U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, speaks during an interview with the Juneau Empire at the Capitol in February 2019. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, speaks during an interview with the Juneau Empire at the Capitol in February 2019. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

Opinion: Sullivan is a leader and getting my vote

“Senator Sullivan has an outstanding record of military and national security service.”

  • Merrill Sanford
  • Tuesday, October 13, 2020 10:20pm
  • Opinion

By Merrill Sanford

After growing up in Juneau and having the honor of serving as mayor, I’ve had an opportunity to work with many elected officials and community leaders.

As a former Marine myself, I know leadership when I see it. And when someone isn’t a leader, it’s obvious.

The current campaign for Alaska’s U.S. Senate seat is a good example.

Dan Sullivan won this seat six years ago when he beat the incumbent, Mark Begich. He is now running for reelection. During his first term in office, he was responsible for getting bipartisan legislation passed that is important to Alaskans.

His opponent, Alan Gross, has never run for office and has no record of leadership or service in our local community. According to Gross, he earned as much as $2.5 million a year as an orthopedic surgeon in Juneau but, seven years after he quit his practice, he says he wants to reform the system that allowed him to do that.

Gross is heavily funded by Outside groups that want to elect candidates who are in favor of socializing our health care and ramming through the Green New Deal. He has aired endless false attack adds against Senator Sullivan.

Alan Gross’s negative campaign reflects poorly on him and sounds desperate.

Senator Sullivan has an outstanding record of military and national security service. He is currently an infantry officer and Colonel in the United States Marine Corp Reserves. Over the past 25 years, Colonel Sullivan has served in many command and staff positions on active duty and in the reserves. He is the only member of the U. S. Senate still serving in the military.

Sullivan has taken the lead on rebuilding our county’s military, promoting responsible resource development in Alaska, opening up markets for Alaskan fishermen, cleaning up our oceans, expanding benefits for our veterans, and taking action to protect survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence.

It was Senator Sullivan’s leadership that lead to the passage of two bills he sponsored that addressed two issues that should concern all Alaskans – the Power Act, which provides legal help for survivors of sexual assault, as well as the Save Our Seas Act, which addresses our oceans debris and plastics crisis.

Alan Gross says we need to send a doctor to Washington to fix what he thinks are our country’s failures.

No we don’t. What we need is someone who has fought for all Alaska and will continue to fight for ue in the future.

What we need is a Marine. What we need is to continue the leadership of Senator Dan Sullivan.

Semper Fi.

• Merrill A. Sanford is a resident of Juneau and previously served as mayor. Columns, My Turns and Letters to the Editor represent the view of the author, not the view of the Juneau Empire. Have something to say? Here’s how to submit a letter to the editor or My Turn .

More in Opinion

Web
Have something to say?

Here’s how to add your voice to the conversation.

A preliminary design of Huna Totem’s Aak’w Landing shows an idea for how the project’s Seawalk could connect with the city’s Seawalk at Gold Creek (left). (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo)
Opinion: To make Juneau affordable, grow our economy

Based on the deluge of comments on social media, recent proposals by… Continue reading

The White House in Washington, Jan. 28, 2025. A federal judge said on Monday, Feb. 3, 2025, that she intended to temporarily block the Trump administration from imposing a sweeping freeze on trillions of dollars in federal grants and loans, adding to the pushback against an effort by the White House’s Office and Management and Budget. (Doug Mills/The New York Times)
My Turn: A plea for Alaska’s delegation to actively oppose political coup occurring in D.C.

An open letter to Alaska’s Congressional delegation: I am a 40-year resident… Continue reading

Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) questions Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Pentagon, during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee at the Capitol in Washington on Tuesday morning, Jan. 14, 2025. (Kenny Holston/The New York Times)
Opinion: Sen. Sullivan doesn’t know the meaning of leadership

Last Wednesday, Sen. Dan Sullivan should have been prepared for questions about… Continue reading

Current facilities operated by the private nonprofit Gastineau Human Services Corp., which is seeking to add to its transitional housing in Juneau. (Gastineau Human Services Corp. photo)
Opinion: Housing shouldn’t be a political issue — it’s a human right

Alaska is facing a crisis — one that shouldn’t be up for… Continue reading

(Juneau Empire file photo)
Letter: In the spirit of McKinley, a new name for Juneau

Here is a modest proposal for making Juneau great again. As we… Continue reading

(Juneau Empire file photo)
Letter: Protect the balance of democracy

We are a couple in our 70s with 45-plus years as residents… Continue reading

President Donald Trump signs executive orders in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, following his inauguration as the 47th president. Legal experts said the president was testing the boundaries of executive power with aggressive orders designed to stop the country from transitioning to renewable energy. (Doug Mills/The New York Times)
Opinion: Sen. McConnell, not God, made Trump’s retribution presidency possible

I’m not at all impressed by President Donald Trump’s executive order aimed… Continue reading

Juneau Assembly members confer with city administrative leaders during a break in an Assembly meeting Monday, Nov 18, 2024. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Opinion: Community affordability takes a back seat to Assembly spending

Less than four months ago, Juneau voters approved a $10 million bond… Continue reading

(Juneau Empire file photo)
Letter: Informing the Public?

The recent Los Angeles area firestorms have created their own media circus… Continue reading

Bins of old PFAS-containing firefighting foams are seen on Oct. 24, 2024, at the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport fire department headquarters. The PFAS foams are due to be removed and sent to a treatment facility. The airport, like all other state-operated airports, is to switch to non-PFAS firefighting foams by the start of 2025, under a new state law. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
Opinion: A change for safer attire: PFAS Alternatives Act 2023

Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as PFAS, are man-made synthetic chemicals… Continue reading

Attendees are seated during former President Jimmy Carter’s state funeral at Washington National Cathedral in Washington, on Jan. 9, 2025. Pictures shared on social media by the vice president and by the Carter Center prominently showed other past presidents in attendance. (Erin Schaff/The New York Times)
Opinion: Karen Pence’s silent act of conscience

Last week at Jimmy Carter’s funeral, President-elect Donald Trump and former President… Continue reading