Four Haines residents have submitted letters of interest for the assembly seat vacated by Margaret Friedenauer’s resignation last month.
The assembly applicants are stepping onto a stage where three assembly members face a recall election, two have resigned, and the body has been publicly criticized by Mayor Jan Hill.
Andrew Gray, James Hart, Sean Maidy and Sally McGuire are interested in serving until the October election.
Gray, Hart and Maidy were among the seven residents who submitted letters for the open seat after Mike Case resigned in April.
Case stepped down after the assembly hired Debra Schnabel as borough manager.
Friedenauer cited cynicism and bitterness in local politics in her resignation statement.
James Hart, 27, told assembly members last month he represents a younger voice in the community and could help create an improved partnership between the borough and the Chilkoot Indian Association, where he serves on the tribal council.
Hart said he likes to listen and process ideas before voicing an opinion and he wants to collaborate with as many people as he can.
Sean Maidy, 35, manages Dusty Trails apartments. Maidy, who plans to run for assembly in October, has lived in Haines for two years with his wife and two children. He said he wants to see more young people involved in politics and wants to provide economic opportunities for them to live in Haines year-round.
In his letter of interest, Maidy wrote that he thinks the borough should invest in renewable energy to promote job growth and become more self-sufficient.
“I believe we could be growing our own vegetables, powering vehicles, and heating public buildings while producing less waste, decreasing our shipping costs, and creating local jobs,” Maidy wrote.
ProHNS civil engineer Andrew Gray, 29, also plans to run for assembly in October. Gray has lived with his family in Haines one year. He said he wants to help see stability within the borough government and “détente the bitter and divisive infighting.”
He said he supports the Haines Economic Development Corporation, including the group’s $95,000 funding request. He supports hiring a fifth police officer and establishing emergency police response outside the townsite.
Sally McGuire, a longtime Lutak resident, said she applied to provide the assembly a “wide variety of applicants to choose from.”
“I would say that the most immediate issue would be that I am very concerned about conflict and turnover on the assembly. When such an excellent assembly member as Margaret Friedenauer decides to quit, you know something serious is wrong somewhere,” McGuire said. “Besides that, I’m a fiscal conservative and a strong supporter of the fishing fleet.”
McGuire said she does not plan to run for assembly in October’s municipal election.
The assembly will interview applicants at a June 19 meeting and make an appointment at the meeting on June 27.