The title of an article in the Oct. 19 Juneau Empire reads, “Outgoing Assembly member snubs political opponents in thank you note.” The article identifies a letter submitted by former Assembly member Kate Troll as a thank you note to the Assembly prior to the Monday meeting where new members would be sworn in. It was hardly a gracious letter. Instead it was poor etiquette and wrong.
Troll lost the areawide seat in the October election to Norton Gregory. On election night, it is customary for candidates to gather in the Assembly chambers when the results roll in to either celebrate or congratulate their opponent. Troll was a no-show. In fact, following the election Troll failed to fulfill her obligations by refusing to attend meetings or vote on any matters before the Assembly. This left her constituents without voice for the remainder of her term. Troll’s actions were wrong.
Instead of attending her final Assembly meeting where she was thanked for her service, she slipped her “thank you” note in the Assembly packets. The note appears to serve two purposes: to thank people she worked with, and to admonish three members who supported Mr. Gregory.
Troll claims that sitting CBJ Assembly members typically don’t weigh in on local elections. What she failed to state is that she did that herself, and not just once. A check of APOC records shows she not only supported Karen Crane in her candidacy for mayor in 2016, but in 2015 Troll supported Greg Fisk against incumbent Mayor Sanford and in 2014 she supported then-candidate Maria Gladziszewski.
Troll is not the only Assembly member to support municipal candidates. A majority of the sitting members have supported candidates at some point in their term of office. The practice is neither uncommon nor unethical. Being in elected office does not preclude a person from exercising their rights during an election. Because it did not benefit Troll in 2016 does not make it wrong or unusual.
After reading the article, a person might easily believe the inferences in Troll’s letter to the Assembly were accurate or appropriate. A little research shows them to be false. It is unfortunate that Troll decided to abandon her responsibilities early and that she forwarded a hypocritical, accusatory note to the Assembly. While defeat is difficult, gracious exits are a better way.
Denny DeWitt,
Juneau