Alaska Business doesn’t cover politics, nor do we accept political advertisements. This policy was launched with the magazine in the ‘80s and has been reinforced time and time again in the nearly four decades we’ve been reporting.

With that clearly established, I’d like to write a few words about Don Young. Like many of the policy decisions he was involved in, Young was a foundational fixture in the Alaska landscape, and he was instrumental in building the Alaska that we know today. Whether or not one agreed with his decisions, his longevity in the US House of Representatives and the influence he was able to build over nearly five decades of holding office were assets to Alaska that cannot be easily replaced.

Regardless of the challenge, Alaskans need to select someone to act on our behalf in the US House of Representatives. There are forty-eight candidates on the ballot for the primary election, taking place this month on June 11 (the general election will be August 16). That’s a lot of options for us to consider, especially in this pivotal moment. Those who liked Young’s policies will want to ensure their continuation, while those who disliked them will see this as an opportunity to adjust course.

The candidates themselves, and their supporters, are of course eager to provide the public with guidance on how to vote. In their eagerness, they reach out to media platforms, including Alaska Business, throughout the campaign process.

Campaign season is when it’s personally the most difficult for me to adhere to our no-politics policy. It’s not that I necessarily want to advocate for a specific candidate, it’s more that my passion in my position is providing information. I love learning, and I love sharing what I’ve learned. So when a respected editorial source and partner reaches out to us with information on a candidate that they are championing, it’s difficult to politely but firmly respond that we cannot use, and definitely will not publish, any of that information.

And it’s the one time when I question if our policy on politics matches our mission to support Alaska businesses. Are we best serving our readers by maintaining our stance of pro-business development without alliance to any party or politician, or would it perhaps be a service to promote the candidates that our readers, sources, and advertisers believe will best serve the needs of the business community?

I default—as I do editorially time and time again—to consistency: a policy isn’t a policy if it’s turned on and off depending on convenience or circumstance.

I am happy to deliver one politically minded message: whatever your vision for the future of Alaska, it will never come to pass if you don’t engage—and vote. We have exactly one voice in the US House of Representatives; make sure to use yours in choosing the right one.