Assembly candidates show differences

Juneau Assembly candidates clashed over taxes, building heights and city expenses Wednesday in a forum that served as write-in candidate Sybil Davis' campaign debut.

• Photos

"I should let people know what my thoughts are," Davis said at the League of Women Voters forum. She dropped out of the race and off the ballot Sept. 2 but registered as a write-in this week to oppose Planning Commission Chairman Johan Dybdahl for the at-large seat.

District 1 Assembly candidate Jeannie Johnson and Dybdahl said they support a bonus system that allows some buildings to be higher than 35 feet along the waterfront. But Davis and Johnson's opponent, Jeff Bush, said the city should have a height restriction on waterfront development.

Bush said he opposes building another cruise ship dock downtown, while the other candidates said they need more information or comments from the cruise industry.

District 2 candidate James Reid said the city shouldn't fund social services through an alcohol or cigarette "sin tax" and should let nonprofits run the city's social services. His competitor, Assembly member Randy Wanamaker, said the city should fully fund education and social services.

The Assembly candidates also disagree on whether the city should have a cap on mill rate.

Bush and Davis said they don't support a cap because they cannot foresee the city's future needs.

"I am not a supporter of increasing property taxes, but we cannot predict what the city will need," Bush said.

Wanamaker and Reid said they support a reasonable cap with some exceptions. Johnson and Dybdahl said they support the current cap, which is 12 mills.

The candidates are divided on whether to build a road connecting Juneau to Skagway.

Davis and Bush said they are reluctant to support building a road out of Juneau but they think it will happen eventually. The other four candidates support the idea.

"If we build the road to Juneau, it will help us anchor the state capital here," Johnson said.

Wanamaker said, "It's important for Juneau to build a road to Skagway, have a second crossing and improve our airport runway safety area to enhance our role as the capital."

All said they will be team players. "I always get along but I'm not afraid to sit in a meeting and tell the other person that's a dumb idea," Reid said.

Compared with the Assembly candidates, the three School Board candidates - Mary Becker, LaVonne Garvey and Bill Peters - are much more similar in their platforms. They are competing for two seats.

All three said they support 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. They all endorse the high school dress code, pledge to decrease Juneau's high dropout rate and encourage parent involvement in schools.

Becker, who has served on the School Board for six years, said her experience is important. "I know how the school district works and how the schools work," said Becker, who had 30 years of teaching experience.

Garvey, a grant writer and planner with Tlingit and Haida Regional Housing Authority, said the School Board needs new blood. "I can provide new, creative and out-of-box thinking," Garvey said. "We need someone who is not bogged down by the past."

Peters, regional vice president for Alaska USA Federal Credit Union, said his financial background equips him to help the School Board plan its budget. "I can bring a financial perspective to the board," he said.

Residents who attended the forum said the debate was informative.

"Before I came here, I didn't know much about the candidates. Now I have some rough idea," said Alfreda Dore, 77. "But I will keep my mind open until the day of voting."

• I-Chun Che can be reached at ichun.che@juneauempire.com.