By Hannah Heimbuch

I’m a commercial fisherman and a fisheries advocate. I spend most of my life working alongside people with widely differing backgrounds and beliefs. Over the years, I’ve voted for Republicans, Democrats and Independents in roughly equal share. Basically, I vote for the person I trust, and I vote fish. 

This election cycle, I’m asking myself one question: who do I trust with our fish — and our fishing communities — when the cameras are off?

Here’s my answer: Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins.

Many Alaskans know that there’s a code when you’re on the water or in backcountry. If you see someone in trouble, you stop. Strangers have pulled me out of snow drifts and towed my boat 30 miles to shore. It’s what we do.

That ethic doesn’t end at the harbor. We need leaders who look out for their neighbor, regardless of party.

That’s what I see in JKT, and it’s what I expect he’ll do for our fishing community.

First, he’ll restore balance and integrity to the Board of Fish.

The Board of Fish runs on a three-year cycle. That cycle affects how fishermen plan for the future. When the Board takes up allocation questions out of cycle — like the Tsiu River decision last October — it erodes trust through the whole system.

The Board is supposed to serve every user group in the state: subsistence, commercial, sport. When the system is dominated by a single interest group, appointments and decisions don’t reflect that balance, and we all suffer.

The Board’s own rules allow for special petitions and agenda change requests, but those tools were meant for genuine emergencies, not as a backdoor for special interests. Fishing is unpredictable enough without political changes upending a community’s plans. 

Jonathan has been clear: he’ll appoint a Board that reflects all user groups, and a Fish and Game commissioner who respects the department’s biologists, research and mandates.

He’ll also work to lower costs so small-boat fishermen can compete.

Vessel and crew insurance has climbed so fast that it’s now one of the largest line items on many boats’ books. Nobody should have to choose between insuring their crew and staying in business.

There’s a workable fix in front of us. Recent legislation opened the door for Alaska fishermen to form insurance pools and co-ops. Jonathan has committed to making this a reality, fully funding the Division of Investments, and standing behind the Alaska Commercial Fishing and Agriculture Bank to create more opportunities for entrepreneurs out on the water.

Jonathan grew up in Sitka, a town built by commercial fishing, and represented Southeast fishing communities for a decade in the Legislature, where he worked hard for Alaska’s fisheries issues long before they were grabbing headlines. He earned United Fishermen of Alaska’s endorsement back then, and in this race he’s picked up endorsements from the Kodiak Seiners Association, Cordova District Fishermen United, and the Alaska Longline Fishermen’s Association, along with countless of my fellow fishermen. 

Fishermen who’ve watched him work don’t have to guess where he’ll stand.

And that’s why I trust him.

I’ve gotten to know Jonathan over the years. He’s the kind of person who asks questions, listens carefully, and speaks honestly. He’s more interested in understanding the issues people face than convincing someone that they’re wrong. I’ve watched him build relationships across political lines, which is the only way we get things done in Alaska. 

Alaskans don’t fit neatly into a two-party system, not as individuals, and certainly not as communities. Because of that, leadership can’t be a contest of political philosophies. It’s the daily work of finding common ground when common ground is hard to find. It’s measured by whether communities are stronger because you served them.

That takes patience, humility, curiosity, and the willingness to listen and to build before dividing. Those are qualities I’ve consistently seen in Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins.

That’s the kind of leadership Alaska needs.

Hannah Heimbuch is a lifelong Alaskan and fisherman from Palmer. She was born and raised in Homer, and commercial fishes on Kodiak Island.