New Southeast state representative stays with Republican caucus

Ketchikan Rep.-elect Jeremy Bynum has decided to join the House Republican minority caucus.

A narrow 21-member coalition of Democrats, independents and two Republicans are set to govern the 40-member House when lawmakers convene next month in Juneau. The majority coalition has been hoping to entice a couple more Republicans, including Bynum, to join their ranks.

Bynum opted to stay with the Republicans, according to last week’s announcement by the minority caucus.

The freshman legislator, who also will represent Wrangell, Metlakatla and Coffman Cove, was elected to the seat previously held by retiring Ketchikan Rep. Dan Ortiz, an independent who had joined the Democratic-led coalitions in past years.

The majority coalition has the ability to set the legislative agenda. This means that majority caucus members might be more likely to have their bills called up and passed — though with 21 members, the coalition could struggle with passing legislation next session if a single member objects.

As part of the Republican organizing effort, which counts 19 members, Bynum was assigned to the Finance Committee, which oversees all spending legislation.

He said “there’s going to be some element of learning” in his new job, adding that oil prices currently are in decline and which will present a challenge in putting together the state budget.

“My top priority is going to be work with whoever I have to work with, to make sure that we have a balanced budget, and that it’s protecting a lot of the things that we already have in place.”

Specifically, Bynum said he thinks his priorities will be adequately funding education and the Alaska Marine Highway System.

He said he would advocate for a permanent increase in the state’s funding formula for local school districts, called the base student allocation. “There are creative things that we can do to ensure that we get positive outcomes in education with a permanent BSA increase, but I would also like to see some dedicated dollars going to career technical education.”