Sarah Palin on Jobs Republican Governor (AK); ; nominee for Vice President

Alaska Construction Academy: 2,520 students learn skills

This program has been so successful, more will follow elsewhere statewide. Graduates will help fill the 1,000 construction jobs that are needed annually.

Out of the first group of 113 Anchorage adult graduates, 77% were hired and increased their earnings 40% in the two quarters following their training. Adult classes are offered at various times, based on community employer needs, and will be expanded to include weatherization programs.

Leverage job-training dollars thru voc-tech curriculum

Focus Workforce Investment Board on vocational careers

Praised the Red Dog zinc mine for bringing rural jobs

Knowles claims strong opposition. At a resource industry forum in Anchorage, Knowles said he finds the Pebble project "terrifying." Knowles said recently, "The scale of it is so enormous. On its merits, (Pebble) is an unacceptable risk."

Palin is reserving judgment on Pebble, for now. On the Pebble project, Palin says she would not put one resource, such as the Bristol Bay salmon fishery, at risk "for another resource."

In recent debates, Palin has rarely commented on individual mines, though she praised the Red Dog zinc mine near Kotzebue for bringing jobs to rural Alaska.

SUMMARY: TONY KNOWLES: Thinks the Pebble mine prospect is "terrifying."

SARAH PALIN: Withholding judgment until she sees Pebble permit applications, but unwilling to risk the region's fisheries.

Department of Fish and Game is under-funded

All the candidates say the Alaska Department of Fish and Game is underfunded, lacking enough people and tools to study and protect the fish and their habitat.

All also promise to appoint people to the state Board of Fisheries and the North Pacific Council who will put the health of fish stocks first and won't let politics interfere.

Knowles vows he won't appoint "lightning rods," but his commercial critics argue he did as governor, naming people with sportfishing or environmental bents such as Kenai River sportfishing kingpin Bob Penney.

"What I was trying to do was bring a real balance," Knowles said. Indeed, the makeup of the board and council have at times tilted heavily toward commercial fishing interests.

Unions should get member permission for political donations

A: Yes, unions represent their workers and as such, should be accountable to them