Three candidates vying for two seats on the Haines Borough Assembly fielded questions at last week’s Haines Chamber of Commerce forum, sharing their opinions on the town’s economy, public involvement and why they want to serve.
Jerry Lapp, Tresham Gregg and Margaret Friedenauer offered their outlooks on Haines’ economic future, with Lapp pushing natural resource development, Gregg touting the power of large events, and Friedenauer advocating for better technology infrastructure and more opportunities in tourism, fishing and construction.
“Our borough is 1.6 million acres … and we don’t have any industry where we are really doing natural resources right now,” Lapp said. “We take some timber out, but other than that we’re not utilizing that industry very good.”
Lapp also floated the idea of creating an economic development council similar to Juneau’s.
Gregg cited events like the Southeast Alaska State Fair, the Kluane-Chilkat International Bike Relay, and the Great Alaska Craft Beer and Homebrew Festival as major economic drivers, and suggested reviving ACTFest, a biennial statewide theater festival held for decades in Haines. The borough benefits from these events through increased sales tax revenue, he said, and should be supportive.
“We can say, ‘Oh, well, it’s not our responsibility. It’s up to the private sector.’ Well, maybe, but you know, if you are going to benefit from it, why not? Why not even take a bit, say, off the interest of the permanent fund and put it into funding nonprofits (and) projects that would actually bring business into Haines?” Gregg asked.
Friedenauer resurrected the possibility of developing a business tax incentive program once broached by assembly members, to potentially lure new businesses to Haines or encourage existing ones to grow. The town also needs better technological infrastructure to support the segment of Haines’ population with “location neutral” jobs that can be worked at any location, she said.
“We don’t work from home necessarily because we want to work from home,” said Friedenauer, who lives in Haines but works for the Juneau-based Southeast Alaska Conservation Council. “We work from home so we can stay in Haines.”
Resident Paul Nelson asked a question about the controversial minor offenses ordinance, currently under consideration by the assembly, though he framed the question as a hypothetical. Nelson asked if the candidates were on the assembly and facing overwhelming public comment opposing an ordinance, how would they incorporate that into their decision-making?
Lapp and Gregg fielded the hypothetical question first – Lapp said he would prefer to postpone and research some kind of compromise, and Gregg said he would also work to reassess the issue – but Friedenauer called out “the elephant in the room” and addressed the question in the context of the minor offenses issue.
“There may not be a timeline on it, but the borough at some point has to abide by the (Alaska) Supreme Court ruling. And you can disagree with the Supreme Court ruling, but then you have to take the case to the (appropriate court). But right now the borough is sort of bound to in some way abide by that decision by enacting some sort of minor offenses ordinance. I don’t think we have it perfect, because obviously a lot of people disagree with it the way it is, and I do, too. I think there’s a lot of extraneous stuff in there and it needs to go back to committee,” she said.
The candidates also were asked why they were running for office and what characteristics would make them effective assembly members.
Lapp said he is “open,” “fair” and “a good listener,” and said he enjoys the feeling of accomplishment that comes from serving, knowing he has helped the community in some way. Lapp has a combined 19 years of service between his stints as Mayor and as an assembly member.
Gregg said he isn’t afraid to speak his mind or seek creative solutions to problems, and said he is hoping to foster more productive interaction between the public and assembly members. “I’m unhappy with the kinds of treatment that people who do speak at the assembly get. You get ignored or you get put down,” he said. “I think we should be fostering creative ways for people in the community to have a voice.”
Friedenauer cited her age (38) and experience living in other communities as strengths, as they can meld with older assembly members who have either grown up in Haines or spent a good portion of their life here.
“Mixed with people who have long-time experience in the community, you can come up with a lot of new ideas but also understand history and things that have happened before,” she said.
Working as the KHNS news director for four years, attending meetings and looking at issues from multiple points of view also give her “a depth of knowledge,” she said.
“I’d hate to see four years of going to meetings suddenly go to waste,” Friedenauer joked.