Candidate profiles for Assembly, School Board election

Each municipal election, the League of Women Voters of Juneau partners with the Juneau Empire to publish candidate profiles of those running for local office.

The League of Women Voters of Juneau is a nonpartisan organization. It developed the questions for the candidates, and solicited these responses for publication.

Here are this year’s responses from the seven candidates running for city Assembly and the three candidates running for a seat on the Board of Education.

Please note that each candidate was asked the same questions, and that responses in print are limited to 120 words. The responses were only edited for grammar and length.

SCHOOL BOARD

Brian Holst

Place of birth: New York, 1966

Length of residency in Alaska and Juneau: Came to Juneau in 1978 with Coast Guard family. Been resident of Alaska since, though spent time out of Alaska for studies and out of the USA for work

Education: Juneau-Douglas High School, Class of 1984; University of Notre Dame, 1988. Politics, Philosophy and Economics (concentration in Economics); Mendoza School of Business, University of Notre Dame, 2008. Executive Certificate in Leadership and Management; Certificate Course in Conflict Analysis — United States Institute for Peace (2004)

Occupation(s): Executive Director, Juneau Economic Development Council

Family: Immediate family includes my wife and our four children: JDHS ’16; JDHS ’21; and two at Dzantik’i Heeni Middle School. Extended family in Juneau includes parents, two siblings and numerous nieces and nephews.

Community service: Juneau Gastineau Rotary Club (2008-present); Juneau Committee of Junior Achievement (2008-present); Parks & Recreation Youth Coach (2008-present); Alaska Committee (2008-present); Any Given Child Initiative, Arts integration in our schools (2013-present); Juneau STEM Coalition (2016-present); Juneau Fisheries Development Committee (2009-2014)

Other experience:Alaska State Committee on Research (2016-present); UA Public Higher Education Roundtable (2015-present); Alaska Early Childhood Coordinating Council (2012-present); UAS Alaska Coastal Rainforest Center (2011-present); Juneau School District (JSD) Budget Committee (2011-2014); JSD Graduation Requirements Task Force (2010-2011); President of the Board of Education at the International School of Belgrade (2005-2007)

1. Does the School Board have a responsibility for kindergarten readiness? What collaborative measures are needed with the School Board, Assembly, and Community to maximize kindergarten readiness?

The Juneau School District is directly impacted by the fact that 60% of Juneau’s youth entering kindergarten are considered “not prepared” per the State’s assessment of readiness. This puts strain on our educational system from the very outset. Research is clear that the highest return on educational investment is in the earliest years. So, yes, I feel the Board bears responsibility to leverage its resources to increase readiness. Furthermore, access to high-quality pre-K tends to have a disproportionately positive benefit to kids from lower income families, which often lack the at-home supports to reach their potential in our schools. Through broad collaboration, we need to invest in common programs, human capacity, incentivized providers, and compatible systems.

2. An increasing number of children in our classes are being diagnosed with “Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES).” These experiences include neglect, abuse, witnessing domestic violence, growing up with substance abuse, mental illness, or an incarcerated parent. These issues seriously compromise academic performance. What steps must be advanced within the School District to identify and assist these children with academic performance?

Professional development is key here. ACES and its impacts on learning is a subject that is only emerging over the last several years and was not widely understood when many of our experienced teachers entered the profession. A continued emphasis on Response to Intervention (RTI), a pro-active effort by staff to identify needs of every individual student, is needed. The role of trauma, including historical trauma, needs to also be understood better. Students at Yakoosge Daakahidi High School have self-reflected on ACES in their own lives and this experience, as told to me by students, is helpful for understanding themselves and some people around them. Understanding the prevalence of ACES is a pre-requisite for dealing with their impacts on education.

3. Optimum teaching practices are critical if a student is to have an acceptable proficiency in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM). What is needed in order to put in place the best practices for teaching in these important areas?

The Juneau School District is completing its review and update of our Science Curriculum. The Board has asked that a broader look at STEM education take place at the same time, so that science instruction is integrated with other subjects and in a context of applying skills to learn how to solve real-world problems. Through efforts like the Juneau STEM Coalition, we hope the community can augment teacher resources to support STEM education during and after school. Teachers should be encouraged to find innovative ways to integrate more hands-on problem-solving experiences. The district will need to allocate funds for professional development and instructional resources.

4. The Board of Education adopted a new JSD Social Studies Curriculum last year and will consider a new JSD Science Curriculum this coming year. What should the Board do to ensure that teachers are ready to teach these new curricula?

Professional development of our teachers is an ongoing investment that occurs through individual initiative of teachers as well as through organized training provided by the Juneau School District. We need to allocate resources and time. Key to successful implementation of any curriculum is the engagement of teachers and community members in the design process. In the case of the Science Curriculum, the Board granted additional time to the working group, which also includes community stakeholders, to ensure we take into consideration sufficient perspectives and get the requisite buy-in. We have excellent teaching staff in our schools that we trust will implement these updated curricula with fidelity.

5. The School Board assures there is a highly effective teacher for every child in JSD. What specific staff development practices might benefit teachers in Juneau schools so they may increase their effectiveness as teachers?

There are many strategies to support effective teaching. Building Principals are the instructional leaders for each of our schools and they regularly visit classrooms and have been using new evaluation tools to provide more points of feedback on a more regular basis to improve instruction. The district continues to invest in instructional coaches, prioritizing the task of assisting implementation of new curriculum. I applaud the teacher union’s initiative to train their peers in areas like use of technology. And, importantly, Professional Learning Communities provide time for collaboration amongst teachers. Collaborative planning time allows teachers time to meet and learn together, so that they can then maximize their time with students. District leadership looks for the optimum mix of these strategies.

6. Would you support a comprehensive statewide reproductive health education curriculum? Explain why or why not.

No. The Juneau School District just adopted a health curriculum this past year that meets the needs of our students and reflects the attitudes of our community. In the absence of some very compelling reasons, decisions about curriculum should remain at the local level.

Jeff Short

Place of birth: Aug. 11, 1949 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Length of residency in Alaska and Juneau: 45 years

Education: Graduated from Antelope Valley HS, Lancaster, CA in 1967; B.S. from University of California Riverside in biochemistry & philosophy, 1973; M.S. from University of California Santa Cruz in physical chemistry, 1983; Ph.D. from University of Alaska Fairbanks in Fisheries, 2005.

Occupation: Environmental chemist

Family: Wendy Whelan, wife; Kyle Short, son; Zak Fisher, stepson

Community service: Coach for Academic Decathlon at Juneau-Douglas High School, 2013-present

Other experience: 31 years at NOAA/Auke Bay Lab as research chemist; worked on assignments in Canada, China, Ecuador and Russia.

While the School Board does not have formal responsibility for kindergarten readiness, it does have a vital interest in it. The work of the Mayor’s Roundtable on this issue should be encouraged and promoted, with emphasis on finding a stable funding source for the Best Starts program. We need to find ways to support and increase the availability of high-quality, affordable daycare. Most importantly, we need to identify children with developmental deficits as early as possible, and establish an efficient process for connecting them with an appropriate level of social and family support services.

2. An increasing number of children in our classes are being diagnosed with “Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES).” these experiences include neglect, abuse, witnessing domestic violence, growing up with substance abuse, mental illness, or an incarcerated parent. These issues seriously compromise academic performance. What steps must be advanced within the School District to identify and assist these children with academic performance?

Early identification and prompt delivery of support services for children exposed to ACEs is essential for minimizing the adverse effects of these experiences on academic performance as well as on their well-being generally. The School District should provide training to enable teachers, para-educators and substitute teachers to recognize characteristic childhood behavioral responses to ACEs. Once identified, these children should be interviewed by District psychologists to confirm and evaluate adverse effects, and to recommend remedial and mitigation measures tailored for the individuals affected. In more serious cases, the District should recognize the need and adopt formal policies for referral to the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services, Office of Children’s Services.

First and by far the most important requirement is teachers that have completed at least a bachelor’s degree, and preferably an advanced degree, in the specific STEM subject they teach. Second, physical and biological science courses should include a laboratory component, especially chemistry. Third, the STEM curriculum should include an integrated computer programming component, which at minimum allows students to use html for website design, visual basic for advanced spreadsheet calculations, and r for statistical analyses. Finally, these courses should emphasize student reports for lab and other assignments that conform to standard English including spelling, grammar and textual organization.

Again, teachers must have completed at least a bachelor’s degree, in the specific subject they teach. I believe that completion of all the required courses for a college major in the specific subject being taught, along with the education courses required for teacher certification is adequate preparation for teaching these courses. Beyond that, I believe the District administration should heavily weigh these teachers’ recommendations regarding additional materials, course modules, or other approaches that may enhance the effectiveness of instruction.

I believe the District should develop specific criteria, at least some of which are quantitative, to identify “Master Teachers”, and then provide these teachers with adequate time to lead colloquia during teacher in-service days. These colloquia would provide teachers who teach subjects in common with a Master Teacher the opportunity to share their different approaches and experiences, and to solve classroom challenges that are unique to specific instructional areas. I also believe that the effectiveness of each teacher should be evaluated annually against clear, specific academic attainment goals for each grade or subject, using criteria that include at least one quantitative metric derived from the required MAP testing.

6. Would you support a comprehensive statewide reproductive education curriculum? Explain why or why not.

I support a comprehensive statewide reproductive education curriculum, so long as each component is age-appropriate. In matters of reproductive health, what you don’t know can not only hurt you, it can kill you. Every society has a need and obligation to pass along this information to the next generation, and every person needs to be clearly informed for their own self-protection, beginning at the onset of puberty. For me, this is first and foremost a public health issue.

Kevin Allen

Place of Birth: 1998 in Anchorage

Education: Thunder Mountain High School, currently seeking Associates at University at Alaska Southeast

Occupation: Student, President of the Student Government at University of Alaska Southeast

Family: Evelyn and Dyann Myers

Community service/other experience: Alaska Native Sisterhood Camp 70, First Alaskans Institute

The School Board has a responsibility to educate the students of Juneau to a level that is acceptable to the work and college environments. To educate the students it requires that they are prepared at all levels including a proper introduction to the school system, pre-k. I myself went through a pre-k system here in Juneau. To expand pre-k education we can see what programs exist and assist however the district can and hopefully develop a partnership, or seek grants/assistance to prototype a Juneau School District Pre-K system.

The first step to solving an issue is recognizing that there is one, this also happens to be the hardest step. When a student is doing noticeably poor we must review the academic record to determine if it is a recent experience or one that happened early in their life. From that determination the JSD can decide the course of care/treatment and the level of treatment. Balancing the treatment with what the district has available is vital so we effectively provide the support the student needs.

The ALEKS program is how we can approach the math issue, it would be an effective alternative curriculum. What is also an issue is engaging the student to learn and to assure they are being educated rather than the goal to be that they are engaging for a grade. When the student holds the onus on themselves in an independent environment that again is engaging, then we get the practices in place.

Besides the extra courses and such that the teachers need for it, we need to make sure that the teachers who are looking to teach it, or is being assigned to teach it, has a background education in that field. The student is signing up for it and is required to, why shouldn’t the education be guaranteed to educate? What should also happen is that the teacher holds accountability with the board, and if there are difficulties that arise from the teacher teaching the science curriculum, then the board can take action.

Again it’s about the teachers being familiar in the education field they are in, or are relatively related to it. What would help as well is tech tools being effectively trained with the teacher, because a lot of paper and printing would be halved if not gone with a further integration into a tech integrated classroom. I saw a hassle in the JSD relating to the printing and returning of paper assignments and that could be gone. Additionally, teacher aids would help in a time where classrooms are increasing.

6. Would you support a comprehensive statewide reproductive health education curriculum? Explain why or why not.

In a state where there is many unknowing sexual encounters, unhealthy practices, and violence, I think a statewide curriculum would help in the efforts to reduce those instances. It would not be the answer but it could be a solution and as a recent high school graduate I know there is some work that needs to be done.

ASSEMBLY

Charles “Chuck” Collins (District 1)

Place of birth: Northern Colorado

Length of residency in Alaska and Juneau: Moved to Alaska in 1988 in Ketchikan and Sitka, moved to Juneau in 1990

Education: Kansas State University, then returned to school for electronic communication degree

Occupation(s): Worked at several businesses in SE Alaska including Yukon Office Supply, Copy Express, CopyWorks, OfficeMax and Key Bank, and have worked in finance for the last several years

Family: Donna and I have been married for 35 years and we have three grown children and five grandchildren

Community service: Served as Executive Director of United Way SE and JEDC. Selected as a business liaison for far east Russia and participated in economic exchange with our Russian counterparts.

Other experience: On the boards of United Way, Juneau Chamber, Juneau Economic Development Council, United Human Services and Worker’s Compensation. Member of Rotary, Gideons and Douglas Island Bible Church.

1. Would you be in favor of reopening the AJ mine? Please explain why or why not.

Under the right circumstances yes. But mining is a heavy industry and regulation is needed to keep workers safe and mitigate risks. Another mine could bring critical economic base jobs to our town and have a large positive economic impact on CBJ finances. As such it must be in consideration for the future of Juneau.

2. What three suggestions can you offer for alleviating the Juneau homelessness situation?

We must come together as a community to address the issue. I would work to strengthen and coordinate the work already in progress. We need to concentrate on assisting those who are struggling to better their situations, promote resources for those with mental health and addiction issues and designate a location that allows those who want to live this lifestyle to have access to sanitary and safe services. We must also respect the rights of private property owners and protect our community lifestyle and way of life. No one should be ashamed or scared to walk alone in Juneau.

3. What suggestions do you have that could be implemented by the Juneau Assembly to increase the CBJ’s revenue stream?

Grow and enhance our economic base. Juneau must continue to work hard on saving jobs already here: government, tourism, fishing and mining by finding balance between regulation and free enterprise. Collect sales tax owed by many businesses in arrears and review other exemptions that could bring more sales tax dollars to city coffers. Insure the availability of cost efficient transportation both of goods and information. We have excellent power supply, water and recreation. By upgrading our harbors, roads, digital fiber and our airport we increase use and revenues.

4. What two or three measures could the Assembly adopt to address our opioid addiction crisis?

Juneau as a community must first recognize there is a problem. The opioid issue is moving to a heroin issue and both lead to other social and legal problems. I do not want to see my friends and neighbors on the front page of the Empire because there was a crisis in their family. Strengthening our first responders mission, providing an alternative to the hospital or incarceration and empowering our agencies to provide assistance with our at-risk citizens are all priorities with me.

5. Juneau is a diverse community with residents who represent many cultures. What steps can the Assembly take to make sure that members of all these cultures have a voice in our city government?

It is my belief that the Assembly, the Mayor and the City Manager do an excellent job welcoming all cultures to the discussion. Every one of our Assembly members is easy to talk to, has an open-door policy and views all citizens as important and equal. I would be honored to continue in that great tradition.

6. It is widely agreed that Juneau has a daycare availability and affordability problem. The Assembly’s Juneau Economic plan has a goal of increasing the capacity, quality, and affordability of child care as well as supporting kindergarten readiness. What measures could be implemented by the Assembly to improve child care in order to support young families and Juneau’s children?

This is a tough one. My wife operated a daycare for many years before regulation became an impediment. Daycare is expensive and providers are often under paid and struggle to meet both demands of the job and guidelines for operation. We must consider what level of participation the city government would be comfortable with. As an assembly member I would support allowing home daycares limited in size, giving our child care agencies the responsibility for implementing proper day care procedures and carefully look at other sources of funding available to Juneau for assistance with child care.

Thank you for allowing me to represent you.

Loretto Jones (District 1)

Length of residency in Alaska and Juneau: I have lived in Alaska most of my life, coming to Juneau in 1977 from Kaktovik as a meteorological technician with the National Weather Service

Education: I received certificates for Pilot Briefing and Surface and Upper Air Observations. While training the fishing fleet to make observations for marine forecasts, I became intrigued with fisheries and started gillnetting with my own boat in Taku Inlet. During winter, I attended UAS, then received my Bachelor of Arts Degree from Texas Tech University 2003. Accepted into graduate studies at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, I graduated in 2010 earning both a Masters and Doctorate

Occupation(s): Currently, I’m Captain and owner of Sedna Charters

Community service: I was active in community service as President of the Altrusa Dawners and of the Board of Directors, League of Women Voters in Lubbock, Texas.

Other experience: I was an English Professor for the University of Alaska and the Virgin Islands.

1. Would you be in favor of reopening the AJ Mine?

There is a task force in place to address this issue and before I could answer yes or no, I want to see how Juneau’s already crowded waterfront is affected. We have a Mining Ordinance already in place established in 1989. I think we need to make sure a clear plan is in place that considers tallying storage, the Clean Air Act and the impact a mine would have on Juneau’s drinking water, our sustainable resources: wildlife, and salmon watershed.

2. What three suggestions can you offer for alleviating the Juneau homelessness situation?

Explore the use of empty buildings, both private and government owned, for shelter. Provide treatment and health care in-house by SEARHC using Tlingit, Haida, and Yupik Elders as advisors for Alaskan Natives. Substance Abuse is best approached by a cultural mentor. Since many of our homeless are Veterans, we should investigate how the VA might help. Work with the Carpenter’s Union to build raised beds, start growing vegetables with donated starts from Ed’s Edible Landscape, Kroger’s, and Glacier Gardens. This offers hope, responsibility, and self-esteem. It also gives them shelter, a sense of community. SEERC could provide training in Adult Basic Education and GED. This offers hope, responsibility, self-esteem,shelter,and a sense of community. All it takes to become homeless is a catastrophic event or mental health issue.

3. What suggestions do you have that could be implemented by the Juneau Assembly to increase the CBJ’s revenue stream?

Pass the 2% increase in our hotel/motel bed tax, or charge a 5% tourist tax from May through September like Washington DC, Florida, and California. Visitors are using our water, roads, utilities, and could help pay for the wastewater bio solids dryer building that costs $15.4 million. Visitors arriving by cruise ships, air, or ferry should pay their fair share while here. Residents of Juneau could be exempted. Revenue will help offset the $1.2 million for a pump house and restroom accommodations related to the bronze whale site.

4. What two or three measures could the Assembly adopt to address our opioid addiction crisis?

We need to provide funding to revive the District Attorney’s Office. Offer treatment programs and get these drug dealers off the street and make them accountable. Repeal SB 91, and incarcerate dealers. We have 12 Correctional Centers in Alaska that are overcrowded and not sustainable due to budget priorities or a long term plan. I would encourage Governor Walker to look further into Pt. Mackenzie Correctional Farm General Programs as a way forward. I contacted Governor Walker’s office after speaking to three doctors in Florida about their frustration and Florida’s solution to the opioid epidemic. Simply restrict the prescriptions that doctors can write to patients. Governor Walker presented that bill and it passed.

5. Juneau is a diverse community with residents who represent many cultures. What steps can the Assembly take to make sure that members of all these cultures have a voice in our city government?

Encourage a Culture Day of appreciation. We enjoy the fruits and labor of wonderful Filipino, Vietnamese, Mexican and Alaskan Native communities among others. Create a festive a Block Party [down town] like the Douglas Island Neighborhood Association to build community in Douglas. The more we learn from each other in a diverse gathering the more likely we can down play our differences and focus on what we have in common. Listen to our citizen’s voices and respond by doing.

Provide enough funding to school district so that they can hire and retain qualified teachers instead of depending on substitutes to man the classrooms. Community members can open their own childcare facilities. This would provide job opportunities and employment in the private sector.

Jesse Kiehl (District 1)

Date and place of birth: 1976 in Anchorage

Length of residency in Alaska and Juneau: Lifelong Alaskan, in Juneau since 1998

Education: Graduated Steller Secondary School, 1994. BA, Politics & Theatre, Whitman College, 1998

Occupation(s): Legislative Aide & Assemblymember

Family: Married to Karen Allen. We have two daughters, ages 13 & 15

Community service: Juneau Assembly, 2011 – present including serving as Deputy Mayor; Chair of the Finance Committee, past Chair of the: Marijuana Policy Committee, Lands Committee, Human Resources Committee, & others. University of Alaska Southeast Campus Council. Alaska Municipal League Board of Directors

Other experience: For 17 years, I’ve worked for Juneau’s state legislators. Before that, I worked in tourism and commercial fishing. I also volunteer for Girl Scouts of Alaska, KTOO, and teach Outdoor Skills in middle schools. In addition to six years on my synagogue board, I taught religious school for eight years.

1. Would you be in favor of reopening the AJ mine? Please explain why or why not.

Greens Creek and Kensington prove we can do mining right in Southeast Alaska. Doing it right in the watershed that supplies almost all Juneau’s drinking water — right under downtown homes and businesses — is a higher bar to clear. We must keep the door open to a developer with a responsible plan to open that mine as long as that plan actually protects water, homes, and other Juneau businesses.

I worry the current effort to eliminate all local control over air and water quality may go too far. It risks creating a voter backlash that would keep a third Juneau mine from ever opening. We need responsible, efficient permitting, and fair rules that protect residents and businesses alike.

2. What three suggestions can you offer for alleviating the Juneau homelessness situation?

In the short term, we need a campsite that people who often aren’t functioning very well can use year-round. Rapid re-housing, which gets a roof over people’s heads before they’ve been on the streets too long, will help keep problems from decompensating into unmanageable, long-term homelessness.

Longer-term, our investment in Housing First will help. It’s a proven model that will help stabilize 32 people who, before it was built, took up a huge amount of police, ambulance, and emergency room resources.

The 1% sales tax proposal will remodel Rainforest Recovery to help increase addiction services, so when people are ready to turn their lives around, they have the help they need.

3. What suggestions do you have that could be implemented by the Juneau Assembly to increase the CBJ’s revenue stream?

We should keep growing our senior economy by helping the nonprofit Senior Citizen Support Services arrange financing for an assisted living and memory care facility, keeping more of our elders here in Juneau.

We can help our year-round maritime economy grow by replacing the aged boatlift near Aurora Harbor with a larger one to support repair and maintenance businesses on dry land.

We should hold steady, predictable sales of city land to build our neighborhoods — a process we’ve started at Jackie Street and are moving forward with at Pedersen Hill.

Extending North Douglas Highway into long-planned new development areas can give Juneau a new industrial zone to support the businesses every city needs but few people want next door.

4. What two or three measures could the Assembly adopt to address our opioid addiction crisis?

We should partner with Juneau’s medical community to adopt best-practices in prescribing. Roughly 75% of opioid addicts get hooked from legal medicines. A new state law will help, but encouragement from the city can help speed the change.

Let’s also look into bringing a medical device called “the bridge” to Juneau. It’s a pain-management device Anchorage and Fairbanks doctors use to make withdrawals less excruciating — getting more people past detox into treatment.

Long-term, we should work to expand sober re-entry options for people getting out of prison. Programs like Haven House help keep people from falling back into old ways. I don’t yet have a funding source, but Juneau will be better off if we can open more.

5. Juneau is a diverse community with residents who represent many cultures. What steps can the Assembly take to make sure that members of all these cultures have a voice in our city government?

The most important thing we can do is reach out. I’m a member of several cultural groups, and I meet with others whenever I can. I recruit people from diverse backgrounds to serve on city boards and meet with young people about city issues. And the mayor and I worked directly with leaders from Tlingit Haida Central Council to negotiate an agreement about laws and services if Tribal land goes into Federal trust here in Juneau.

Besides that, the equal rights ordinance I passed will ensure everyone in Juneau has access to housing and work based on merit, not race, religion, sexual orientation, or other irrelevant categories. That kind of inclusive approach helps Juneau grow both economically and culturally.

Let’s build on the zoning change I passed to create more childcare spaces in Juneau. More than 80 added slots in the first year was a great start, but Juneau kids need more. Without adequate childcare, families decide not to start businesses, earn less than their potential, or just shrink the talent pool.

That’s why I launched a formal request that the school district examine how to work with folks behind the Best Starts initiative to find the most cost-effective, efficient options to increase quality childcare in Juneau. Quality childcare not only helps our economy, it lowers crime and the cost of the safety net in the long-term. I know we can do better for Juneau families.

Rob Edwardson (District 2)

Date and place of birth: Born in Sitka, AK in 1965

Length of residency in Alaska and Juneau: An Alaska resident since birth, raised in Ketchikan and then came to Juneau in 1990 with the U.S. Coast Guard where he’s lived for 20 of the past 27 years

Education: He has a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Administration and Management and intends to complete a Master’s of Arts degree in December

Occupation(s): Rob has worked in public administration for 30 years.

Family: Rob married Sandy (Brown) Edwardson in 1985.

Community service: He has served the community as a past member of Juneau Gastineau Rotary, and Secretary of the Juneau Douglas Fish and Game Advisory Committee

1. Would you be in favor of reopening the AJ mine? Please explain why or why not.

Yes, given the right conditions. Those conditions are that any project protects the city water supply and water quality flowing into Last Chance Basin from its various sources and that the project complies with all laws and regulations. A significant portion of the city tax base comes from property tax on mining interests inside of the CBJ. Neither Kensington nor Greens Creek will last forever, and AJ represents an opportunity to add to replace potentially lost revenue if properly planned and operated. However, It’s not practical to discard protections that guard legitimate non-mining interests of the people of Juneau to accomplish this. I would welcome the safe and lawful reopening of the mine.

2. What three suggestions can you offer for alleviating the Juneau homelessness situation?

Homelessness is a manifestation of several root-causes. Resolving those root-causes would substantially mitigate Juneau’s homelessness situation. Many homeless people in Juneau need jobs. Jobs allow people to pay for a home and to eat, without having to choose between the two. Retaining jobs in Juneau combined with facilitating affordable housing could resolve a significant percentage of Juneau’s homelessness. Mental illness is one of the leading causes of homelessness in Juneau. Targeted support for local mental health organizations and working with other government and non-government entities to manage mental health could mitigate the effects of a mental illness that leads to homelessness.

3. What suggestion do you have that could be implemented to increase the CBJ revenue stream?

As the State Capital, Juneau is a government town and needs to retain government jobs. I have been fortunate to be able to work on that subject during my career. These necessary government jobs fuel the economy of Juneau alongside the private sector jobs. Government workers are homeowners, customers, travelers, and their children attend Juneau’s schools. We must also support tourism and the travel industry. These industries make up a significant percentage of Juneau’s revenue and could grow if we make Juneau an even more attractive destination than it is today. Commercial fisheries is also an important Juneau industry. The Assembly should take a more active role in achieving protections from the threats caused by transboundary mining.

4. What two or three measures could the Assembly adopt to address our opioid addiction crisis.

The crisis is a nationwide and statewide problem and must have nationwide, statewide, and community-wide solutions. Last legislative session, House Bill 159 Opioids; Prescriptions; Database; Licenses passed. The Assembly must coordinate with other government and nonprofit efforts to reduce the availability of opioids. At the same time, the Assembly should continue efforts to make overdose first-aid such as intranasal naloxone available to save overdose victims. The Assembly should also carefully monitor the effectiveness of the ongoing efforts to adjust, if necessary. Ultimately, these are stopgap efforts. Addiction in general, and drug addiction specifically are much studied subjects to which the world has been seeking solutions for a long time. But as a community, let’s do what we can.

5. Juneau is a diverse community with residents that represent many cultures. What steps can the Assembly take to make sure that members of these cultures have a voice in our city government?

Education and exposure build understanding. The Assembly can continue to support the broad range of cultural opportunities that are a part of Juneau Life. Celebration, perhaps Juneau’s most consistent and well-attended community event is a meeting place for thousands of Juneau citizens, and people from around the world of all cultures. Community events such as Gold Rush Days and Independence Day celebrations also draw huge crowds and approach the richness of our shared cultures from different perspectives. The Assembly can continue to reach out to people of all cultures to hear what effects that Assembly decisions have in each of our communities.

6. It is widely agreed that Juneau has a daycare and affordability problem. The Assembly’s Juneau Economic Development Plan has a goal of increasing the capacity, quality, and affordability of child care as well as supporting kindergarten readiness. What measures could be implemented by the assembly to improve child care in order to support young families and Juneau’s children.

The availability and cost of child care is a barrier to economic development in Juneau. There may be a great deal that the Assembly could do to facilitate improvements. In addition to supporting the JEDP recommended actions, the assembly could enact in opportunities for non-educational property tax incentives to new companies that commit to providing or facilitating affordable daycare. It may be possible, and it is worth exploring.

Debbie White (District 2)

Date and place of birth: May 18, 1965 – Spokane, Washington

Length of residency in Alaska and Juneau: Moved to Juneau 1974, absent 1985 – 1989

Education: JDHS

Occupation(s): Real Estate Broker, licensed since 1999

Family: Husband, Christopher, sons Samson (28) and Brian (27). Parents were Dave (deceased) and Velma Dawson, Kent Dawson, cousin

Community service: Involved in school activities, sports, and scouts, past president SE Alaska Master Gardeners, served several terms on the Board of Equalization, President and other positions on SE AK Board of REALTORS®, Chair prize committee Golden North Salmon Derby, SE Alaska Realtor® of the Year 2011. Active in Glacier Valley Rotary and Chamber of Commerce and also a member of the Northern Southeast Alaska Building Industry Association.

Other experience: Elected to the Assembly 2014. Liaison to the Planning Commission, Chair of the Lands Committee, Liaison to Travel Juneau, Liaison to Aquatics Board, serve on Human Resources and Finance Committees. Active in the Chamber of Commerce and Glacier Valley Rotary Club.

1. Would you be in favor of reopening the AJ Mine?

The Greens Creek and Kensington mines have had positive economic (and no negative environmental) impacts on our community, so I am not opposed to mining as a source of good jobs in Juneau. Currently, there is no interested party proposing to open the AJ mine, so there is no proposal to examine. Should one come forward, I would be open-minded about a company being allowed to go through the very strict federal and state permitting process, and of course, CBJ’s Planning Commission and Assembly would be involved in any decision to open any other mines in Juneau.

2. What three suggestions can you offer for alleviating the Juneau homelessness situation?

The CBJ, along with several other agencies, is working toward long term and viable solutions. The Housing First facility will be opening in a few weeks and will house 32 individuals, as well as a health clinic and other services. As Chair of the Mayor’s Task Force on Homelessness, we are working closely with 29 social service agencies in Juneau to mitigate the impacts of this problem, and work toward solutions. We are lucky to work in a generous community that is generous, but we need to find balance to “right-size” the solutions for our community. Our priorities right now include a suitable winter campground area, a warming center, and setting goals for the next actions taken by our city.

3. What suggestions do you have that could be implemented by the Juneau Assembly to increase the CBJ’s revenue stream?

We need to keep in mind that there are essential services: Police, Fire/EMS, Schools, Water/Sewer, Roads (maintenance and snow plowing). The rest is optional. Of course, our citizens value recreational options, libraries, museums, and other things as they increase our quality of life. As a community, we need to keep these priorities in mind and find ways to fund the rest. Keep in mind that most communities do not own their hospital or airport, let alone multiple harbors or cruise ship docks. Reviewing tax exemptions and user fees is an ongoing process. If there is something CBJ does that citizens value, they need to get involved and help find solutions, like what is happening with the Aquatics Board.

4. What two or three measures could the Assembly adopt to address our opioid addiction crisis?

Increase educational and prevention programs. Support cutting-edge life-saving medical assistance and treatment locally and regionally. Support intensive follow-up with counseling services and community support for agencies providing these services. The opioid and drug problem affects all of us. I don’t’ know anyone who hasn’t been affected in some way. Juneau is not alone, as this problem is a nationwide epidemic. We need to look for ways to leverage our limited funds with state and federal monies and have treatment services available locally. Education to prevent drug abuse is critical.

5. Juneau is a diverse community with residents who represent many cultures. What steps can the Assembly take to make sure that members of all these cultures have a voice in our city government?

All city staff and assembly should have (and most do) an open door to allow all citizens to participate. Basics of how the government works should be introduced in grade school and reinforced in middle school. A full semester of General Government should be a requirement in High School, with a focus on the responsibility to pay your “civic rent” by being involved and engaged in public process. We’ve come a long way, but we must continue working toward inclusive government processes. Our youth need to not only understand HOW government works, but that every citizen has a right, and a responsibility to participate in local and state government in some capacity as adults wherever they live.

As a small business owner, I am acutely aware of this issue. In the last decade, I have had 5 different employees or real estate licensees bring children to work as they had no other options. We are fortunate to be able to do so, but it is not sustainable. I worked closely with the Community Development Department to find modest changes to zoning and local regulation to help alleviate the problem. We are not large enough to take over licensing regulations like Anchorage, so we must work with the State of Alaska to identify and modify excessive regulation where possible, without putting children at risk. CBJ should also continue to fund the Hearts Initiative.

Maria Gladziszewski (Assembly Areawide)

Place of Birth: Chicago, Illinois

Length of Residency in Alaska and Juneau: Thirty-three years in Alaska, 28 years in Juneau

Education: B.S. in Biology from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana. M. A. in Science, Technology and Public Policy from George Washington University

Occupation: Deputy Director, Division of Wildlife Conservation, Alaska Department of Fish & Game

Family: Married to Eric Kueffner

Community Service: Board of Directors, Perseverance Theater (9 years, including 2 as President); CBJ Planning Commission (11+ years, including 3 as chair); CBJ AJ Mine Advisory Committee; CBJ Assembly (3 years)

Other Experience: Naturalist/lecturer (Glacier Bay, Katmai, Grand Canyon National Parks) as well as for private tour companies; staff to the U.S. House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology; analyst for the Alaska legislature (in its non-partisan research bureau); CBJ Special Projects Officer (tackling issues as varied as tourism policy, human/bear conflicts, and solid waste management).

1. Would you be in favor of reopening the AJ Mine? Please explain why or why not.

It depends on what is proposed. If a proposed mining plan from a responsible developer satisfactorily addresses the objectives listed in the AJ Mine Advisory Committee’s (AJMAC) May 2011 Report to the CBJ — including protection of the Gold Creek water system — then I would be in favor of such a proposal. A transparent process for community engagement is crucial to moving forward on a mine in the heart of our community. We must assure citizens that their interests and concerns are being represented and considered fairly. As the AJMAC Report says, “the bitter divisiveness of the previous debate will be less likely if we as a community keep returning to our underlying common interests.”

2. What three suggestions can you offer for alleviating the Juneau homelessness situation?

This situation has been decades in the making and will take time, money, training, and community support to address the factors underlying homelessness. The best suggestions I can make are based on strategies outlined by the Juneau Coalition on Housing and Homelessness (JCHH) including: 1) fund scattered-site Housing First programs; 2) hire a homeless coordinator (CBJ has already applied for a grant to fund this position for 3 years) to streamline the work of JCHH agencies, secure additional grants to fund services, and help implement a coordinated entry system for persons experiencing homelessness. In the short term, work to establish a warming center in the colder months and work to find a suitable place for people to camp this winter.

3. What suggestions do you have that could be implemented by the Juneau Assembly to increase the CBJ’s revenue stream?

The CBJ should continue its efforts to collect existing sales and property taxes to make sure that everyone is paying their proper share. We can’t tax our way to a vibrant community: we must keep our basic industries strong and encourage new business to grow city revenues. In the last few years, it has been great to see young entrepreneurs investing in Juneau by opening new businesses. Also, to reduce the cost of basic necessities, I would like to see the CBJ not collect sales tax on food. This would cause a multi-million dollar revenue shortfall so we would have to raise revenues elsewhere. I think this is a subject worthy of community debate and if re-elected, I will work to move the discussion forward.

4. What two or three measures could the Assembly adopt to address our opioid addiction crisis?

The Assembly should support Bartlett Hospital’s efforts to provide treatment options to individuals with addiction, including medication assisted treatment. The 1 percent sales tax projects include funding to expand Bartlett’s Rainforest Recovery Center to provide a detox bay and also allow creation of an addiction assessment center to serve as a single point of entry to provide assessment, placement, and outpatient treatment of substance use disorders. In addition, an Assembly Public Safety Task Force has recently been established and will be developing strategies that can be adopted to address these issues. The nationwide crisis has definitely hit Juneau and we need to listen to those with expertise on how to best address it in our community.

5. Juneau is a diverse community with residents who represent many cultures. What steps can the Assembly take to make sure that members of all these cultures have a voice in our city government?

This is an ongoing struggle that concerns me deeply. Public engagement, trust in government, belief that public officials even listen to you: all seem to be on the decline. We need to design meaningful public engagement processes, not just take “testimony” on deals already largely done. We should conduct targeted outreach to underrepresented groups and do our best to welcome them when they do engage. For example, we could try to get more groups of kids to come to the Assembly Chambers to sing or get a team award for a sport because then parents come too. Breaking that “walking in the door” to City Hall barrier (by coming to see your kids) can help people see that they’re welcome, that “the government” is them, their friends and their neighbors.

We should continue to fund and maybe even possibly expand the HEARTS (Hiring, Educating, and Retaining Teaching Staff) Initiative. We already amended the zoning/permitting rules to make it easier to site a childcare facility and reports are that it helped several businesses get started. We should use our lobbyist to push for a reevaluation of state subsidy rates for child care assistance. We should also take another look at the ideas recommended by the group of citizens behind Juneau Best Starts, a comprehensive approach to helping improve access to child care. While the full annual cost of $3.3 million would be difficult to sustain, there are pieces that could be implemented that would make a difference.

Andy Hughes (Write-in for Assembly Areawide)

Place of birth: Born in Wisconsin

Length of residency in Alaska and Juneau: Forty-four years in Juneau; I moved from Whitehorse, Yukon to Juneau in 1973

Education: University of Wisconsin, BS Economics

Occupation(s): I recently retired from the role of Regional Transportation Planning Chief for Southcoast Region. I worked for the Alaska Department of Highways/Department of Transportation & Public Facilities from October 1973 to May 2017. Southcoast Region encompasses an area that includes SE Alaska, Kodiak, Alaska Peninsula, the Aleutian Islands, and the Pribilof Islands.

Family: I’ve been a single parent most of my adult life, raising four children here in Juneau.

Community service: Recent member of the SE Conference of community officials.

Other experience: Development of SE Alaska’s Transportation Plans and assisting communities across the region in improvement of roads and airports.

1. Would you be in favor of reopening the AJ mine? Please explain why or why not.

Yes, I would support development of the AJ mine based on an economic development plan that includes reasonable provisions to protect community interests and mitigate adverse impacts. Juneau was initially built by the mining industry, followed by government. AJ mine was developed without any environmental oversight, without adverse impacts evident today. Current knowledge and mining technology allows extraction of valuable minerals at much less environmental risk to benefit our community. Juneau needs to continue to diversify and broaden its economy beyond government. We would not enjoy our current standard of living without the minerals extracted from the earth by miners. Mining provides many types of good paying jobs — and is a huge economic asset to Juneau.

2. What three suggestions can you offer for alleviating the Juneau homelessness situation?

a. Require homeless persons to complete confidential personnel information request/survey to identify who they are, from where they came, why homeless & how long homeless in Juneau, health, education, skills and basic needs. Issue ID’s to homeless to receive services, camping, and transit. Refer for treatment homeless persons suffering mental illness and/or substance abuse.

b. Develop homeless community service program for homeless able to perform work.

c. Evaluate characteristic’s and needs of Juneau’s Homeless population and research how other communities are addressing homelessness to support program recommendations.

d. Fence off and post no trespassing for areas not safe/desirable for homeless occupation.

e. Provide campgrounds and basic shelter, showers, restrooms, laundry, and cafeteria. Recruit volunteers for provision of services and shelter.

3. What suggestions do you have that could be implemented by the Juneau Assembly to increase the CBJ’s revenue stream?

a. Restructure our tax base to provide relief to struggling families and seniors — remove all sales tax from food, reconsider senior sales tax exemption, and provide tax offsets to provide a less regressive tax system. Consider tax policies in support of local business and Alaskans visiting Juneau.

b. Adjust property taxes and general sales tax to adequately fund maintenance of basic infrastructure and essential services. Bill property tax in monthly installments on utility bills.

c. Adjust utility and user fees to cover annual increases in maintenance and service costs.

d. Place all proposed new programs, construction projects, and NGO grants with proposed amounts, on the ballot as specific individual line items for voter approval by line item. (yes or no).

4. What two or three measures could the Assembly adopt to address our opioid addiction crisis?

a. Pursue federal/state funding to provide a treatment center and outpatient treatment program associated with the hospital to intake opioid addicts to meet their addiction needs and wean and stabilize them off opioids. Enable courts to mandate treatment as an alternative to incarceration.

b. Post police bulletins reporting the nature, purity, and strength of drugs currently encountered in Juneau, associated risks of Overdose (OD) and who to contact in immediate vicinity in case of overdose.

c. Educate population on the risk of using opioids.

d. Distribute overdose antidote with instruction to school nurses, police officers, bartenders, liquor stores and service providers likely to encounter an opioid overdose occurrence.

5. Juneau is a diverse community with residents who represent many cultures. What steps can the Assembly take to make sure that members of all these cultures have a voice in our city government?

a. Juneau’s bigger challenge is to encourage residents at large to participate and exercise their voice in local government? Senior members of our community vote, but our youth and the large group in between seem too busy or uninterested. It’s a community issue — not just a cultural issue. Resolving the overall issue will likely resolve cultural issues.

b. Placing all proposed new programs, construction projects, and NGO grants with estimated corresponding cost, on the ballot as specific individual line items for voter approval should improve transparency, and citizen’s voicing interest in their government.

c. Establish cultural outreach program and inform the public and specific groups of availability of elected and borough officials to meet.

d. Encourage formation of neighborhood associations.