Harry Crawford for Congress » About

Harry Crawford: Working Hard for Alaskans since 1975

admin — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 05:51:27 +0000

An ironworker by trade, Harry came to Alaska in the 1970s, when he and his wife, Gwen, helped build the Trans-Alaska Pipeline. Harry has been an iron worker for 37 years and has worked on projects across the state. He knows the value of creating more opportunities for Alaskans—from building a natural gas pipeline to developing renewable resources.

Since 2000, Harry has served Alaskans in the State House. He’s worked across party lines to create jobs, reduce class sizes, and provide tax relief. Harry has also taken important issues directly to the Alaskan electorate by leading a number of successful citizen initiatives––including one approved by 73% of voters to fight corruption by reforming campaign finance and lobbying laws.

Familiar Ground: Harry beat an entrenched incumbent in a conservative district before

admin — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 05:49:58 +0000

In 2000, Harry beat 10-term incumbent Ramona Barnes, former Speaker of the State House, 55% to 44% in conservative East Anchorage, despite being heavily outspent. In four subsequent elections, Harry has defeated well-financed opponents by standing up for working families and everyday Alaskans.

Harry has consistently won reelection with conservative support. He’s helped reduce property taxes in Anchorage, and earns an “A” rating from the National Rifle Association.

Why I’m Running

admin — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 04:37:55 +0000

My name is Harry Crawford and I represent a hard-working East Anchorage district in the Alaska House of Representatives. As a state representative, I have been working for you since 2000, and I can say that without a doubt this has been the greatest honor of my life. So it is with difficulty that I will be giving up my seat to run for U.S. Congress.

I’m running for Congress because Alaskans are tired of waiting. We’re tired of waiting for economic opportunity and economic security. We’ve been waiting for a gasline since I was an iron worker building the oil pipeline. We’re tired of waiting to develop our natural resources—natural gas from the North Slope and Cook Inlet, wind energy and hydroelectric power around our state. We’re tired of waiting for sensible solutions to health care and a workable climate policy. We’re tired of waiting for the end to gridlock in Washington, the endless partisan bickering.

And most of all, we’re tired of waiting for a Representative we can be proud of. We’re tired of waiting for leadership.

I don’t pretend to have the answers to everything. I have been effective in the Alaska House because I understand that above and beyond any particular notion I may have about an issue, I represent you. In running for state representative, I knocked on your door to hear your answers and you gave them to me. You defined the issues, you defined the solutions, and together we did our best in Juneau to make Alaska better. I’m proud of that.

So now I want to knock on more doors. The chaos in Washington D. C. is more than we can tolerate. In many ways, Washington is a new place these days, and Alaska needs a new representative who can the bridge partisan gaps to make the most of these new opportunities.

We can do much better than we are, and the key is hard, honest work, listening, learning and pitching in. America and Alaska will be a lot better off if we all quit shouting and start working together.

So today I want to ask your help. When I knock on your door, open it and tell me exactly what you think. When you see me standing in a supermarket parking lot, walk right up to me and give me a piece of your mind. If you do this I guarantee you I’ll listen. And I will represent you in Washington D. C with the honesty, integrity and hard work you deserve as an Alaskan.

It won’t be easy, but nothing worthwhile ever is. Together, we can stop the waiting and make good things happen for Alaska and America.

Thank you,