The Haines Borough Assembly at its Aug. 24 meeting unanimously appointed Jerry Lapp to fill the vacancy created by Caitie Rothbart’s resignation.
Lapp will serve as the sixth member for a total of three meetings until the election on Oct. 4. Lapp is one of six candidates running to fill three permanent vacancies whose terms will begin Oct. 11.
Two of the seats are for three-year terms, and the third seat is for the remaining year of Rothbart’s term.
Lapp and former assembly person George Campbell had both submitted letters expressing their interest in filling the month-long vacancy. However, Campbell told the CVN that he would retract his letter if Lapp was willing to serve.
Borough Clerk Alekka Fullerton said Campbell never officially rescinded his letter, but he also did not appear at the meeting designated for Rothbart’s replacement.
“He never explicitly withdrew but I think he just stopped pursuing it,” Fullerton said.
Lapp has served on the assembly for 13 of the last 20 years. He was also the Mayor of Haines for six years from 1996 to 2002.
Rothbart resigned in August citing personal reasons and saying serving as an assembly member requires “more mental presence and attention than I am able to offer at this time.”
The Chilkat Valley News will host an assembly candidate debate on Thursday, Sept. 15 at 6 p.m. at the Chilkat Center. It will also be broadcast on KHNS.