Residents Diana Lapham, Sally McGuire, Zephyr Sincerny, Sean Gaffney and Gabe Thomas filed candidacy for two vacating seats on the Haines Borough Assembly, joining applicant Paul Rogers, who registered last week.

Lapham, a three-decades long Haines resident and former assembly member from 2013 to 2016, said she was solicited by community members to campaign for a seat.

The focus of her campaign will be tightening the budget, advocating for areawide policing and encouraging better communication between the borough manager and assembly.

Lapham serves as vice chair of the planning commission, vice chair on the tourism advisory board and a committee member on Ports and Harbor Advisory Committee. If elected to the assembly, she would have to vacate her seats.

As for areawide policing, an issue which is held up at the assembly over a language dispute between code and charter, Lapham said a charter change is necessary in mitigating future issues.

McGuire, Haines resident since 1985, said she’s running because it is “absolutely clear” to her that the health of Haines’ watersheds must be protected.

McGuire has raised a family in Haines, and served as a member of the Chilkoot River Corridor working group that analyzed problems in the valley. She said, after living in Fairbanks before the Trans-Alaska Pipeline was installed, “that boom and bust cycles are crushing Alaska’s economic health, and will crush Haines in the same way if they are allowed to.”

McGuire said she would prioritize infrastructure at the Lutak Dock since Haines’ economy relies heavily on the barge, and hasn’t made up her mind about a charter change for areawide policing.

Sincerny, former educational coordinator at the borough library, has lived in Haines since 2016.

He said he was inspired to run for assembly because of a recent family shift- the birth of his baby girl.

“I’m running for the assembly because my family and I are committed to living our lives here in the Chilkat Valley and I believe we need to participate in whatever ways we can,” he said. “My three-week-old baby has really clarified this responsibility for me.”

If elected, Sincerny said his priority would be supporting local people. Regarding areawide policing, he said he’d need more time to learn about the issue before commenting.

Gaffney, co-owner of Haines’ largest tour company, Alaska Mountain Guides, has spent 30 years in and out of Haines. Gaffney serves as vice chair for Haines Economic Development council and the Chamber of Commerce, and holds a seat on the tourism advisory board, American Bald Eagle Foundation Council, and remotely for the Great Alaska Council for the Boy Scout of America.

“I’ve been highly engaged in our local government for decades,” Gaffney said. “I think that it gives me a good platform to work from.” Gaffney said.

Regarding a potential charter change, Gaffney said it’s important to respect the will of the people who voted areawide policing last year.

Lapham and Gaffney agreed that, if Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s promise to cut more state funding to local municipalities next year is met, they would prioritize critical infrastructure and services in Haines’ operating budget, such as public safety, schools, and roads.

McGuire and Sincerny said they would defer to the borough manager’s opinion.

Thomas is a lifelong Haines resident and Alaska Native. A powder man in charge of explosives for Southeast Roadbuilders’ demolition crew, he has never served on a local board or government body in Haines before. He did not respond to calls for comment before press time.

Lindsey Dixon and Tracy Wirak have filed to run for two vacant seats on the school board.

Assembly undecided on vacating Prisciandaro’s seat after he moves to Vermont

The question of whether a third Haines Borough Assembly seat will open remains unanswered.

The assembly postponed a decision Tuesday on whether or not to allow member Will Prisciandaro to serve telephonically while living in Vermont.

“I’d like to remain on the assembly if possible,” Prisciandaro told the assembly over the phone Tuesday. “I do have a couple meetings back in Alaska in November and in March, and then I will be back in the end May for the summer (fishing) season through the end of September. I’m kind of leaving it up to the assembly on what direction they think would be the best.”

Prisciandaro said he does not intend to change his Alaska residency.

According to code, the assembly can declare a seat vacant if a member “is physically absent from the borough for 90 consecutive days unless excused by the assembly”, or “no longer physically resides in the borough and the assembly by two-thirds vote declares the seat vacant.”

Assembly members Brenda Josephson and Stephanie Scott were skeptical of how a member could remotely serve a community they do not reside in day-to-day, and supported replacing Prisciandaro’s seat- “mainly because he’s not here and he can’t talk to people at Howser’s or anyplace else,” Scott said. “If he’s not here, his value is diminished significantly.”

Assembly member Heather Lende and Sean Maidy disagreed.

“I haven’t had anybody who voted for Will come and ask me to make sure that he’s not on the assembly,” Lende said. “It’s a very serious move to disenfranchise the voters who voted for Will and who apparently understand his situation.”

Maidy said he’d like to defer to the borough clerk and attorney. “I strongly recommend we postpone it and put it on a noticed agenda and have public comment,” Maidy said. “And let the people know that if we’re hoping to rush this in tonight so we could get this on the ballot… is that still what the majority of people want?”

Assembly member Tom Morphet said the borough should consult with a lawyer to see if Prisciandaro can legally be considered as someone “residing” in the Haines Borough, then leave it up to Prisciandaro and the voters to decide.

Mayor Jan Hill said the staff will consult with borough attorney and postpone a decision on Prisciandaro’s seat to next assembly meeting on Sept. 10 at 6:30 p.m. in assembly chambers.