Empire editorial: Municipal election delivers surprises
On a wet blustery day, approximately 7,300 voters turned out to pick winners in three Assembly races, fill two School Board seats and vote on a $15 million municipal bond. In all three races the margins were decisive. Congratulations go out to Marc Wheeler, Merrill Sanford and Stan Ridgeway on their respective victories. Congratulations, too, to Bob Van Slyke and Carl Brodersen on winning seats in the School Board race.
Van Slyke's integrity and vast experience as a former administrator will be a great asset to the School Board. Juneau-Douglas High School student Carl Brodersen will add a refreshing and important perspective to the makeup of the board. The School Board has gained two strong leaders at a critically challenging time for the district.
The community owes debt of gratitude to Frankie Pillifant and Don Etheridge for their service on the Assembly. Pillifant and Etheridge have worked hard to make Juneau a better place and each has made a lasting contribution in that regard.
Thanks, too, to all who rose to the challenge of running for public office, but didn't succeed. Juneau is fortunate to have so many willing to weather the rigors of campaigning with the goal of serving their community.
It is difficult to draw any firm conclusions from the outcome of the Assembly race other than to observe that the silent majority, those without strong party affiliations, picked the candidates they liked. Wheeler, a liberal officeholder, was re-elected while Pillifant, his liberal peer on the Assembly, was defeated.
The decision on the bond proposition to fund harbor, water and sewer improvements in Juneau was too close to call as of this morning. Unquestionably, voters are split on this spending proposal because of the uncertainty on the capital move vote coming in November.
The next Assembly will deal with enormously important issues that will shape the future of Juneau. The first challenge will follow the outcome of the statewide election. If voters vote for the move, Juneau will have to hunker down and prepare for worst. Issues like the school expansion, infrastructure improvements, the road to Juneau, and airport and ferry improvements will all go out the window along with a significant chunk of Juneau's economy and tax base.
If Ballot Measure 2 is defeated, Juneau must concentrate on strengthening its grip on the capital, so that the ever-present cloak of uncertainty can be lifted from its future. All of the candidates and Assembly members say they will work to save the capital. How our Assembly goes about making this happen will be the most important work they do.
Perhaps the most pressing issue the new Assembly will tackle is the future of tourism. There are many facets of the long-range tourism plan still to be decided and acted upon.
The new Assembly also will make critical decisions on the future of our schools. The outcome of the school bond measure going in front of voters Nov. 5 will determine which direction Juneau goes on funding for the Valley high school. Hopefully, voters will do the right thing and advocate for this critically important investment in Alaska's future. Assuming the move initiative is defeated and the school bond measure passes, Juneau can move forward and build a second high school.
Don Smith
dssmith@juneauempire.com
586-1428