Cathy L. Tilton

Cathy Tilton was born in Anchorage, Alaska, and lives in Wasilla, Alaska. Tilton graduated from Service High School in 1980. She earned a certificate in accounting and travel from Alaska Business College and attended the University of Alaska, Anchorage. Her career experience includes working for a law firm in Big Lake, Alaska, for the mayor of Wasilla, Alaska, and as a real estate investor.[2][3]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Representative Tilton is a lifelong Alaskan who grew up in Anchorage and has lived in the MatSu for over 30 years. After graduating from Service High School, she earned a certificate in Accounting and Travel from Alaska Business College.

In 1980, she moved to Big Lake where she began working for a local law firm and started her family. Later, she went to work for the Mayor of Wasilla.

After that, her and her family started several successful small businesses that employ dozens of Alaskans around the MatSu. Prior to being elected herself, she was legislative staff for a Senator and Representative who were members of the MatSu delegation.

Over her six terms, she served as Chair of the Community and Regional Affairs Committee where she helped Alaska’s municipalities navigate the uncertainties of the marijuana initiative. She spent two terms as a member of the House Finance Committee where she championed a new spending cap to the constitution and proposed dozens of budget cuts. Immediately before being elected Speaker of the House, Rep. Tilton was the leader of the Republican House Minority.

In January 2023, she was elected as the 23rd Speaker of the Alaska State House. She is the fourth woman elected to the position, the second elected from the MatSu and the first Republican Speaker from the MatSu. While Speaker, she was chair of the Committee on Committees, Vice-Chair of the Rules Committee and a member of the Ways and Means and Arctic Policy, Economic Development.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Fiscal certainty and responsibility. I have long supported a revised Constitutional spending limit.Protection of the Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend. I support following the existing statutory formula and enshrining the existence of the Dividend withing Alaska's Constitution.Elections Integrity and Security. Among other issues, I strongly support repealing ranked choice voting.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Fiscal restraint and certainty, Elections integrity and security, Economic development, the advancement of the LNG pipeline and 2nd amendment protections.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

The Alaska Outdoor Council, Women for Gun Rights, District and State Republicans, the MatSu Republican Women, the Valley Republican Women, former Rep. Laddie Shaw, Ron and Janet Johnson, Tom and Kim Bergey (MSB and State School Boards). I am still waiting for several other endorsements.

Cathy Tilton did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2024 Candidate Connection survey.

Cathy Tilton did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2022 Candidate Connection survey.

Cathy Tilton did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2020 Candidate Connection survey.

Tilton submitted the following statement to [the profile publisher]:[12]

I am a limited government conservative and believe in applying sound business practices and concepts to make government more efficient.[13]

Tilton listed the following issues on her campaign website:[14]

Spending

Excerpt: "Unquestionably, the most important issue we must address, especially in this election cycle is our fiscal stability. It isn’t only about reducing spending, streamlining government services and more thoughtfully prioritizing spending; nor is it only about a sensible tax structure that encourages private investment and helping our economy grow to increase our revenue stream—it must be about both!"

Revenue

Excerpt: "Increasing revenue is a critical component to stabilizing our state finances. This is why I strongly supported SB 21 and strongly oppose ballot measure 1. While our oil and gas resources are exactly that—OURS!; we need dependable and experienced private sector partners to help the state of Alaska monetize those resources. State government doesn’t have the expertise to develop our petroleum, and I don’t believe that is the function of state government."

Second amendment"

Excerpt: "I fully support existing Alaska gun ownership laws including the “Castle” and “Stand your ground” doctrines."

Public safety

Excerpt: "The recent tragedy in Tanana that left two of our State Troopers dead, highlighted the need for changes in Alaska Statute like allowing Village Public Safety Officers (VPSOs) to carry firearms. Fortunately, that bill is awaiting the Governor’s signature, but we must be more vigilant and proactive to prevent these tragedies in the future."

Crime

Excerpt: "One of the most effective ways to reduce the money we spend on corrections is to adopt strategies to reduce individuals from re-offending (recidivism). As a member of the House Finance Committee staff, I had the opportunity to work closely with Sen. John Coghill’s office on his omnibus crime bill (SB 64) and include provisions designed to reduce recidivism by helping non-violent offenders re-enter the workforce. As your legislator, I will work to implement programs aimed at recidivism reduction."

Education

Excerpt: "Both in Alaska and around the country, there is a growing trend toward alternative approaches from the traditional public school model. Homeschooling, charter schools and school choice continue to increase in the matrix of options for K12 education and in the dialogue about how decision makers wrestle with the complicated issue of public education. We need to carefully consider every option available to provide our kids the best education possible."

Land access

Excerpt: "I support the mission and work of the Citizen’s Advisory Commission on Federal Areas (CACFA) and will look for ways to increase their role in helping Alaska manage its land and work with the federal government in developing policies that impact Alaskan’s access to those lands."

Fish

Excerpt: "I will support Chinook abundance research efforts so Alaskans will continue to have dependable access to this valuable and iconic resource...I will work with stakeholder groups and our congressional delegation to advance state control of halibut management."

Legislative process and transparency

Excerpt: "I support maintaining the 90 day legislative session. I will work with House and Senate leadership to make changes to the Uniform Rules to allow for greater committee work during interim periods...I intend to set aside entire days of committee hearings designated solely for public testimony for any committees I chair, and I will encourage other committee chairs to do the same."