The great thing about our municipal races is that in no race is there a terrible candidate. All who are running are seeking thankless jobs. In these tough times the winners will be called upon to make unpopular decisions. All volunteered to stand up to the highest scrutiny and to work for Juneau’s best interests.
With that disclaimer, the Juneau Empire’s Editorial Board feels it is picking the “best of the best” in making the endorsements below:
• Borough Mayor: Merrill Sanford
Merrill Sanford is a familiar face around town, and brings with him the wisdom earned through tough experiences. While he has taken sides on issues which are unpopular to some, he does follow his passion for civic duty and seeks to be an instrument of progress and change.
We feel his opponent has valuable skills and experience as well, but the job of mayor calls for a leader, not a facilitator who would be learning a lot about the nuts and bolts of running the city and borough “on-the-job.” For that reason we look forward to her future political endeavors, but endorse former Assembly member and former deputy mayor Merrill Sanford for Borough Mayor.
• Assembly District 1: Paul Nowlin
There’s something intriguing about candidate Paul Nowlin. He has answers to the questions posed by voters and he is operating apparently without the “caution” filters some candidates employ, telling the world on his website about a youthful run-in with the law. His opponent is also running a clean and honest, issue-focused campaign. We just like the way Nowlin comes down on most issues, and we look forward to seeing him put his open-minded approaches to problem solving to work in the Borough Assembly.
Paul Nowlin for District 1 Assembly.
• Assembly District 2: Jerry
Nankervis
Just because Jerry Nankervis is running unopposed doesn’t mean voters should skip the ballot line. This retired public servant is volunteering for a tough job, and needs to know people voted for him — and expect him to come through. Cast your vote, and later on make sure to let him know how he’s doing.
Jerry Nankervis for District 2 Assembly.
• Juneau School District Board of Education
There are three seats and five candidates, all of them good people. Here are our picks:
Andrea “Andi” Story
School board incumbent and board Vice President Andi Story has done a fantastic job on the board, and her dedication to rooting out facts and participating in lengthy workshops and budget sessions shines through. She is a leader on the board and deserves a fourth term.
Phyllis Carlson
Incumbent Phyllis Carlson is also a three-term and dedicated board member and brings with her knowledge of how the state operates. She is a program administrator in the state’s education department.
Destiny Sargeant
Destiny Sargeant was the second to jump into the school board race. She served on the board from 2007 to 2010, and we feel her experience will come in handy.
• Ballot Measures:
No on 1 — Reject the bond
Yes on 2 — Support the flawed sales tax
Over the past eight years, voters have approved $131.6 million dollars in GO bonds that helped to build Thunder Mountain High School and the Dimond Aquatic Center, and also facilitated renovations at Dzantik’i Heenie Middle School, Gastineau Elementary, Auke Bay Elementary and Adair Kennedy Field. Additionally, in October 2007, the 1 percent sales tax was directed to a variety of needed capital improvement projects for the city (a shop for Public Works, area wide sewer infrastructure, airport renovations, harbor facilities and deferred maintenance on CBJ buildings).
Sound familiar?
The FY14 budget calls for an increase of 3.22 percent in the mill levy to cover CBJ operations and for debt service needed to fund voter-approved general obligation debt. Regardless of whether or not the 1 Percent Sales Tax renewal is approved or the bond levy, our property taxes are going to go up in order to cover the increasing cost of city operations and to cover our outstanding debt. With a CBJ budget of $254 million, can we not find a way to allocate $8.2 million toward maintenance costs without adding to the City’s reliance on a temporary means of revenue, and should we be spending $4.7 million on a new library that we have to borrow money to maintain?
Here’s but one example of the dilemma: There are items in both the sales tax renewal and the bond measure that we would support, but not enough that we feel we should go deeper into debt. The way the projects were split between the sales tax and the bond makes it impossible to choose without sacrificing one high-priority project over another. For example, we strongly believe Centennial Hall should be renovated, but we don’t support a new library at this time nor do we support using the funds for deferred maintenance. If we vote down the sales tax renewal — to avoid building a new facility that CBJ has already demonstrated it cannot maintain — then we’re left with supporting Centennial Hall via the bond. In that case we go deeper into debt.
The U.S. has nearly $17 trillion in debt and another $84 trillion in unfunded liabilities. At some point soon, the citizens of this nation are going to be called upon to begin the unpleasant task of paying down this overwhelming and stifling debt. Regardless of how the politics plays out... each of us will be called upon to pay the piper for our government’s excesses. Business has been slow to invest in the future due largely to the uncertainty that exists. Our governmental bodies should take heed. Paying down debt should be our primary consideration today, not adding more.
Dropping the library and the deferred maintenance costs out of Prop 2 and adding in the Eaglecrest learning Center and Lodge Renovation, the Airport Terminal Renovation and the Capital Transit Improvements from the bond measure would have made for a much more palatable situation. We believe voting no on both propositions is shortsighted.
We therefore say no to Proposition 1 which adds more debt.
We feel somewhat forced into accepting Proposition 2. In lending our support we feel we have to take the bitter along with the sweet.
Comments (23)
Add commentI can't believe I'm almost
I can't believe I'm almost voting with the Empire except I'm voting no on the regressive "temporary" sales tax.
Makes no sense
So you say we should pay down debt but you support sales tax to build new facilities. You don't support the library but support the tax to fund it?
You were close but missed the mark. Vote no on both.
School Board
Wow, the Empire staff must be thrilled with the way the Juneau School District is being run! All their recommendations are current or former board members!
They must think the JSD should keep going in its current direction...
No budget reserve, hundreds of thousands of dollars on MAP testing, huge classes, fewer nurses...
My votes are NOT going in the same direction as the Empire.
I can't believe I'm almost...
...voting with Curtis except I'm voting against Merrill Sanford.
Not because he isn't a good guy who would work hard for the city, but because regular Empire troll Short Cut is supporting him. Therefore there must be a major flaw with the guy.
Cheryl is a terrific person as well, so we can't lose. If the mayoral election is decided by one vote in favor of Cheryl, which it could well be this time, Short Cut has himself to blame. The troll was the deciding factor.
I'm liking how Paul Nowlin is conducting himself as well. 'Unfiltered' is a good description, which is why the Empire probably likes him - he'll make better copy. He hasn't become a politician yet. I'm leaning towards him, but not 100% there yet.
Regarding the taxes and bond measures, I'm less spun up about the debt than the Empire is. They're repeating the nonsense that businesses aren't investing because of uncertainty caused by our national debt. Hogwash. Businesses aren't investing because demand is low. And demand is low because the banks drove our economy off a cliff. Our national debt is an important longterm issue, but it has little to do with our local bond decisions.
I'm voting against both to protest the way the City bundled the 'wants' with the 'needs'. Use the 1% tax to pay for maintenance? I'm OK with that. But the rest of the projects should stand on their own merit. Or at least dice them into smaller chunks. For instance, lump the library with the ORV park with the Eaglecrest learning center. And lump Centennial Hall with the Adolescent Mental Health Center.
I also want to see the entire sales tax structure reviewed and corrected. Eliminate taxes on food. Increase taxes in the summer while reducing them in the winter.
And finally, I agree with the Empire that there aren't any bad candidates on the ballot this year. That's opposed to some recent years where we had some real goofballs trying to drive things. Thank you all for caring and running.
Not sure if I completely
Not sure if I completely agree with the Empire here - still making up my mind on candidates, etc. But the one thing I have decided is NO on the 1% sales tax. Having voted YES on it for many, many years - like most Juneauites - I am now sick and tired of this "temporary" tax that never goes away. Stop taxing food and home heating fuel and I would be willing to change my mind. This may be the year that our sales tax goes back to 4%. And that savings will help us pay for our groceries and home heating fuel. It's not much (maybe $100 - $150 a year) but it's something.....
Interesting comment.
58 would seem to be letting someone else make up his mind for him? In my world that transfers far too much power to another, one should think for themselves. There may well be qualities that Mr. Sanford has that make him the better person to fill the job? Shutting the door prematurley is a poorly thought out reaction.
Time for a reset!
As with the previous posts, our family will be voting no on props 1 & 2.
It is time to reset the financial priorities in our community. We have blindly and faithfully passed these sales tax renewals for far too many years, leaving the financial decisions to the assembly, the city officials and the committees they appoint.
Time to take the reins back. I propose that all new projects be dropped. This includes anything that ground has not been broken on. Next, any project under construction be re-assessed to determine the real need for it compared to the want for it.
It is time for us to re-assess our community priorities. Currently, this community seems to be moving towards a retirement type community. If this trend continues are we really going to need another ice rink or yet another library?
Seems to me that street improvements, sewer, water and a lean government would serve us all much better.
And in closing, I too, want sales tax on food, home heating oil and electricity dropped.
bobc
Of course we all make our own minds who to vote for. But in doing so, we take into consideration various endorsements. Heck, you're reading the Empire's endorsement editorial right now.
So when you see an endorsement from an organization or an individual that you hold zero respect for, then you are left to wonder whether they know something about the candidate that you don't. Such is the situation with Short Cut - he must know things about Merrill that I don't, or Merrill's positions line up with Short Cut's gutter values.
All other things being equal, I'll give some weight to Short Cut's endorsement. Cheryl will make a terrific mayor.
The good ol' boys run things
The good ol' boys run things in this town enough already, the last thing we need is one as the Mayor. That, and I don't agree with the way he voted on many important measures.
Nowlin has turned into a politician in just two short months. That combined with the Empire's endorsement, made up my mind.
I won't vote for Nankervis, even though he's running unopposed..... Absolutely, positively, don't trust the man.
Thanks Empire, but I'll be writing in Minnie Mouse, or simply skipping the ballot line, as a way to express my confidence in Mr Nankervis.
No, on both props.
Since I don't have children in the school system, I'll let those that do decide who best represents their children's needs.
@Lat,
If you were to be honest with yourself, wouldn't the thing to do in the situation you describe be to raise your opinion of "shortcut" a bit? Your current logic dictates that if "shortcut” comes out for breathing you will have to stop......
No, ah ha
You missed my "all other things being equal" part. In my mind it was a tossup between Merrill and Cheryl. Short Cut put Cheryl over the top.
Now as far as breathing goes, there are some other considerations that override Short Cut, though I admit it's a bit disgusting breathing the same air as Short Cut. I'd appreciate it if he'd stop exhaling.
58
You do realise that you have put Short Cut in a position of influencing the way you behave and what you do? Ya might think that through a tad? I'm not sure I would want to relinquish that control to a stranger!
Croak the Bond
Save and spend. Or spend out of pocket. But borrowing and spending for this particular proposal is silly.
Dump the 1% temporary sales tax...
...and the $25million bond. I oppose lumping any projects together. For an historically anti-pork community, passing these propositions would be hypocritical. We can afford maintainence by tightening our belts and by not digging ourselves deeper into debt. CBJ needs to go cold turkey. Proposed projects need to stand on their own merits.
@ skirkz
I agree this omnibus legislation of lumping together pet projects is terrible. We should be able to vote by line item on such big number issues.
@ Juneau Empire
Thank you, I really appreciate your endorsement.
Paul Nowlin
I've been very impressed with your campaign so far, and your accessibility as well. I know how you feel about the 1% sales tax. I'd like to know how you feel about stopping taxation of food and home heating fuel? I could support the 1% tax if this were done. Just wondering what you have to say on the subject?
@JNUKara
Taxing food: Food is a broad subject, I am against taxing groceries, but cooked food I am okay with taxing. I separate the two because we all need groceries, including those of us less fortunate than others; so it is detrimental, especially to the pockets of the individuals who are already struggling. Eating out is a "luxury" that we partake in if we have surplus cash and/or for special occasions; so I think cooked/prepared food should be taxed. A grey area is composed of things like the salad bar at Super Bear, which I would consider groceries since you are putting it together yourself from vegetables that are available at Super Bear. However, I would tax the salad bar at, say, Giovanni's in the Valley. So there are some things that I would consider middle of the road to be addressed; but long story short...I am against taxing groceries, and the Assembly should seek to stop spending on pet projects if it takes taxing necessities to do so.
Heating fuel: I am on your side as a citizen, but if I were on the Assembly I would have to look into this one a bit more. I don't want to answer you blindly, and I can already see one potential issue; in that, people who do not use oil could cry foul, and then you are exempting pellets, fire wood, electricity, etc. Since I have not examined the ins and outs, nor questioned those who are in the know, I cannot say I would vote to have heating fuel tax exempted; but I am open to looking into, and encouraging it if it is fiscally responsible.
Accessibility: I will stay accessible, and keep my answers open and honest. I hate it when politicians placate the person asking the question; and give answers that are hazy at best. I am not looking to start a career in politics, only trying to help Juneau. If people do not like my answer that is fine, but I would rather put my exact thoughts out there; and let people point out a flaw, I will admit my error and then change my mind accordingly. I am not too proud to admit I am wrong. Just today at the Chamber of Commerce candidate forum, I made a comment that Eaglecrest did not need a indoor learning center when the snow is outdoors. A lady from Eaglecrest approached me and told me that the building would house other services and that very little actual training (or maybe it were none) would happen indoors. So I now publicly stand corrected on that for anyone present at the forum. I am not so sure I have changed my mind about supporting it, because I would like to see the ski lodge support itself, and grow accordingly, not grow and we pay for it out of a tax or fee from somewhere (property tax might be where the Eaglecrest money comes from; I think). And I was an every(winter)day snowboarder until a drunk driver took that option away and left me with a full hip replacement and bad back at 29; so I do support Eaglecrest, I do not want to see it go away, I just want to see it carry its own weight like the many other resorts around the World.
Keep the questions coming, and everyone call me out if you see me make an error; I want Juneau to be better, not start me down the road of higher politics. Southeast is my only concern. Sorry to type your ear off.
Paul - Eaglecrest
"I do support Eaglecrest, I do not want to see it go away, I just want to see it carry its own weight like the many other resorts around the World."
What if it turns out that Eaglecrest can't possibly "carry its own weight" due to the realities of being located in a remote place with a limited population? Would you be in favor of shutting it down? What about Treadwell, the libraries, the city museum, all those parks...shouldn't they carry their own weight as well?
It's hardly fair to expect EC to operate like Whistler - it's not a destination ski area, and not likely to become one. The reality for Eaglecrest is that it has to rely on the local population to keep it going.
You're a (former) boarder so you get Eaglecrest. Juneau is blessed to have such a resource. But if it has to be a break-even operation, it's not likely to survive.
Where do you stand on this?
Build the road
Well Lat, you have just provided yet another great reason to build the road and open our town up to the world. Canadian could drive down and enjoy our private sky resort. It's a great idea.
I wonder how Paul feels about that?
For the record, I happen to like Eagle Crest too but If our city budget is short and we are taxing basics like food to fund the resort then close the resort. We can not afford it. However, if the motoring public from around the region want to drive here and enjoy our resort then that's great.
Paul
Thank you so much for your answer. I should have used the word "groceries" - you're right there. Eating in a restaurant or getting pre-cooked food from the deli should be taxed. Essentially, I agree with everything you said there.
On the home heating fuel thing - I admit, I hadn't thought of the other points you brought up. Heating fuel is so expensive that the taxes can add another $40 or so. But I do see your point.
Thanks again, and you have my support!
@Lat AKjustice JNUKara
@Lat - I am not saying that it should be closed, and I am not sure how a park would support itself; but I assume you are just making a point. I am only saying that we should not increase the cost of having Eaglecrest by adding more buildings and more cost, unless it first became self-sufficient.
@AKjustice - pro road all the way, and I would be more than happy to address any reasons not to build it. I had not considered it increasing Eaglecrest traffic; would it be closer to come here, rather than other options for people as far away as White Horse? When I moved Down South for a while, we would drive to other states to board; or even to Canada. The closest resort was an hour away and we considered that to be close.
@JNUKara - I actually assumed you meant groceries, but I did not want to reply back to ask you, and then wait for your response, so I answered as I did accordingly. Thank you again.