As the State Representative for District 30, covering Wasilla, Chugiak, and parts of the Mat-Su and Denali Boroughs, my job is to stand up for Alaska’s values and ensure the decisions I support reflect the will of the people I represent. The City of Valdez recently proposed renaming a park in honor of the late Vic Fischer. At first glance, it might seem unlikely that a conservative Republican like me, from a district like the one I represent, would support such a move. But after careful consideration, I believe it’s the right thing to do.

Vic Fischer passed away in 2023 at the age of 99. He was the last surviving delegate from Alaska’s Constitutional Convention of 1955 to 1956. That alone makes him a historic figure. More than that, he was a key architect of our borough system, a system I consider one of the most libertarian forms of government in the country. It pushes authority down to the local level, where it belongs, and limits centralized control. That is a structure worth preserving, and it came in large part from Vic Fischer’s work.

And he didn’t just shape our Constitution; he left a direct legacy in Valdez as well. As a legislator, he sponsored the bill that created Shoup Bay State Marine Park. That is not a symbolic tie to Valdez; it is concrete. That community wants to honor someone who had a real, lasting impact there. As someone who represents a district that values local decision-making, I believe it is important to listen when a city steps forward with a request like this. Our job is to listen.

I am sure some are questioning why a Republican would support honoring someone known as a progressive. The answer is simple: Alaska’s story is bigger than party lines. Supporting this proposal is not about endorsing Vic Fischer’s politics; it is about recognizing his role in building this state. He helped shape the foundation we all stand on, regardless of where we land on the political spectrum.

We should not support cancel culture in any manner. This trend of rewriting or erasing our history based on today’s politics is one of the worst things we can do to our state and nation. If we start applying purity tests to historical figures in Alaska, we risk losing the broader story of how Alaska came to be a state. We don’t have to agree with everything someone believed to acknowledge their contributions. Naming a park after Vic Fischer pushes back against cancel culture and says conservatives want to remember our history, all of it.

This is also a practical matter. Our legislature operates best when we find common ground where we can and reserve our political battles for the big issues, such as the budget, resource development, and defending constitutional freedoms. Fisher happens to be a relative of a friend and colleague of mine here in the house. My vote was to support him and his family as well as honor the request of the City of Valdez.

A park renaming, especially one with local support and historic merit, is not the hill to die on for a legislator. It is a gesture of goodwill that reflects maturity and respect for our shared past.

I respect anyone who dedicated their life to Alaska’s future. Vic Fischer did that. His work helped lay the groundwork for the borough system that empowers places like Wasilla, Healy, and Big Lake today. Honoring that legacy does not betray conservative principles; it reflects them.

Symbols matter. Names matter. They tell a story. When we name a park for someone like Vic Fischer, we are telling the story of Alaska’s founding, not through a partisan lens, but through the lens of service, sacrifice, and vision for the future.

I don’t love everything Vic Fischer stood for; but I respect what he helped build. Alaska’s legacy belongs to all of us, and we honor it best when we tell the whole story.

Originally published on Substack: https://kevinjmccabe.substack.com/p/renaming-a-park-not-a-hill-to-die