To the editor:
     Vic Kohring’s letter published in your paper last Sunday, touting Pat Marley as a “freedom fighter” and “conservative” was wrong on three accounts. First, he forgot about me, Dan O’Barr the true freedom fighter for all people, rich and poor.
     Second, I’ve attended many Mat-Su Borough public hearings where Pat has testified that, “We do not need any rules or regulations concerning land development and land use”. It sounds like he wants the guy with the biggest bulldozer and most money to be able to develop any plot of land into whatever type of commercial, industrial, multi-unit housing, manufacturing, or chemical storage facility he darn well pleases to. All this without regard to the impact on the surrounding neighbors, as to their safety and property values. Believe me, land use planning and development are a lot more important than a game, and I’d wager Pat wouldn’t play a card game with his best friend, without some rules. This doesn’t sound like a freedom fighter to me.
     Third, at some of these same public hearings Pat has stated that if a speculator cannot develop his property into the commercial venture and make the millions of dollars he dreamed about, because of zoning or other regulations, then the Borough should pay that speculator for his dreamed up losses. I don’t know about you, but this doesn’t sound like a “fiscal conservative” to me. I sure don’t want my hard earned property taxes going out as payoffs to want-to-be speculators. I’d much rather see them going to the schools and for public safety, where they belong.
     Sincerely,
Dan O'Barr, Candidate
Mat-Su Borough District 4
E-mail dan@obarr.net