In Alaska, Volunteer, Adviser, Ally, National Child Welfare Workforce Institute
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Alaska Legislator, State House, 2003-2018
Assistant Alaska Attorney General, Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Civil Prosecution, 1989-1990
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
Candidate did not provide
Race
SCORECARDS
CONSERVATIVE ORGANIZATIONS
2013-2014
67%
2007-2008
25%
2018
7%
2013-2014
0%
2013-2014
0%
2013-2014
|67%
2007-2008
|25%
2013-2014
|0%
2013-2014
|0%
LIBERAL ORGANIZATIONS
2014
|100%
ENDORSEMENTS*
*These endorsements were received after the deadline and were not considered in the Panel Evaluations and are for additional educational purposes only.
LIBERAL (9)
*NARAL Pro-Choice America
Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates West
EPIC Alaska (Employee Political Information Committee)
IBEW Local 1547
Elvi Gray-Jackson
OTHER (2)
*ASEA/AFSCME Local 52
*Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates AK HI ID IN KY WA
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (1)
Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Alaska March On, Alaska State Employees Ass'n as of this writing.
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
LIBERAL
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (6)
Joe Biden (2020)
Jon Ossoff Thomas Jonathan Ossoff (2020)
Mary Peltola (2022)
Obama for America (2008)
Raphael Warnock (2020)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (0)
OTHER INFORMATION
Key votes from Vote Smart
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
A woman should have the right to choose under all circumstances allowed by Roe v. Wade before it was overturned.
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).
Strongly Disagree
I support 'aid in dying' laws which legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia.
Choose not to answer
ECONOMY
What changes, if any, should be made to the tax code?
In order to support better schools, needed community, construction, renewable energy projects, and the things that create a future in rural and urban Alaska, we should receive a fair share for Alaska's oil. That means ending $1.2 billion in oil company tax subsidies the state gives some of the wealthiest oil companies in the world.
What government spending would you reduce in order to balance the budget?
You should always look for waste. But today we don't provide needed support for schools, road maintenance, energy including renewable energy projects, rural and urban law enforcement, construction jobs, and community projects that can build a stronger future.
Taxpayer-funded public education should be guaranteed through college.
Strongly Agree
We can do this with a fair share for our oil, and by ending $1.2 billion in oil company tax subsidies.
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
Choose not to answer
I am not sure what is intended by this question. Businesses should serve all if customers are not violent/disruptive.
Under what circumstances can government close churches?
I respect the freedom to worship and of religious institutions to operate without government interference.
HEALTHCARE
What most closely matches your view on healthcare: A) Healthcare for all should be guaranteed and funded by the government with no private healthcare option. (includes "universal healthcare," "medicare for all," etc.) B) Healthcare insurance funded by the government should be available for all who want it, along with private healthcare options. C) Medicaid and Medicare should remain available, but no other taxpayer-funded programs are necessary. D)Tax-payer funded health care should be abolished in all forms, and Medicaid and Medicare should be de-funded.
I support more affordable insurance options for consumers, and I support Medicaid Expansion.
Under what circumstances (if any) should a government, school, or employer be allowed to require vaccinations?
As a Governor I would not impose vaccine mandates. I would work with experts to strongly and accurately educate the public on what is safe and what works to protect health and lives so people can make their own informed decisions.
NATIONAL SECURITY
What should the United States do to help eradicate the threat of Islamic terrorism?
This is a federal issue, not one a Governor addresses. If there is actual terrorism or are real threats of terrorism, regardless of the religion of politics of the actors, the state should cooperate with the Federal Government where appropriate
I support the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement to pressure Israel to withdraw from occupied territories, remove the separation barrier in the West Bank, allow full equality for Arab-Palestinian citizens of Israel, and promote the rights of Palestinian refugees.
Choose not to answer
This is not a state issue the Governor addresses
IMMIGRATION
The U.S. should do more to physically secure the southern border.
Choose not to answer
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
Legal Immigration and Asylum protection are federal issues.
EDUCATION
I support school choice, including voucher programs, tax credits, charter schools, private schools, and home schools.
Choose not to answer
I support school district approved public optional and charter schools, but the Alaska Constitution does not allow public funding of private schools.
VALUES
Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which is necessary for our system of limited government.
Choose not to answer
I support adding gender identity as a specially protected class in non-discrimination laws.
Strongly Agree
Marriage is a God-ordained, sacred and legal union of one man and one woman. No government has the authority to alter this definition
Strongly Disagree
I support equal rights for all our neighbors, including our LGBTQ+ neighbors.
I agree with Critical Race Theory (CRT) which asserts that the institutions in the United States are fundamentally racist.
Choose not to answer
Critical Race Theory is a red herring at the state level. It is not in Alaska's K-12 school curriculum. But it should never be used as an excuse to fail to teach the truth about 400 years of racism in this country against people of color and Indigenous people. That history has occurred in Alaska too. Teaching the truth about discrimination in our history will help prevent it in the future.
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I believe in a merciful God
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Agree
What laws would you propose to change present voting practices?
We should allow same day voting just as people are allowed when they vote for president. If a ballot is defective, we should join those states that allow a voter to be notified so they can correct it, and so their ballot can be counted.
EQUALITY
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
Racism us a unfortunate truth in American history and exists today. It is a threat to progress, and we should work to bring people together and end racism.
Reparations should be given to people on the basis of race.
Choose not to answer
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
Which comes closest to your view? A) Stricter environmental laws and regulations cost too many jobs and hurt the economy. B) Stricter environmental laws and regulations are worth the cost.
We should protect the lands and waters Alaskans rely on, and that are important to our fish and game. We should act on climate change and protect our clean air.
I support the use of hydraulic fracking to extract oil and natural gas resources.
Neutral
We can allow that on a limited, responsible basis away from population centers and important waters - as is done currently on Alaska's North Slope.
ABOUT YOU
What do you think is the general purpose of government?
In part - to help provide opportunity for all people to succeed through good schools, and the things that help create success. Public safety should be supported in all urban and rural communities, many of which have no police presence at all.
When you consider your views on a wide range of issues from economic and social matters to foreign policy and religious liberty, which of the following best describes you overall?
Choose not to answer
Please provide publicly available information, including interviews and media reports, validating your answer to the previous question (other than your website).
Articles on www.adn.com, www.newsminer.com, www.aprn.org, www.sitkasentinel.com, ww.juneauempire.com and various news outlets.
Have you ever been convicted of a felony or been penalized in either civil or criminal court for sexual misconduct? If so, please explain.
No.
What else would you like voters to know about you, including your legislative priorities?
Please see my website at www.lesgara.com
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
Police officers should be personally immune from prosecution for conduct consistent with departmental policy (qualified immunity) while on duty.
Choose not to answer
I believe police should be treated fairly, and that police should treat community members fairly. That is largely the case in Alaska. I do believe public safety and the community would benefit with a police presence that looks more like the communities being served.
I support redirecting funds from police departments to mental health and community programs.
Disagree
We should fund needed public safety in rural and urban Alaska, and also fund mental health treatment. Not take from one. We should work to smartly and safely incorporate a mental health response where that's more appropriate that a criminal justice response.
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
There is bi-partisan support for smartly written Red Flag laws, which allow the temporary removal of firearms from those who are a potentially fatal danger to themselves or others. Those laws need to be carefully written so people are treated fairly and given due process and a timely hearing, and so false claims are punishable if made against a person who is not a danger.
Victims of gun violence should be able to sue firearms dealers and manufacturers.
Choose not to answer
