Contributed by Harry Moore, Palmer AK
My name is Harry Moore. I, along with my wife, Jane, are strong supporters of Matthew Beck to be our next mayor in the Matanuska Susitna Borough. I hope to communicate, in the next few paragraphs, why he is the best and clearest choice to help lead and form our Borough into the wonderful place to raise a family and call home.
Matthew is one of those few and unique individuals who care deeply about the community he is part of and has worked tirelessly in making a positive impact wherever he may find himself. I met Matthew and his wife, Teresa, over 20 years ago when he came as the youth minister at our local Catholic parish of St. Michael in Palmer. He quickly made an immediate impact in the lives of our children and the community. He imparted his love of community, faith and neighbor into the youth and quickly energized our parish community to action and service, organizing several out of state and in state opportunities for those who were interested in responding to the call to action in their hearts.
Matthew and Teresa started and built two businesses in Palmer with their business partners, North Star Animal Hospital and the North Star Pet Resort. Teresa was raised in the Palmer area and having the opportunity to build her veterinary practice in her hometown was a wonderful opportunity. It has afforded the Beck’s an opportunity to employ others in and around Palmer by hiring additional veterinarians, business managers, and even those who are first time employees. They are helping to build and strengthen our local economy. You can tell a lot about a business and those that own them by how you are greeted and served by employees of the business, and we along with our pets, have always been treated well and have been well taken care of.
Matthew served for two terms on the Mat-Su Borough Assembly and was the Deputy Mayor for four years. While serving on the Assembly, he worked tirelessly to ensure the future of farming in the area by helping to form the Agriculture Advisory Board which is designed to give those who carry on the tradition of farming in the Mat-Su a unified voice in bringing awareness of issues impacting agriculture to the attention of the Borough Assembly and Staff. He helped to build support in the cutting of the boroughs financial losses and selling of the M/V Susitna, which was quickly becoming a financial burden upon the borough. He is a very strong supporter of Mat-Su public schools, and his children are either currently enrolled in the local schools or have graduated and have begun their college carriers. He was proud to support the partnership of the Borough in collaboration with the Great Land Trust to protect the trails leading up the Butte trail system, so that this wonderful family hike can be enjoyed by generations to come.
Matthew and Teresa are committed to their local community, and they have literally put their money where their hearts are. The Mat-Su has many challenges facing it in the coming years and it is important and critical that we choose wisely in who will lead and represent the diverse residents and communities of the borough, meeting the challenges ahead. Matthew has the proven commitment, knowledge, and experience to take this task on. Mathew Beck is my friend and if you do not know him yet, please look for the opportunity to meet him – you won’t be disappointed.