SITKA, ALASKA
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The two candidates fielded questions for an hour on Raven Radio last night during a wide-ranging forum that covered everything from the city’s economy to how each would run Assembly meetings if elected.
We begin this recap of Wednesday night’s on-air forum by skipping to the very end. The last question asked of both candidates came from a listener who said they were on the fence. That they liked both candidates. And they asked each to make their case, to explain why they’re different than the other one.
Cheryl Westover said she likes her opponent – called him a great guy…
“But we’re real different,” Westover said. “We can’t just be sitting up at the Assembly table giving the money away. We need to find economic development and if we can build our economy, a lot of these things that we keep giving money out for will take care of themselves. The difference is I’m a project person and I’m making this my project. And I’ve never not finished a project or (not) done it well. That’s just who I am. I’m a hard worker. I’m going to give Sitka the best I have for the next two years.”
When it was Stein’s turn to answer, he said he thinks he could represent Sitka well and that he’s inclusive.
“I really like to include all aspects of the community – the Sitka Tribe of Alaska, the business folks, the education and government people who work in town – and really be sure that we have an inclusive government that’s open,” Stein said. “Keeping Sitka and its municipal government above board and responsive so that when we get concerns we act on them in a timely manner is really important. I think I can run a good meeting and keep a good face on the community.”
So that’s the Cliff’s Notes version. But Wednesday night’s forum covered many issues in depth, especially Sitka’s economy. Numbers from the federal government show Sitka’s unemployment rate at 6.1 percent in May. That’s below the state and national average, but still higher than three years ago. Population is declining, so are sales tax revenues, and fewer cruise ships are stopping in Sitka, which translates to less cash from the summer tourist season.
Stein said there are numerous opportunities to shore up the economy, including attracting federal jobs through the Forest Service and the National Park Service. He said there’s room to grow in the health care and fish processing industries. And he said Sitka has a huge opportunity for what he calls “intellectual development” – people doing jobs or selling goods on the Internet.
“I see that as a challenge,” he said. “I know a lot of the merchants in town are concerned about the competition on the Internet for products, and I think we need to get into that. There might be some community effort we can do to sort of wise ourselves up and learn how to make the best advantage of that.”
Westover says the first step to improving Sitka’s economy is making sure existing businesses have the support they need. She said the era of big businesses coming to town is over, but that there are lots of smaller possibilities that could add up to something big.
“I think we’ve got a lot of potential out at the Cove for marine haul out, a multi-use dock,” she said. “That’s a must I think. Here we are sitting on the Pacific Ocean. Our community hospital is doing so much better but I want to make sure we keep SEARHC in the back of our mind and maybe try to work on an inter-island ferry system. All these little businesses will create little jobs that save the bigger jobs.”
A large dock being installed north of town could allow cruise ships to tie up – though developer Chris McGraw says his company has no deals in place with any cruise line. Past proposals to build a public dock in Sitka have failed. The candidates were asked if they felt the city dropped the ball.
“Yes, we dropped the ball on the dock,” she said, “but I think there’s still time to get some money from the state to create something for folks.”
Westover said money could still be used from the Marine Passenger Fee fund to support a dock project, or at least a bulkhead which would lay the groundwork. Stein also said it’s not too late for the city to build a dock – for passengers or for bulk water sales, among other purposes.
“I think there’s many, many reasons to build that dock,” he said. “I know the Sitka Economic Development Association and the Sawmill Cove board are prepped to do that, and I’m willing to get behind it and support that project.”
In Sitka, the mayor has limited power. Perhaps the most visible duty is that he or she helps set the agenda for Assembly meetings and chairs those meetings. One listener asked about Sitka’s last two mayors, Scott McAdams, nearing the end of his term now, and former Mayor Marko Dapcevich. The listener said both had contrasting styles of running the Assembly meetings, and wanted to know how Mayor Westover, or Mayor Stein, would approach that part of the job.
Stein said Dapcevich’s style was more confrontational, which brought up good points but alienated boards and commissions.
“I think Scott is much more even-handed,” Stein said. “It seems to me that he allows the table to talk, and does not get into the motion-making business and that sort of thing, to the extent that Mayor Dapcevich did. My thought is, I think the mayor’s the moderator. If the mayor wants a motion he sort of asks for it from somebody else.”
Westover largely agreed.
“Probably for politeness, Scott runs a real good meeting,” Westover said. “I enjoyed Marko; I enjoyed the few times I had to get into it with him for being rude. But I think you get more flies with honey than you do with vinegar.”
Voters will decide who becomes Sitka’s next mayor on Oct. 5.
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