The Skagway election is Oct. 3rd. Polls are open at City Hall from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Voters who will be out of town for the Regular Municipal Election on Oct. 3 are able to vote absentee in person at the Borough Offices from Sept. 18 – Oct. 2, between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. To allow sufficient time for mailing, absentee ballots by mail should be requested by Sept. 22.
Assembly Candidates for two three-year term seats
Kate Kolodi
Tell us about yourself. Why are you running for assembly and why are you the best candidate?
My name is Kate Kolodi. I’ve been coming and going to Skagway since 2015. One night at The Station in 2018, I met Richard Curry and was lucky enough to marry him at Upper Lake on Solstice Day just last year. We’re still here because no other place feels like home the way that Skagway does.
I am running for assembly because I believe representation matters, and I am confident that I can provide a valuable perspective to bridge the gap between assembly and underrepresented corners of our community. For example, as a resident, I do not own any property; I am a renter. I have very recently transitioned from our seasonal community and am trying to grow roots here in the economy we’re navigating right now — not the Skagway of 20 plus years ago.
I love this town, and if I’m going to continue to take what wonderful things this community offers, it’s important that I actively contribute and give back. I’m ready to work to help enhance the quality of life for our year-round residents and seasonal workers, ensure a positive experience for our visitors and shape a promising future for Skagway.
Thus far, there are only two candidates running for two assembly seats. What steps have you taken to show Skagway voters that they aren’t just settling for what’s available on the ballot?
Over the past few months, I have had the privilege of chatting with dozens of community members, delving into their immediate concerns and aspirations for our future. My goal is to represent the needs of our community and collaborate effectively with assembly members to protect the future of our town.
To be honest, I’m sure there are other community members more qualified than myself for this position. However, something has to be said for the willingness to serve. I often hear strong opinions, but don’t often see initiative. Should voters feel as if they’re settling, I encourage them to run for assembly themselves! I believe Skagway only stands to benefit from more candidates on the ballot. I want us all to care more before we have to care less by default.
What would you do to encourage a greener economy?
As residents of Alaska, we share a deep love for its beauty. I would hope the majority of us would rather preserve and protect this land, rather than poison and exploit it. I have a deep belief in the importance of education, enforcement and consequences. As technologies and industries continue to grow within our little valley, it’s important to sustainably facilitate that growth and hold each other’s businesses accountable to ensure a better future for Skagway.
What do you think is the most critical issue facing Skagway and what steps would you take to improve the problem?
Preparing for growth is crucial. I would love to see a thoughtful and purposeful approach to our community’s expansion. As we anticipate the Ore Dock completion, in order to ensure success, it’s important that we prepare now for the increase of activity on Broadway, our trail systems, campgrounds and businesses.
If I had to distill the many challenges associated with growth down to just one, I believe it would be our lack of adequate housing. I will continue to advocate for the development of high-density, year-round, low-income housing.
Alex Weddell
Tell us about yourself. Why are you running for assembly and why are you the best candidate?
My name is Alexandria Weddell and I’ve lived in Skagway year-round since 2016. I was appointed to the Skagway Assembly in May of this year and have been actively learning and working for this community. As a little bit of background on me: I’m the client services director for Liz Smith Law, an Estate Planning Law firm based out of Juneau that services Skagway and Southeast Alaska. My job entails helping people organize their assets and estates both legally and financially. We are helping people lay the foundation for a successful future, and this experience is what I bring to the assembly.
Thus far, there are only two candidates running for two assembly seats. What steps have you taken to show Skagway voters that they aren’t just settling for what’s available on the ballot?
Choice is important and I would have liked for the community to have had more options to choose from as that is an important part of the democratic process. However, I believe my professional experience and acumen are complementary to the table and that I would be a contender for the position regardless of how many people were running. As it is, I hope that my track record so far inspires confidence in the members of this community.
What would you do to encourage a greener economy?
Small business development and the climate change crisis are two things of great interest to me. A “greener economy” is essentially both. I don’t have a quick answer to this, but I have been following the recent opportunities for climate change work as a result of the IRA act, and would be thrilled to see some of that come to Skagway. A seaweed farm or wind turbines would be super cool. I supported the city’s decision to increase electric infrastructure in the form of vehicle charging stations, and I would love to assist with work towards plugging the cruise ships in to reduce pollution in the future. I should also mention that I recently voted in favor of containerization for ore coming through our port, which will ensure the contamination that happened in the past will not be happening in the future.
What do you think is the most critical issue facing Skagway and what steps would you take to improve the problem?
We have just taken over our port this year and I think the coming days will bring a lot of critical challenges. It’s hard to pick a single issue to focus on, however, I will choose the housing crisis. As an assemblymember, I am not making decisions or taking steps on my own, but collaborating with the table and working as a team. I believe I have some talent for this and will strive to work together and dedicate time and hard work to every issue. Most recently there was a lot of discussion and momentum on the Garden City/ Pius X site and what its future should be. I proposed an amendment incorporating changes mentioned by all six members at the table with input from the city managers. While this is still a work in progress, I will be bringing it to civic affairs in the coming weeks to hear input from everyone who wants to chime in on the future of the site and how the project should be handled. However, one thing that the table and seemingly the community seems to agree on, is the need for housing and the opportunity that might be there. I hope anyone reading this who has ideas will come and voice their opinions.
Assembly write in candidate (added October 1, 2023)
Charles Doland
Tell us about yourself. Why are you running for assembly and why are you the best candidate?
School board write-in candidates for two, three-year term seats
Sterling Rachal
Tell us about yourself. Why are you running for school board and why are you the best candidate?
I am a father, husband and loving son who is passionate about life and living it to the fullest. I was raised to believe anything is possible with hard work. I had a successful college basketball career and was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame for my alma mater. I am running for school board because I think the only way to try and make a difference is to be a part of the process. We moved here recently and fell in love with this small town. Everyone has made us feel like family from the start. I feel the best way to show your appreciation is to give back. We have done our best to be a part of the community in every way we can. We are looking forward to being in Skagway for years to come.
I feel that I am the best candidate because my work ethic is exceptional, and once I commit to something, I am all in.
Last year the municipality funded the school $500,000 over the cap. While funding over the cap has been past practice, the State of Alaska Department of Education and Early Development notified districts around the state that over the cap money may be set against funding from the state, possibly leaving the school with a large amount of money to return to the state. Should this be the case, where would you find the money to meet their demands and how do you suggest moving forward in future budget years?
When it comes to funding and raising money since I have been here, this town has always stepped up when it comes to raising money. Now, I don’t know all the ins and outs of the school budget as of yet, but that is something I plan to learn more about. I have already attended a few policy meetings and given my input on some things. I will also need to attend the financial committee meeting to get a better handle on that.
The current board is reviewing a proposal for an attendance policy that would limit the number of days a student may miss before being in jeopardy of losing credit or missing grade promotion. Share your views of an attendance policy of this sort and, if elected, how would you support or modify the proposal?
In my opinion attendance is paramount to success. That being said, families in this town and other place as well have different lifestyles and needs. Some families can only vacation in the summer, but others work a ton in the summer and can only vacation in the winter during off season for the particular jobs. Regardless of your situation, there has to be work life balance. A child’s education should not suffer in the process.
If you chose to be absent with your child for an extended period of time then you should find other means of education. Whether that is home-schooling or attending school in another location while being gone for extended periods of time. My wife and I have traveled and cruised quite a bit while living in Florida. However, we never let our son miss more than 10 consecutive days and always made sure to get his work in advance and he was required to complete it before, during or upon returning home before going back to school. If at any point our son’s grades suffered, we would stop the vacationing.
One of the exciting things for us coming here was that Skagway had the number one school in the state. I hope we can keep that title going forward, but it takes work on everyone’s part. Absolutely there should be a limit on how much school is allowed to be missed. But a student earning good grades should not be penalized for missing school.
Filling substitute teacher positions is a problem in most districts. Without substitutes, the staff must work to cover the absence of a colleague – impacting classrooms. How would you encourage more people to become substitute teachers in Skagway? What would it take?
When it comes to finding good substitute teachers that has been and will always be an issue everywhere. Teachers themselves are underpaid in my opinion. I feel that substitute teachers as well as full-time teachers need to be compensated better for the job they do. Remember, the kids are the future of our country and the people that teach them should be better appreciated. Would this solve the problem, I don’t know, but it would be a great start.
Jason Verhaeghe
Tell us about yourself. Why are you running for school board, and why are you the best candidate?
I am a father, a partner, an educator and a Skagway community member. I have two amazing children who attend Skagway School. I hold a bachelor’s of science from Minnesota State University, Mankato. I’ve been employed by numerous education centers and daycares. I had the privilege of enjoying a career as an education specialist for the National Park Service, and I served as the president of the board of both the Skagway Child Care Council and the Skagway Rec. Board for several years. My family and I are committed to Skagway and share a strong desire to serve as well as improve the community. Serving on the board is an opportunity for me to be more involved in my children’s education as well as positively influence the education of all children in Skagway.
Last year the municipality funded the school $500,000 over the cap. While funding over the cap has been past practice, the State of Alaska Department of Education and Early Development notified districts around the state that over the cap money may be set against funding from the state, possibly leaving the school with a large amount of money to return to the state. Should this be the case, where would you find the money to meet their demands and how do you suggest moving forward in future budget years?
The importance of these funds cannot be overstated. They are where our food program, preschool, vocational education, music program and so much more come from. That said, I am very confident we will find a solution to ensure these programs are offered to our children. The municipality funds the school to maintain a building the municipality owns, perhaps the school board and the assembly can explore moving those costs back to the municipality in lieu of providing funds. This alone could bridge the vast majority of this deficit. However, we may not need to pursue these outside-the-box options. Our superintendent and his administrative staff have been working tirelessly with the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development (DEED) to come up with creative ways to comply with regulations while still receiving local contributions. Some of these funds may simply need to be moved to other appropriate accounts that do not count against the maximum local contribution limit. In the end, I am certain the school board, the faculty and this community will find a way to ensure our children have every opportunity they have always had.
The current board is reviewing a proposal for an attendance policy that would limit the number of days a student may miss before being in jeopardy of losing credit or missing grade promotion. Share your views of an attendance policy of this sort and, if elected, how would you support or modify the proposal?
I currently serve on the policy committee, so I am fortunate to be directly involved in the creation of this new policy. What will be presented at the next board meeting is a policy that allows students to be absent 20 days per semester, this includes both vacation days and sick days. While this will likely be the highest number of allowed absences in the state, it reflects the needs of the families in this community. The difficulty of traveling to and from Skagway combined with the seasonal nature of many of the employment opportunities in town often mean that families wish to leave in the winter and be out of town for several weeks to make the travels “worth it” with a common span of absence between Thanksgiving and the winter holidays. This new policy can accommodate that. However, students cannot have more than 20 consecutive days of absences. This caveat ensures that our teachers are not overloaded with requests to prepare course work for students that will be gone for several months straight. I’m confident that this new iteration of the policy will satisfy all parties while maintaining the highest standard of education that Skagway has always held.
Filling substitute teacher positions is a problem in most districts. Without substitutes, the staff must work to cover the absence of a colleague – impacting classrooms. How would you encourage more people to become substitute teachers in Skagway? What would it take?
Budget is certainly a hot topic right now. However, I think it is crucial we are paying a competitive wage to our substitutes. If reelected, I intend to advocate for a wage increase for our substitutes. I believe there are qualified and motivated people in our community that could make great substitute teachers. I believe with better compensation, we will see more year-round community members stepping up to support our youth and our school.
Phil Wagner
Tell us about yourself. Why are you running for school board and why are you the best candidate?
Hi. My name is Phil Wagner and I moved to Skagway in 2008. Shortly after, I married my now wife who was born and raised in Skagway. I am running for school board because I believe in serving your community and it is high time that I do my part. The other reason is that I have one child in the school and another on the way and I want to make sure they keep getting the great education the Skagway School is known for.
What makes me a great candidate is that I have lived in Skagway for 15 years and I know Skagway and its needs. Working for the clinic in the past in medical coding and billing prepared me to navigate and resolve difficult topics. I also bring an international element to the board growing up in Germany and receiving my early education there. Above all, I am in it to make sure every child in our community will receive a well-rounded education.
Last year the municipality funded the school $500,000 over the cap. While funding over the cap has been past practice, the State of Alaska Department of Education and Early Development notified districts around the state that over the cap money may be set against funding from the state, possibly leaving the school with a large amount of money to return to the state. Should this be the case, where would you find the money to meet their demands and how do you suggest moving forward in future budget years?
This is a complicated question since I was not in the room when this funding was discussed. I plan on going back through some past meetings where this issue was discussed to see if everything was taken into account.
That being said, $500 000 is a large sum of money and I will do my best to see to it that services to the students are not cut. We would have to look at everything and see if we can find the money.
The current board is reviewing a proposal for an attendance policy that would limit the number of days a student may miss before being in jeopardy of losing credit or missing grade promotion. Share your views of an attendance policy of this sort and, if elected, how would you support or modify the proposal?
I am in support of the attendance policy. We can definitely discuss the number of days, but I think it is important to keep kids in school for their education and development. Unless a parent has experience with homeschooling, it will be hard for them to make sure that kids do the work the teacher provides. It is also a lot to ask of teachers to put together packets for students who will be out of the class room for an extended period.
Filling substitute teacher positions is a problem in most districts. Without substitutes, the staff must work to cover the absence of a colleague – impacting classrooms. How would you encourage more people to become substitute teachers in Skagway? What would it take?
Unfortunately, I do not know how the substitute system works, but once I am on the board, I will familiarize myself with how substitutes get paid and what kind of benefits are offered to them. I think we have some people in town who would be interested over the winter months and we have to figure out how to make substitute teaching attractive to them.
School board write-in candidate for one, one-year term seat
Melinda Munson
Tell us about yourself. Why are you running for school board and why are you the best candidate?
My family moved to Skagway in 2020 when I purchased The Skagway News. I adore this town and am invested in this community with a business, a home and year-round residency. Five of my children attend Skagway School. Four of those students have IEPs, which gives me a unique perspective.
I ran my own high school classroom in the Anchorage School District as a long-term sub. I have had the privilege of working with many of your children in The Skagway News newsie program.
Members of the public have approached me and shared their opinions and concerns about the school. This trust is what motivated me to run for the board. I am not afraid to ask questions or dispel rumors.
Last year the municipality funded the school $500,000 over the cap. While funding over the cap has been past practice, the State of Alaska Department of Education and Early Development notified districts around the state that over the cap money may be set against funding from the state, possibly leaving the school with a large amount of money to return to the state. Should this be the case, where would you find the money to meet their demands and how do you suggest moving forward in future budget years?
I believe this issue might be litigated for years and it is unlikely the school will have to pay any money back, particularly as funding outside of the cap has occurred across the state for decades.
In the future, the district could switch which programs are funded outside of the cap, as outlined in the Sept. 20 Finance Meeting. Current special revenue expenditures such as preschool, foreign language, technology, vocational education and music would most likely be included within the FY25 budget. Activities and food service could qualify for funding outside of the cap through community service program funding, which supports community recreation and welfare activities.
This means the school would ask the assembly for $591,882 above the cap for FY2025. According to school records, the average outside of the cap funding since FY2016 is $564,688.
Because community service programs must serve the entire community and not just the school, the district has an exciting opportunity to expand its programs. For example, the senior meal program has struggled to maintain staffing and provide consistent lunches. The school could find an appropriate way to fill that gap.
In addition, several parents have presented the idea of a financial audit to research ways to save money. I support this concept.
The current board is reviewing a proposal for an attendance policy that would limit the number of days a student may miss before being in jeopardy of losing credit or missing grade promotion. Share your views of an attendance policy of this sort and, if elected, how would you support or modify the proposal?
The attendance policy had its first reading Sept. 19. After listening to the recording of everyone speaking, I am still undecided. Missing 30 days in a school year, with a possibility of 40 if approved by the superintendent, seems excessive. However, I personally have neither the funds, nor the desire to spend that much time traveling with my own children, who struggle with change.
I would need more time speaking to teachers and families whose life experiences are different than my own to make up my mind. I understand the value in experiencing life outside of Skagway and taking a mental break – but understand the importance of being present in the classroom.
Filling substitute teacher positions is a problem in most districts. Without substitutes, the staff must work to cover the absence of a colleague – impacting classrooms. How would you encourage more people to become substitute teachers in Skagway? What would it take?
Compensation for a Skagway School substitute teacher is $18 per hour. The pay rises to $25 hourly for employees who hold/have held a teaching license in any state. In the Juneau district, which has a similar struggle finding employees because of high paying tourism jobs, sub pay is $20 per hour for individuals with a high school degree and $25 per hour for those with a four-year degree.
The current Skagway pay doesn’t attract workers. It specifically doesn’t attract workers willing to help students with special needs. If a gallon of milk costs $8, we must compensate employees better.
In the event that substitutes receive a larger wage, permanent paraprofessionals must also be paid at a higher rate. In Juneau, paras earn $30 per hour plus benefits.
Our school boasts the state’s highest test scores. I would be just as proud if our school was among the state’s highest paid support staff.
Mayoral Candidates
Sam Bass
Tell us about yourself. Why are you running for assembly and why are you the best candidate?
My name is Sam Bass. Originally from southern Missouri, I’ve called Skagway home for 13 years; eight years part time and five years full time. I served in the U.S. Coast Guard for 22 years where I worked as a ship’s celestial navigator, law enforcement boarding team member, intelligence chief and primarily as a search and rescue manager. During my last tour I was responsible for all maritime and aeronautical search and rescue from Ketchikan to Yakutat. I also have my bachelor’s degree in emergency disaster management with a focus on homeland security.
Me and my wife Tara have been together 15 years and we have two kids in sixth and seventh grade at Skagway School. We also own two businesses here in town. It’s been my pleasure to have served Skagway on both the school board and assembly, as well as on the Alaska Seismic Hazards Safety Commission and the Alaska Royalty Oil and Gas Development Advisory Board. Public servant leadership is important to me, which is why it’s my goal to continue giving back to the community which has given so much to us.
As your next mayor, I will work tirelessly to ensure that the voices of all residents are heard and considered and that the municipality is operated in a professional and fiscally sound manner. I will strive to ensure that Skagway’s rich history is valued and that our future is dynamic, well-planned, inclusive and delivers a high quality of life for all its citizens.
What is your opinion about AP&T’s proposal to raise rates by up to 25%? What will you do to mitigate possible impacts on Skagway business and residents?
We are all feeling the squeeze of record high inflation. Interest rates are the highest they have been in 20 years. Over the last 14 months, food at home prices are up almost 4%. Food at restaurant prices are up more than 7%, housing costs up almost 8% and airfare costs are up 9%. This rate increase is coming at a very difficult time for us all. While AP&T is a business and has also been affected by diesel rates and inflation, these rate increases are not sustainable and will be a real burden on our citizens.
With this in mind as a significant impact not only to residents, but also to the municipality as a rate payer, I fully support the action of filing a formal protest with the Regulatory Commission of Alaska. This official protest, filed Sept. 15, should result in a comprehensive review of the rate hike request including the validity of said increase. Until we have this information, we cannot have an educated understanding which allows ratepayers a more impactful voice.
How would you work with the Yukon mining trade to avoid negative impacts on life in Skagway?
As mayor, I would work with Yukon mining to ensure we continue to capitalize on our mutually beneficial relationship while maintaining the best interests of Skagway and our citizens. The Yukon mining industry has brought many positive aspects to Skagway including jobs, diverse industry, expanded road access, etc. With these positives comes the need for awareness of concerns related to transshipment of Ore. Sea, land and air pollution are paramount issues, especially impactful when living in a small, shared environment like Skagway.
I believe one way of minimizing some of the negative impacts of the industry would be to institute containerized shipment of ore. Ensuring that containers are sealed properly and safely stored will mitigate the allowance of ore material to seep into the environment. Another concern we must acknowledge includes the operational impact of the ore transshipment industry. A high volume of traffic including industrial trucks would impact our infrastructure and could have a major impact on our quality of life. These are all areas in which I would work diligently with the Yukon mining trade.
What changes would you seek to make in the first 100 days as mayor? What policies would you maintain? What would you change?
Broadly, in my first 100 days I would focus on the municipality’s finances and our citizens’ quality of life. The municipality must operate within a reasonable budget and spend only as is prudent. I would work to manage the budget and ensure that Skagway’s “needs” are met while having an appropriate and growing reserve available. Savings are critical for a municipality that can experience large fluctuations of income.
I believe having a one-year reserve is critical and I would work towards changing municipal code to reflect that number. This first step would begin in October with the development of the 2024 budget. I would ensure that the assembly has adequate time and the tools and information needed to fully review and edit our budget. Following the budget’s adoption, I would confirm that our realized income and expenditures mirrored what was actually budgeted. Just like a family, the municipality needs to live within its means.
I am concerned that Skagway citizens are feeling the strain of high inflation and a lack of services. As such, I will work with the assembly and support policies that lower the financial burden of services, promote the development of affordable housing, decrease the barriers of starting and expanding business, tackle the challenge of acquiring quality healthcare, address the pressing issue of child care and provide affordable Internet and utility services.
How will you create or maintain relationships with the mayors of other Southeast communities?
I will build strong relationships with like-minded leaders through open communication and sharing of best practices with surrounding Southeast communities. As your next mayor, I will fully engage and participate in the Alaska Municipal League and their parent organization the Alaska Conference of Mayors. These two organizations offer a great opportunity to coordinate, discuss and learn from other mayors and municipalities. Dialogue does not start and end with participation in the Conference of Mayors as I will also reach out and talk directly to other mayors and stakeholders on issues.
While each of our communities are unique and special in their own rights, we all share commonality. Diligent correspondence, planning, and coordination can be vital for a better, safer Skagway. Additionally, strong relationships between regional communities are important as often we can have a louder collective voice which can better advance the agendas that are important to everyone in the area.
Orion Hanson
Tell us about yourself. Why are you running for assembly and why are you the best candidate?
Hello Skagway citizens. I am running for mayor to build consensus and continue the resilient path our community shares through a strong economy, vibrant community and open format for local government. I have served on the assembly for seven years and served as vice-mayor for the last two years. My parents met and married in Skagway in the 1970s and their love of this land has always been a part of my fabric. I was raised in Atlanta, Georgia, graduated with a degree in political science from the University of Wisconsin, Madison in 2000. My father and I moved back to Skagway in 2012 to start a construction company. I own and run a construction business employing six year-round carpenters and a bookkeeper. I have served on most committees of the assembly and have run half a dozen meetings or more as vice- mayor.
What is your opinion about AP&T’s proposal to raise rates by up to 25%? What will you do to mitigate possible impacts on Skagway business and residents?
Raising costs by 25% in one hike is alarming. I worry about inflation across all sectors of our community and the ability for residents to afford to live here. The assembly recently held a special meeting and directed staff to petition the Regulatory Commission of Alaska (RCA) to hold a hearing questioning the fairness of such an expensive utility increase. In years past, the municipality was part of a class-action lawsuit with other Alaska communities contesting a similar extreme, rapid rate increase by AP&T. As mayor I would reach out to other communities facing the same proposed rate increase to create a coalition to negotiate the price down. I would also advocate for a hearing of the RCA in Skagway.
How would you work with the Yukon mining trade to avoid negative impacts on life in Skagway?
The first reading of Ordinance 23-23 passed the assembly on Sept. 21. This ordinance would require all ore shipments through Skagway to be containerized, and to set aside a portion of the revenue from the profits of the ore shipment for future environmental mitigation. It is our duty as leaders to require the best practices at the waterfront to reduce environmental risks. I support ore shipment through Skagway and believe we need to enhance our economic diversification. ore, freight, fuel and tourism can work hand-in-hand at our port despite the congestion of docks, and I believe the overall design of Ore Dock redevelopment is the best effort to provide that economic diversity. I will advocate for the Yukon to pay for the Marine Services Platform (the dock for ore shipment), Skagway jobs and to minimize truck traffic during peak summertime tourism.
What changes would you seek to make in the first 100 days as mayor? What policies would you maintain? What would you change?
First, I will canvass the community for members to serve on our boards and commissions. We have many vacancies and need citizen involvement to guide our policies. We also need better coordination between the assembly, staff and the boards to convey information. In years past, the clerk’s office provided a write-up summary of actions to be taken after each assembly meeting. I would like to see that again. I would hold weekly office hours in City Hall. I am also an advocate for continuing to improve the sharing of correspondence from citizens to the community. Progress on our major municipal project is of extreme importance and I will support staff and be engaged with the progress at Ore Dock and transfer station. Finally, in the next 100 days we have to formulate and pass a budget. The demands on all departments are at an all-time high, spending is way up, fortunately, so is revenue. As an assembly we must pass a fiscally responsible budget for a community of 1,200 with the infrastructure needs for a city of up to 20,000. That is a challenge, and a very important task for the next 100 days.
How will you create or maintain relationships with the mayors of other Southeast communities?
If elected I plan to travel for many of the conferences throughout Alaska to bolster relationships with other mayors and local governments. Government relationships with the Yukon are also very important. Through my time on the assembly and many trips to mining conferences, I have a good working relationship with many members of the Yukon government already. I also know several members of the Juneau Assembly and have worked on some projects, such as electric car charging stations, with Juneau assembly members in the past. I believe our relationships with Haines and Juneau are particularly important as we share resources, the Lynn Canal, economics, and we need to rely on each other.
William Lockette, II
Tell us about yourself. Why are you running for mayor and why are you the best candidate?
I believe that I am a quality candidate for the position of mayor in Skagway because I was told that I need to run by members of most of Skagway’s cliques. My own circle is now focused on making our lives and the lives of everyone who wants to work hard and be a member of a community that actually cares about them. That will defend them. That will correct their missteps. That will love them even when they have to go away. That this is a community that is wrapping up the miracle of surprising and amazing over one million people and showing them that we CAN all get along. In other words, we are acting as if we are Skagwegians.
While doing my listening and reading every paper, flyer and notice that has passed through City Hall for the last four months to get caught up, I recognized things. Miscommunications that could easily be settled. Rumors that were given weight by a lack of an answer to the contrary that addressed the core of the concern. Angry protests without any real solution nor path to mediation. Interpretations of things that didn’t bare the hallmark of understanding of the thing.
I know how to fix all of that, and it’s not with torches and pitchforks, but a careful exploration of talents, interests and opportunities offered. I believe I can help heal that which ails our municipality because I’ve been hunting a fix since I woke up in a hospital bed in 2019.
What is your opinion about AP&T’s proposal to raise rates by up to 25%? What will you do to mitigate possible impacts on Skagway business and residents?
Right now I’m going to spend my off time, when not driving a SMART bus downtown for 10 hours a day, hunting down energy assistance grants and their specific applicable uses for an entire municipality. The way I see it, we should be letting AP&T know that while we appreciate their struggle in keeping the power flowing, there will be an alternative eventually that will grant us the option to not have to suffer under the disrespect of a conglomerate rule as a society. It’s not one business owner’s fault they didn’t make enough money to hit their projections. Another business suffers enough outcry over prices, what do they believe is going to happen when they get even more expensive or people have to start being let go? What happens when practically only one person can afford to keep her doors open half the year?
Already I’ve reached out to Jason (jason.c@aptalaska.com) asking for a way to mitigate the community backlash from this poor decision from on high with honest truth and facts about where and how this decision was made.
I just told you what I’m doing. What I wouldn’t do, is immediately call a private session of the assembly to talk about it behind closed doors.
How would you work with the Yukon mining trade to avoid negative impacts on life in Skagway?
Diligently. This problem I want to save until the voices I represent in our little hamlet officially put me in a seat. I’m glad to not be competing against Alex and Kate for an assembly seat, because I feel we could use their energy to maintain the speed at which Andrew Cremata has brought us up to. The assembly may act unjustly at times for their own private reasons, but I absolutely thank every one of them for letting Cremata put the hammer down and get things moving or else we’d still be working on the 2030 comp plan.
Now most of that is out of the assembly’s hands, and most of the community has voiced their opinion about it publicly one way or another, even if only 80 of them got in the credits. Should have been all of us. It’s “our” plan after all. But as elections and town hall meetings display abundantly, Skagway just wants to be left alone to grind in the summer and feast in the winter. Most don’t care about what specific elements we need in the city code to make things run smoothly and help mitigate loss of life throughout the valley, so long as that is achieved.
I want to make sure that our friends, allies and neighbors see us as united and ready to help. That way they’ll include us in what’s happening, and we can share our greatness with them in return. Subsistence works in action, almost every time.
What changes would you seek to make in the first 100 days as mayor? What policies would you maintain? What would you change?
My first 100 days, I would like to see conversations start happening, not accusations. I would spend the time repairing the communication rifts that have developed between our amazing community led boards, such as the Dyea committee and the clinic planning committee, planning and zoning, parks and rec, civic affairs … I want all of their input heard loudly and reflected not in gesture and words, but in substantial and provable actions taken in the community to reflect those concerns in a balanced fashion. Does this mean that we build a dais and hangman’s station? No. Does it mean that we give everyone with a complaint exactly what they’re demanding of us? No. It means mediation and constant communication.
I’ve worked, literally, from one end of town to the other: from the Dredge in 2011, Klondike Café where the new pizza shop is, the grocery store, William and Anthony’s. I worked on Dennis Corrington’s maintenance crew, Petro Marine and now as a SMART bus driver under Greg Clem. There may be no shortage of shortcomings on my part at all of these tasks, but with the exception of one person in this valley, I can calmly sit and talk with, and understand their points. If they approach me like a human being and not someone to be thrown in a bag and cast off the Ore dock.
How will you create or maintain relationships with the mayors of other Southeast communities?
I would love to get with the teams of local leaders we have here in Southeast and talk about the real matters that are affecting our citizens. First, I would try and get all of us on the same page about what needs to be done about the drug problem in our communities. Skagway isn’t the only Southeast community suffering the effects of an insane amount of depressants blowing through our boroughs like coronavirus did. No one is immune in 2023. If you don’t have a friend or relative that has died of an overdose, your friend does, and that’s been the case with nearly every story I’ve heard. I’d like to work with all of the area leaders and try to come up with a plan to -actually- combat drug addiction, and not just point fingers and throw hopeless citizens in prison. We need a new focus on mental health, and the larger citizenry we can examine, the more we can listen and try to craft something that will help people to not do drugs.
Personally, I’d like to put together a committee of business owners to address the concerns of the brave souls bold enough to operate a business “post-rona.” No reason we can’t all start working together. Like the jewelers who are eyeing our storefronts like hawks in the endless pursuit of conning people into buying items at a 500% markup. I want to support that which unites all our towns – like a winter ferry.
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This story was updated to include Charles Doland who submitted his write-in candidacy on Sept. 29.
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