Candidate: Pete Sprague

District: 33

Seat Running For: Representative

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 ?

I have volunteered with the Leeshore Center in Kenai which supports women and children victims of domestic violence.

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?

I believe that isolation, substance abuse, and disconnected families help contribute to a high rate of violence against women in Alaska.

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?

Increase penalties for crimes against women and children, as well as strengthen laws addressing stalking and harassment.

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?

The legislature should explore the possibility of helping to subsidize shelter programs.

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?

The question isn't clear to me.  The bottom line is that we need to look to the root causes of violence against women and children.  An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

What is the name of the domestic violence/ sexual assault intervention program(s) that serves your constituents and who are the current executive directors?

Lee Shote Center, Cheri Smith