Raised by a single mom, McAdams became a member of Sitka's school board before becoming the city's executive. He's referred to his political experience throughout the campaign, pointing to the fact that he was "the only guy in this race who has ever had to cut a public budget." McAdams has also said "any bill that I can attach an Alaskan project to I'll be supportive of."

Regardless of McAdams' party affiliation, his political priorities can be best described as Alaskan. If elected, he said he wants to persuade Democrats and environmentalists to opening the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge so that oil and gas companies can generate fees to fund alternative-energy development.

McAdams is also an advocate for changing the No Child Left Behind Act, which he says is particularly incompatible with Alaska's culture and needs.

In His Own Words

"We make the case to Democrats, to environmentalists, to liberals on the East Coast, that yes, we want to develop our energy resources, but the key to this is that we use that old energy platform to create a new energy future for Alaska."

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