Annette Kreitzer, the new Haines Borough Manager.
Annette Kreitzer began her tenure as Haines Borough manager on Friday. She took over from borough clerk Alekka Fullerton, who worked as interim manager for 16 months.
Other than signing a few purchase orders, Kreitzer said her first few days on the job have been dominated by meetings and memos.
“I’m excited about the challenges of this position. Like I said when I was interviewed, I’m just hoping to be able to bring (to the borough) that stability and that stable relationship between the assembly and the borough manager.”
A retired Juneau resident, Kreitzer spent 18 years working as an aide and chief of staff in the legislature and as commissioner of the Alaska Department of Administration, where she was responsible for 1,500 employees.
Kreitzer and her husband own a cabin at Glacier Point, but she’s renting a place in town. She said she is still waiting for some furniture and other belongings to arrive. Her husband will continue to work in Juneau and will visit Haines during his weeks off, Kreitzer said.
Kreitzer spent five weeks in Africa before moving to Haines. The trip, which she and friends planned a few years ago, took her to Zimbabwe, Botswana and South Africa, where she viewed wildlife and hunted.
She said she hunted “the moose equivalent” – mostly antelope. Kreitzer returned to Alaska just a week before starting the job in Haines.
Fullerton offered two words when asked how she feels about the transition: “I’m thrilled.” Interviewed on Friday, she said she planned to sleep all weekend.