As of Wednesday morning, Cheryl D. Stickler, Jerry Lapp, Carol Tuynman, Helen Alten and Caitie Kirby are the latest candidates to confirm their candidacy for assembly seats before Thursday’s Aug. 20 deadline.
There are two three-year and two one-year assembly seats up for election in October, with six candidates running for four seats.
Assembly incumbent Brenda Josephson confirmed her plans to run earlier this month.
Lapp, who in the past served for two terms as Mayor and served as an assembly member for 13 years, was appointed to fill a vacant seat last year. Earlier this month he was unsure if he would run, but said he made the decision based on support from the community.
“I guess my decision to run was brought on by support from some community members and by my willingness to devote time to make our community a better place to live,” Lapp said. “Things I would like to see resolved would be the garbage issue and another is keeping a balanced budget without raising taxes by supporting responsible economic development.”
Alten was the former director of the Haines Sheldon Museum before the museum board voted to eliminate her job in July. Alten said she’s running because she thinks current assembly members disregard public input when making decisions and she wants more accountability in local government.
“There’s been a lot more, in the recent meetings, (occurrences) of controlling who has a voice. That’s not a democracy. If I’m elected, I will hear from people regardless if they have similar beliefs to me or not.”
Tuynman, former director of the Alaska Arts Confluence, also said she’s running to ensure there is inclusivity in and public access to government.
“Difficult times are ahead and will require many important decisions that we as a community have never before had to face,” Tuynman said. “I think we will do best if all voices are respected, and we work together to make the most beneficial use of all of our resources and skills.”
Kirby, 33, is a painter and works at Mountain Market. She said the spirit of public service and a desire for increased cooperation motivated her to run.
“I love this town and I think it’s a great way to serve your community,” Kirby said. “I think it’s important for people my age or even younger to know that they can do something like this. One of the things I’ve seen and I’d like to address is just getting along. I’m a fresh face and pretty reasonable. I listen pretty well. I’m hoping I can bridge any gaps or divides.”
Stickler, a former school teacher, principal and administrator, said she’s running to fulfill a sense of civic responsibility in time of historic changes.
“We live in a unique time in our history,” Stickler said. “We are in the process of seeing history being made. It requires us as community members to stand up together, engage in civil discourse, make decisions and move on with our lives. We can do that by upholding community values and one another.”
Douglas Olerud and incumbent Jan Hill are running for the mayor’s seat.
*This story has been updated to correct an inaccuracy that originally reported that Carol Tuynman is the Director of the Alaska Arts Confluence. Tuynman is the former director of the Alaska Arts Confluence. The term length of two one-year seats was also corrected.