Republican gubernatorial candidate Click Bishop’s visit to Wrangell for the Fourth was a return to familiar territory, albeit from 58 years ago.

Bishop, a former Fairbanks state senator who served as commissioner of the Alaska Department of Labor from 2007 to 2012, lived in Wrangell as a child in 1968, moving frequently throughout Southeast due to his father’s construction work.

“I’ll be turning 69 on July 25. I came to Alaska as a baby and my dad worked construction and we lived all over Alaska,” he said.

The candidate sat down for an interview with the Sentinel and KSTK on July 2, the first day of his visit to Wrangell.

“The hardest decision I had to make was leaving the Senate district that I served I served 12 years in the Senate. I retired to focus on this campaign.”

He is one of 17 candidates in the Aug. 18 primary election to determine the top four vote-getters who will advance to the Nov. 3 general election to succeed Gov. Mike Dunleay, whose eight-year tenure runs out this year.

Bishop pointed to his deep connections across the state as a key asset for his run for governor. Prior to his legislative career, he was a member and later worked for the Union of Operating Engineers and its Employers Training Trust for more than three decades.

“I don’t believe there’s a candidate out there within any cross-section in the state that knows as many people as I know in the state of Alaska, and it’s not just because of the work I did before serving in the Senate,” he said. “While I was in the Senate, I took the time to meet people. I did everything I could to meet with anyone and find a way to get them on my schedule.”

From his time as a legislator, Bishop said he is well aware of public school issues in Alaska. “I don’t think the education is failing in Alaska. The teachers aren’t the problem,” he said.

“Back when I graduated in 1974, there were headlines on newspapers that said public education was failing then, so it’s always been a talking point. Now, do I think $347 million in deferred maintenance cost is a good thing? No. I think a lot of what is going on in the current system is essentially robbing Peter to pay Paul.”

He acknowledged that the state funding formula for public schools needs to change. “I have a group of people that are very brilliant that I will be working closely with and evaluating a formula to approve ideas they should improve outcomes.”

As a tradesperson, the candidate expressed strong support for career and technical education (CTE) programs, noting that a large percentage of students would benefit from vocational training.

“As a governor I would like to increase the BSA (state base student allocation) formula specifically for CTE in the very first year,” Bishop said. “And I believe that can definitely be done.”

Another issue across the state is affordable housing. Bishop said Wrangell is fortunate to have land available for development, pointing to the borough’s recent sale of lots in the Alder Top subdivision as a positive step.

“The fact that you have room to build here is a step in the right direction.”

He noted that Wrangell is in a particularly good situation due to its hydroelectric power, adding that he wants to see similar renewable energy projects expanded across Alaska.

“Hydroelectric power is the gift that keeps on giving,” he said. “And nothing will grow the economy like cheap power will. It will grow the economy in ways you can’t comprehend.”