City candidates prioritize Native issues
Juneau Assembly and School Board candidates Tuesday told a largely Native audience that improving race relations and Native students' academic performance are top priorities.
"We have to stop the dropout rate," said District 2 Assembly candidate James Reid at an election forum at the Tlingit and Haida Community Building. "We should increase classes that Native students need so when they graduate, they will be an asset to the community."
Assembly member Randy Wanamaker, who is running against Reid, said he believes education is important but should not be the only issue.
"As a government town, Juneau faces an uncertain future due to state job losses, lost revenue sharing, future budget cuts and the lack of a state financial plan," Wanamaker said. "We need to prepare a long-term economic and employment diversification strategy."
The forum was sponsored by the Native Vote 2004 Campaign, a national effort to mobilize the American Indian and Alaska Native vote in collaboration with regional organizations and tribal governments.
All school board candidates - LaVonne Garvey, Mary Becker and Bill Peters - supported adding Native Alaskan history to the school curriculum. The top two vote-getters will win three-year terms on the seven-member board.
"That is the foundation of Alaska," said Garvey, a mother of two students at Juneau-Douglas High School. She is running for the School Board for the first time. "This is not only an issue for Alaskan Natives but all Alaskans."
Peters, an executive at Alaska USA Federal Credit Union, said he would find ways to fund the history class and hire teachers for it.
"We need to find things to engage our Native students," said Peters, who ran for the School Board last year but lost by one vote.
Becker, who has been on the School Board for six years, said she wants to expand the class not only to high school but also to kindergarten, elementary and middle schools' curriculum.
All School Boards candidates supported the two initiatives that will appear on the October ballot - building a $54 million high school at Dimond Park and redirecting $18 million in already-sold bonds to fix up schools.
District 1 Assembly candidate Jeff Bush said he would encourage voters to support both initiatives. Bush, who runs against incumbent Jeannie Johnson, served on the School Board between 1994 and 2000.
Johnson said she, if re-elected, she would study the spending of each city department and work to keep city government efficient and customer-friendly.
Planning Commissioner Johan Dybdahl is the only Assembly candidate who didn't show up at the forum. He is running unopposed for the district-wide seat currently held by Jim Powell.
Some Native residents who attended the forum said they would support Native candidates, such as Wanamaker, because they have known them for a long time.
"I know Randy's mom. All her kids are very good," said Mary Tarr, 52.
Patty McNeil, 52, said she would vote for Garvey.
"There are many issues that need to be addressed to ensure Native students' success. I feel she offers some hope and we need some new blood on the School Board," McNeil said. "I wouldn't vote for a person simply because that person is Native. I will vote for someone who truly represents the interests of Native people.
• I-Chun Che can be reached at ichun.che@juneauempire.com.