The month of February has taken me to visit many Alaskans in the corners of our beautiful state. When I was not traveling, I had the opportunity to meet with numerous constituents in my Anchorage and Juneau offices.

With the Legislative Session in full swing, the halls of the Capitol are filled with the faces of friends and Alaskans from across the state which I am just now having the privilege to meet. I have met with a variety of groups and individuals from business leaders to students, as well as community leaders who come to Juneau to spread the word about good things happening at home or the needs of their region.

This spring, I will continue to meet with and speak to Chambers of Commerce around the state. As you know, the economic well-being of this state is one of my top priorities. I appreciate the opportunity to talk with business leaders and get their view of what the state is doing right, and more importantly, what the state can do better.

As your Lieutenant Governor, I believe in the strength and common sense of Alaskans to keep the economy strong, and I believe the best way to do that is with as little government intrusion as possible. As I meet with Chambers and the business people involved in them, I become more confident that Alaska is in good hands and I appreciate their guidance as to how the state can help, not hinder, the growth of business.

Noorvik: First in Alaska, First in the Nation

On January 25th I had the privilege of traveling to Noorvik with Robert Groves, Director of the U.S. Census Bureau for the kickoff of the nationwide 2010 Census. The theme of the day was "First in Alaska and First in the Nation" and the people of Noorvik put on a celebration worthy of that moniker.

Director Groves and I traveled by dog sled from the airport to the school where the community celebration took place. The day was filled with activities from the collection of the first 2010 census data from Clifton Jackson, the oldest resident in Noorvik, to the reintroduction of Native dance to the community. This event was very important to the residents and I was humbled to be in attendance.

The Noorvik kickoff was the beginning of a very significant event for our nation as it only happens every ten years and I hope that all Alaskans understand the importance of census data collection. Not only is the data used to aid Alaska in redistricting efforts for the Alaska State Legislature, but it also guides the federal government in the distribution of funds. This is especially important in rural areas where federal dollars play a large role in the community.

Census officials will be collecting data in Alaska in the coming months. I encourage you to participate to ensure that Alaska receives its fair share of the funding and attention we deserve.

I was honored to help present awards to the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce's Top 40 Under 40 Luncheon. Alaska's Top 40 Under 40 was created by the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce and Alaska Journal of Commerce as a way to recognize Alaskans under the age of 40 who show community commitment and excellence in their profession.

The recipients from across Alaska demonstrate a commitment to community and professional development. It is encouraging to see so many professionals accomplishing so much for our great state.

The awardees serve as an inspiration to us all. They take an active roll in their community either through volunteer efforts or the careers they have chosen. The event is a perfect tribute to those rising stars among us.

Kuparuk & Alpine Tour

Visiting the North Slope is an exciting event. I have had the opportunity to tour oil fields before, but in February I made my first trip as your Lieutenant Governor.

ConocoPhillips was kind enough to show me around their Kuparuk and Alpine oil field developments and gave me the chance to talk to the hard-working men and women on the ground who are producing oil for our pipeline every day.

One technology I knew little about prior to the trip was the coil tubing drilling (CTD) process. Having now seen what CTD can do to increase oil recovery from existing wells, I am excited about what this can mean for North Slope production and our future. While no one can ignore that production on the slope is in decline, I am encouraged to see efforts to maximize recovery from our wells.

I was also gratified to see the major emphasis companies, ConocoPhillips included, place on safety. "Safety First" is their slogan. The men and women working on the slope are mothers, fathers, sons and daughters, and the companies doing business in Alaska strive to ensure their safety. This goal of safety extends to their treatment of the environment. My visit further reinforced my belief that we Alaskans must hold companies on the North Slope to the highest of standards with the protection of our environment being the foremost goal.

I would be remiss if I did not mention that I am concerned by the Army Corps of Engineers rejection of ConocoPhillips' request for access across the Colville River Delta into the National Petroleum Reserve - Alaska (NPRA). This action effectively prevents cost-effective access to the NPRA and further constrains our ability to develop known and dedicated petroleum reserves. There continues to be something wrong with the picture. The Federal government has recognized the importance of this area for energy opportunities, hence the name NPRA, and yet we have federal agencies placing too many unneeded obstacles in the way of increased national energy independence.

I will continue to work to ensure that Alaska resists this inappropriate and unjustified Federal intrusion into private business practices in our state. Alaska deserves the right to develop our natural resources responsibly, safely and economically.

Earlier this month, the State of Alaska joined in announcing the settlement of the Nick, et al. v. Bethel, et al. case. The settlement states that the State of Alaska will make enhancements to language assistance for Yup'ik-speaking voters available at elections in the Bethel region.

I believe as Americans, our right to vote is one of the most important we possess. Here in Alaska, we want all our citizens to have the ability to exercise that right, regardless of where they live, or the language they speak. Since this case was filed in 2007, the State of Alaska's Division of Elections has made great efforts to improve language-assistance protocols. This settlement will strengthen those enhancements. I am pleased all parties could come together to ensure this case is a win-win for Yup'ik speaking voters and the state of Alaska.

The protocols include:

• Training bilingual poll workers to provide language assistance to voters;
  
• Coordinating language assistance through a bilingual staff person with a toll-free number;
  
• Relying on Yup'ik language experts to translate election materials, including information on ballot measures, candidates, absentee and special-needs voting and voter registration;
  
• Preparation of a Yup'ik-English glossary of election terms and phrases to guide bilingual poll workers providing language assistance;
  
• Providing sample ballots in Yup'ik;
  
• Generating pre-election publicity in Yup'ik through radio ads, television programs and public service announcements, including announcements over VHF radios in villages that do not receive regular radio broadcasts; and
  
• Undertaking outreach to the villages in the census area.

When we work together for the common good of Alaskans we all receive the benefits.

Campbell joins other officials at PNWER meeting in B.C.

At the end of February, I had the opportunity to attend a Pacific NorthWest Economic Region (PNWER) meeting in British Columbia. Alaska's own Senator Lesil McGuire is the current President of PNWER which is a group designed to advance the regional priorities of the Pacific Northwest states and Canadian provinces. Members include the states of Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington, as well as the western Canadian provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Yukon and Northwest Territories.

The meeting gave me an opportunity to meet with Gordon Campbell, British Columbia's Premier. We discussed border security with Canada - an issue that affects many Alaskans - and I advocated for a more fluid border. The security of our people must remain a priority, however trade and economic development between Alaska and Canada is mutually beneficial to us all. In my role as your Lt. Governor, I believe we must maximize our international trade opportunities and the freedoms we all enjoy.

PNWER provides Alaska an open door to share in a dialogue with other states and Canadian provinces who have similar goals and priorities. I appreciated Senator McGuire's invitation to attend this meeting and welcomed the opportunity to promote issues such as trade, fishing and tourism.

For more information about PNWER, visit www.pnwer.org