Sitkan Austin Cranford works as a technology specialist for the University of Alaska Southeast. In his application to serve on the city’s police and fire commission, Cranford told the assembly that he was applying due to the, “constant issues that plague the city and its administration.”
Cranford tried to uncover allegations of corruption and nepotism against the city earlier this year in two very broad public records requests. Both were denied by the city and upheld by the assembly in an appeal. Cranford is also a former assembly candidate and the son of Gary Cranford, a former Sitka Police officer who sued the city last October alleging unfair demotion and breach of his union contract.
Former assembly member Valorie Nelson said she hoped that history wouldn’t exclude Cranford from the commission.
“If somebody comes and says things that you disagree with, it doesn’t give us any less credence,” Nelson said. “I think that he would be an asset, because we do have problems in our police department, whether you’re ready to admit it or not.”
But assembly member Kevin Mosher said while he believed that diverse perspectives should be represented on commissions, Cranford’s approach on the commission might be counterproductive.
“Mr. Cranford has come up time and time again, and it’s great that he’s speaking his mind, but…I believe he has an axe to grind against the police department,” Mosher said. “And I don’t think that’s a good mindset to go in. I think we need to go in with an open mind.”
JJ Carlson agreed, referencing the ‘duties of a police and fire commissioner’ section of city code.
“Through the comments that the applicant has made in the past, I don’t think ‘Duty B- Aid in the public relations effort of each department,’ is something in alignment with his mission for joining this body,” Carlson said. “So I don’t see that these duties are something that he could fulfill.”
But assembly member Scott Saline wasn’t concerned about the axe other assembly members felt Cranford was grinding.
‘I’m voting for him just for that reason,” Saline said, in response to Kevin Mosher’s comments.
Mayor Steven Eisenbeisz called Cranford up to ask questions. He asked Cranford how he’d work with municipal staff, should he be appointed. Cranford said he wouldn’t have problems working with city staff.
“I don’t have an issue with any municipal staff, I have issues with some of the policy that the city has taken. But the municipal staff themselves are only doing the jobs that the city or the administration has laid down before them,” Cranford said.
“Okay, that’s a that’s a really important one to me, because I have voted against people who have put in applications when I don’t feel that they are able to work with city staff in a harmonious way,” Eisenbeisz responded. “Now, I’m not saying you have to agree with city staff. But I’m not saying that city staff can be belittled and put down in their position either.”
Eisenbeisz also asked Cranford who he would “work for” as a commission member. Cranford said he’d serve the assembly. Eisenbeisz said he felt Cranford had answered the questions well. But it wasn’t enough to sway other assembly members. The group voted against appointing Cranford on a 2-5 vote with Saline and Eisenbeisz voting in favor of his appointment.
“Personally, I do not have an ax to grind with anybody within the city or with any city department,” Cranford told the assembly at the end of the meeting. “I simply want the city to function both legally and ethically. A city can operate legally but not ethically. A city can also operate ethically, but not legally. We would prefer that the city do both, and if the city can prove that they are doing both, then I would be more than happy to step aside.”
Cranford said that if the assembly felt his skills would be better fit for another commission, he’d apply.
