Candidate: Kim Elton

District: B

Seat Running For: Senate

Party Affiliation: Democrat

1. As a legislator, what have you done to support women and children victims of domestic violence and/or sexual assault? What specifically have you done to help end violence against women and children in Alaska ?

My 12-year history as a legislator has been spent advocating for increased funding for victim services and tougher laws on perpetrators.

2.Women in Alaska , particularly Native women, are disproportionately victims of violence. What are the issues or causes you believe increase violence against Alaskan women?

Alcohol and other drug abuse; lack of public safety officials in rural Alaska; inadequate offender programs in correctional facilities and for post-release programs. These are just a few of a broad range programs. These are just a few of a broad range of issues that must be improved/ addressed.

3. Alaska has ranked nationally in the top three per capita for sexual assault in the past 29 years (per the Uniform Crime Reporting Code). What type of legislation would you support to increase perpetrator accountability and ensure safety for women and children?

We need to broad-based initiatives that address issues.

4.  Shelter programs in Alaska are finding it difficult to keep and maintain staff due to a lack of competitive wages.  This causes a high turnover of staff because they can receive better paying jobs working for the state and municipality.  Due to the high rate of staff turnover, the amount and type of services that can be offered to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault are greatly impacted.  As a legislator, what will you do to address this problem?

We need to understand that caring and working with victims is the flip side of catching and dealing with perpetrators. This issue is easier to deal with because adequate funding is the answer...funding for training, funding for professional remuneration, and ancillary services.

5. Funding for shelter programs has increased only 4% in the last 10 years while services have increased by over 42%. As a legislator, what will you do to address this problem?

I have always supported more funding to cover both the erosion of inflation and increased service demand. I look forward to a better legislative culture that prioritizes services to vulnerable adults and/or victimized Alaskans.

What is the name of the domestic violence.sexual assault intervention program(s) that serves your constituents? AWARE

Go To Kim Elton's Alaska Legislature Page