Robert Hattle
Age: 67
How many years have you lived in Sitka and in Alaska? 14 years
Occupation: Registered Nurse, Retired Presbyterian Minister
Family: I am blessed with two adult daughters, the oldest lives in Chicago and is an HR executive for Whole Foods. The second is a teacher in Medford, Oregon. As a single parent I raised them in Las Vegas, New Mexico. Uniquely, our home was an international youth hostel and bed and breakfast. The each visit me in Sitka at least yearly and frequently ask, “why didn’t you raise us here?” The eldest brings her two daughters to visit their Appa but also to attend Sitka Fine Arts Camp.
Have you previously run for public office? When and what office?
No previous elected office
Previous government or other relevant experience:
I was appointed to the governing board of Sitka Community Hospital during the time it was sold to SEARHC. Served on the Emergency Planning Committee for three years during the pandemic. Rewrote the disaster plan for Sitka Community Hospital and worked regionally with Emergency Planning groups to integrate the plan. Helped plan and directed Disaster Drills throughout Southeast Alaska.
Community involvement, past and present:
Raven Radio Board of Directors
Sitka Music Festival Board (current Vice President)
Served on the organizational committee for the Sitka Playground
On going volunteer usher and stagehand at Performing Arts Center
Participated in various volunteer roles and fund raisers for Sitka Fine Arts Camp
Why are you running for a seat on the Sitka Assembly this year?
When asked this question I frequently feel the hidden question is “why are you so foolish?” First, I don’t consider myself foolish, second as a young child with strong Midwest values, I was instilled with a sense that serving your community is not only an obligation but an honor. Values not unique to the Midwest but strongly shared here in Southeast Alaska. I am very passionate about serving this community I love. I have served in various roles as both a professional and a volunteer and from this I have meet and befriended many people from all walks of life. I hold myself as a good listener but also of strong opinion. I feel challenged to bring my experiences and passions to serve in an elected office.
What are your top priorities if elected?
The assembly, city staff, and community members have all been working hard, but the uphill battle continues for some of Sitka’s most pressing issues:
Cruise Ship Tourism: Great opportunities abound for our city but at what cost? After the pandemic, visitor numbers grew so rapidly, there wasn’t adequate time to plan. We need to catch up and backfill so we can share our great town and still feel it’s our home town.
Haul Out: Simple, as the largest commercial port in Southeast Alaska, we must have a haul-out, now!
School Funding: We must find a way to consistently fund our schools. Budgets shouldn’t be beholden to the last-minute whims of the Governor or State Legislators.
Housing and Cost of Living: As a huge uphill battle, it will take many heads to solve this one. Sitka is losing many young families due to the ever-increasing cost of living. I’m in my retirement, I myself have chosen to make my home on a live-aboard boat. I’m not sure I could afford to stay here otherwise, but others are even more challenged.
Democratic Process: One thing I’m hearing consistently on the campaign trail: people feel they are not being listened to. More voices need to be heard on these and other issues, and I encourage you to reach out to me anytime! By voting and participating locally we will restrengthen our under duress democracy. It is at the local level we work shoulder to shoulder, agree to disagree and find solutions to these issues and many others.
Tourism
Do you support a cap on cruise visitation? Why or why not?
Since it will not be on the October ballot this, I do not support a ballot measure for a cap on cruise ship numbers. In 2023 a Cruise Ship Task Force was initiated. After meeting for over year and using some very creative tools to obtain input from the community, strong recommendations were offered. One of the recommendations from the task force was to establish a standing Tourist Commission and Director. A process has been started and we need to see it through. Yes, the rapid expansion in the number of visitors since COVID has impacted us all and has changed our beloved community. There was not adequate time to plan for such growth. Also, great opportunities abound with increased jobs, entrepreneurial opportunities and increased tax income for our city. But at what cost? There is room for us to share our wonderful community with others and all of us reap benefit from it but we are not obligated to sell our town to the next round of selfie takers and fur lined jock strap buyers.
One of the assembly’s tasks is to draft a “Memorandum of Understanding,” or an MOU with the cruise industry, which could mean either the local dock operator or the cruise lines. Who should the city make an MOU with and what should be included in that MOU, in your opinion?
Ultimately MOU’s need to be drafted between the city and both the cruise ships and the local dock operator. Issues needing to be addressed are environmental impact mitigation, revenue sharing, and cooperative planned growth. Having not been privy to any MOU discussions my opinion is just opinion. Reviewing other communities MOUs with the cruise ship industry would be most informative.
As an assembly member, would you support directing the municipal attorney to help draft a citizen initiative limiting cruise tourism? Why or why not?
First things first, we need to hire a new municipal attorney. While there is precedence of the municipal attorney assisting citizens to draft ballot initiatives but it must be determined if it is appropriate in this case. The new attorney, once hired, will seek outside council and then offer an opinion how to proceed.
Education
Do you support funding the Sitka School District to the maximum allowed by state law (a.k.a. the “cap”)? Why or why not?
Yes I do. I salute our educators, administrators, staff members and the standing board members who have to function as if one hand is tied behind their back. We must find a way to consistently fund our public schools. Budgets shouldn’t be beholden to last minute whims of the Governor or State Legislators. There is room for alternative forms of education such as we now have with participatory home schooling or charter schools but not at a cost to quality public education.
The assembly has taken extra steps to bolster its support for Sitka’s schools, taking over maintenance of school buildings, taking on management of the Blatchley Pool, and funding a contract for management of the Performing Arts Center. Do you agree with these decisions? What further measures would you take as an assembly member to support the Sitka School District, if any?
I think these “ extra steps” are demonstrative of creative ways to govern. I agree with the city taking on Blatchley Pool and the Performance Arts Center because these are facilities the whole community uses and enjoys. I am concerned with the city taking on the maintenance of the school buildings. Both CBS and the school district are plagued with buildings with deferred maintenance or aging out structures. Putting them all in the same bucket does not remedy anything. Recently the state legislators, ear marked money for school building maintenance. I would hate to see that putting the maintenance under the city would make the school district ineligible for these state funds.
Housing
Do you see a need for further regulatory measures to ease Sitka’s housing crisis, such as limiting short-term rentals? What tangible actions can the assembly take to relieve some of Sitka’s housing stress?
I hold, the housing shortage and the ever-increasing cost to live here is having a bigger impact on Sitka being permanently changed than the cruise ship industry. The issue has been slowly building and impacts not just us but the whole state. It will take many heads pulling out all the stops to fix this one. We are bleeding our young professionals and their families who can’t afford to live here. Retirees who even own homes are even wondering if they can afford the maintenance and the ongoing cost increase in utilities. In my semi-retirement I have decided to live aboard my sailboat, while very happy living my simpler downsized live style I doubt I could afford to live here if I didn’t.
Some things to consider assisting the housing shortage.
1)Explore all private, state, federal funding resources to increase housing.
2) Support private developers who want to build low to moderate income housing units with sales tax breaks for construction cost.
3) Since land is a premium and costly to develop create a new harbor that is dedicated to live-abords.
4) Ease zoning laws that allows the building of in-law apartments and tiny houses.
5) Increase the density of housing particularly downtown.
6) Create structured property taxes that gives a tax break to residents who reside year around.
7) A property tax break for senior citizens of a certain income level, that could be passed on to the next generation of new home buyers for a few years.
Haulout
Sitka will open a city-owned marine haulout in 2025, but developing a full-fledged boatyard will take considerably more time and money. Should the assembly continue to appropriate resources to this as a public project?
Simple, we need a haul out and working boatyard now! As the largest commercial harbor in Southeast Alaska, it is a shame we don’t. If Angoon and Wrangle can create one, why can’t we? All the effort in the last two years placed into accommodating the cruise ship industry equally needs to be put into having a functional boatyard, ASAP.
Labor
The city is struggling to fill a number of vacant staff positions. What can the assembly do to support filling these positions?
Hopefully our new Human Resource Director will have new strategies for the recruitment and retention of municipal employees that the Sitka Assembly can support. A suggestion that other Alaskan communities have used and SEARHC is using, let’s provide employee housing. How many potential employees have turned down a job because they can’t find housing. We might not be able to match the highest pay scale but we could offer housing for a year. This would also help to increase our housing stock for the community.
Budget
Revenue growth in the city’s general fund has outpaced Sitka’s other enterprise funds due, in part, to tourism growth. Do you have thoughts on directing the rapid growth of sales tax revenue into projects outside of Sitka’s general fund, like harbors, water or the electric department?
Increased tax funds is always a mixed blessing, there are those who want to spend it all right now and those who foolishly think it will last forever. There are three areas we need to prioritize as we look at spending revenues outside of the regular general funds. First and foremost is we need to deepen our rainy-day funds by increasing reserves and investments. The tourist industry is a fickled economy. The next pandemic or sharp economic downturn could leave us high and dry. Every dollar spent should have a percent set aside for the future. If we don’t plan for the future this go-go money will be gone. Secondly money should be prioritized to create and sustain jobs. New jobs that will not only meet our current needs but jobs that will diversify our economy. Can we support the startup of manufacturing businesses that create jobs? Thirdly extra budgetary expenses should be spent on relieving the burden of the cost of living in Sitka. Is there room for paring back the cost of utilities and city fees? What can we do for the citizens of Sitka to continue to enjoy this most special gem of a hometown.
With your support I would like to be part of making this happen.
Thank you and vote October 1, Hattle for Assembly!
