Orion Hughes-Knowles is one of four candidates running for two open seats on the Assembly. The municipal election is Tuesday, October 6. (Emily Kwong/KCAW photo)
Orion Hughes-Knowles is one of four candidates running for two open seats on the Assembly. The municipal election is Tuesday, October 6, 2015.
I’m Orion Hughes-Knowles, running for Sitka Assembly. Late in the summer of 2014, I was taken aback by an advertisement that ran in the Sitka Sentinel. The City was looking for Sitka residents willing to run for public office–including the position of Mayor. After learning that the incumbent Mayor was running unopposed, I took it upon myself to address what I saw as the premier threat to the democratic process–apathy.
I gathered the appropriate number of signatures and filed to run for the office of Mayor of Sitka. I did not embark on this task lightly or without full comprehension of the duties and responsibilities of the office. I believed then, as I do now, that I would be an effective, responsible, and accessible member of the Assembly.
The more I embraced the role of candidate and committed myself to the research of public policy that affects Sitkans, the more I became disquieted by the impression that elements of our Assembly were out of touch with fundamental truths regarding the efficacious administration of our town.
I find it troubling that the Assembly often appears more concerned with building monuments to their legacy than to maintaining governmental solvency. Also worrying is the Assembly’s tendency to gamble City funds on promoting untested ideas which primarily serve the interests of fair-weather residents.
We need an assembly that understands the financial limits of a small Alaskan town. We need an assembly which recognizes that, first and foremost, the City must serve the interests of the taxpayers.
Due to the renovation work at Harrigan Centennial Hall, municipal elections will be held in two precincts this year. Precinct 1 is at Grace Harbor Church located at 1904 Halibut Point Road. Precinct 2 is at St. Gregory’s Catholic Church located at 605 Lincoln Street. Polls will be open from 7am to 8pm. Absentee/advanced voting will be available weekdays from 9am to 5pm at City Hall (3rd floor) beginning September 21 and will continue through October 5.
