Interviews with several candidates in the Haines Borough’s October municipal election will air on cable channel 14 during the next two weeks.
Bill Kurz, a videographer and political activist, conducted the interviews. He said he prepared questions for candidates. They include asking candidates their opinion on his proposal to bring the Alaska Railroad through Haines to one asking whether library funding should be capped “or is the sky the limit?”
Kurz said he chose to interview only non-incumbents because “the other people have the bully pulpit every two weeks, at least.” He said he considered former assemblyman Norm Smith to be an incumbent.
Those in attendance at the library – including reporters and others he invited – could ask follow-up questions.
Cable TV provider Patty Campbell offered free airtime.
“I honestly learned an awful lot about some people I thought I really knew,” Kurz said. “My whole outlook on a lot of things got changed by doing those interviews, so I’m certainly happy with them.”
The schedule includes Debra Schnabel, Sept. 15; John Brower, Sept. 19; Karen Hess, Sept. 20; Schnabel, Sept. 21; Stephanie Scott, Sept. 22; Jerry Erny, Sept. 26; Schnabel, Sept. 28; and a Haines Chamber of Commerce candidate forum, Sept. 29. Each will start at 7 p.m. Candidates can purchase additional airings.