Moving Alaska Forward. The Alaska Democratic Party, representing Alaska’s diverse cultural, religious, economic and social groups, pledges to work for the common good, to protect our diversity, care for our families, improve our communities, and achieve our party’s goals. We recognize that what unites each of us Alaskans is as important as what defines us as individuals.

Equality. We believe in the protection of full civil and equal rights for all people and support the continued efforts to eliminate discrimination based on religion, belief, race or ethnicity, cultural language, tribe, origin, sexual orientation, disability, parental status, gender, or age.

Privacy. We believe Alaskans’ rights to privacy must be defended. We support the right to confidentiality of identity, personal data, actions and movement, and freedom from government surveillance. Alaskans must be guaranteed the freedom to make and act on personal decisions regarding religion, reproduction, medical care, and marriage and life partners.

State Government. We believe the mission of state government is to provide for the health, safety, education, and well being of all Alaskans; to support the development of Alaska’s human and natural resources; to protect the assets entrusted to the people of Alaska, and to provide and maintain essential infrastructure.

Education. We believe a comprehensive, fully funded and equitable public education system, which reflects the diverse cultures and ways of life of the people of Alaska, is critical to quality of life and a healthy economy. This system must include programs to prepare young children for school, promote quality public education for all of Alaska’s children, and promote life-long educational opportunities through development of vocational training and post-secondary curriculums with a progressive university system that includes graduate and research programs. These systems must be supported by comprehensive library, museum, sports, arts, humanities, and public broadcasting programs.

Jobs. We believe in a goal of full employment with every worker entitled to a living wage and a safe, harassment free workplace that promotes equal employment opportunity in all terms and conditions of employment. We encourage enforcement of non-discrimination laws and the promotion of Alaska preference in hiring.

Labor Relations. We believe that every Alaskan is entitled to join a union, to negotiate and ratify contracts in good faith and to participate in union activities without fear of reprisal. Negotiated contracts must be honored and enforced free of discrimination by employees, employers, and all branches of government.

Business. We believe the development and growth of Alaskan-owned businesses, cooperatives and industry are the backbone of our economy. We support the promotion of sustainable new businesses, cooperatives, commerce, and industries through the responsible development of our natural and human resources and the promotion of in-state, value-added processing of resources with revenues re-invested in Alaska.

Resources. We believe Alaska’s economic future is dependent on responsible development and investment in our state’s diverse and abundant human and natural resources. We support environmentally and culturally responsible exploration and development of our vast mineral, natural gas, and oil resources. We must take a leadership role in research and development of renewable sustainable forms of energy, new industry, new products, and new ideas. We support Alaska-based ownership and maximum local participation in North Pacific fisheries, the protection and sustainable harvest of wild stock fisheries, and the development and aggressive marketing of value-added seafood products. We support a healthy forest products industry based on multiple use and sustained yield management. We support sustainable tourism in Alaska. Alaska’s ownership interest in its lands must be vigorously protected, but not to the detriment of private property owners’ rights.

Environment. We believe quality of life and economy in Alaska depends on a clean and healthy environment. All Alaskans, urban and rural, are entitled to clean air and clean water. We support efficient, full and responsible funding for environmental protection. We must prevent pollution through energy conservation, waste reduction, recycling, and proper management and clean up of hazardous and solid waste. We support the use of verifiable scientific research to respond to Climate Change and environmental degradation. We support open spaces, trails, and recreational opportunities.

Subsistence. We support a constitutional amendment to guarantee subsistence activities of rural Alaskans. Subsistence policies must protect the customary and traditional use of renewable resources, which are vital to protect and preserve Native culture. Subsistence management must be based on a meaningful, inclusive public process and use of local knowledge, sound science, and conservation techniques.

Health & Social Services. We believe that health care is a basic human right and therefore we seek development of a national health care system. We also believe that all Alaskans should have access to quality health care; therefore we support a quality health care system that is accessible, equitable and affordable for all. We support the reduction of substance abuse through prevention and treatment. There must be zero tolerance of physical, sexual, and mental abuse and neglect of persons of any age.

Rural Life. We respect and support all rural Alaskan communities, including their traditional cultural ways of life for current and future generations by promoting equal education and technological resources, adequate sewer and power generation systems, and public safety and health services for all of Alaska’s people. We support state recognition of Alaska Native tribal governments as historic, essential elements of our culture and as part of our governance structure.

Safety. We believe all Alaskans, urban and rural, should be secure from acts of crime. The criminal justice system should be fully funded, including alternative programs and training for personnel to ensure equitable law enforcement, courts, defense, prosecution, and a progressive corrections system. Sentences should be fair and just, without regard to race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, disability, economic status or ethnicity, and not include the death penalty. Victims should receive restitution and have the right to participate in the criminal justice process. The correctional system shall be publicly owned and operated within the State of Alaska. Efforts shall be made to incarcerate individuals at or near their home district.

State Fiscal Policy. We support the development of a responsible, long-term fiscal plan that considers all the tools available to provide for essential government services, which includes community revenue sharing, and protects the Alaska Permanent Fund and Alaska Permanent Fund Dividends. The Alaska Permanent Fund should be invested in a socially and environmentally responsible way whenever prudently possible. We support deriving maximum benefits and revenues from extraction and sales of Alaska’s natural resources to the benefit of its resident.

Public Participation. We believe government should encourage public officials and private citizens to work together for the common good. This requires public participation and access to government proceedings so that all debates and decisions occur in an open, respectful public forum. All participants in government including elected and appointed officials must adhere to the highest ethical standards in facilitating the process. To promote citizen confidence in elections, voting procedures must adhere to the highest standards of security, verifiability and accuracy and assure ballot access to all qualified voters.

Constitutional Rights. We believe that the United States and Alaska Constitutions confer certain individual rights, including the right to responsibly keep and bear arms, the rights to freedom of speech, assembly, press, and religion, prompt arraignment and trial, privacy, and freedom from illegal searches and seizures. We believe in the separation of church and state. We believe all levels of government must protect these rights.

International Trade. We encourage international trade with those nations which allow their workers to bargain collectively for living wages and benefits and which also protect the environment.

National Defense. The Alaska Democratic Party supports a strong national defense that supplements, but does not replace, diplomacy as a means to advance international peace and economic prosperity.

World Peace. We reject unilateral and preemptive war. We believe that the US government should support multinational efforts through the United Nations and elsewhere to stop genocide, reduce hunger and disease, protect human rights, and promote justice, prosperity and peace in the world.

Adopted at the State Convention of the Alaska Democratic Party
Palmer, Alaska
May 25, 2008