Haines Borough Assembly candidates answered questions about increasing commerce, promoting civility and how to best represent constituents at the Haines Chamber of Commerce candidate forum last week.

Chamber president Wendell Herran led the forum at the Aspen on Wednesday, Sept. 21.

When asked what role the assembly could play for increasing commercial activity in the offseason, both Bill Jurewitz and Gabe Thomas said increasing winter tourism opportunities by encouraging the construction of a ski lift would attract visitors.

The candidates all agreed that bringing additional events to town should also be a priority.

When asked what their priorities for maintaining current infrastructure or investing in new infrastructure were, Thomas said aside from the Lutak Dock being the first priority, the borough should focus on repairing the Haines School roof.

Jurewitz and Holle said the public safety building needed attention. Lapp and Jones said looking at infrastructure that could provide additional hydroelectric power should be explored.

Aultman-Moore said addressing affordable housing should be a priority.

Candidates were asked what they would do to ensure voters are “treated with decency and respect at the dais even if you don’t necessarily agree with their politics.”

All the candidates cited the need to treat others with decency and respect.

Jones said creating a culture of decency and respect is important and “learning how to disagree while separating the person from the issue.”

Lapp said the ability to compromise, and keep an open mind is necessary to maintain civility.

Jurewitz cited the need for residents of opposing viewpoints to have conversations with each other and that facilitating those conversations is important.

Candidates were also asked what they thought was the best use of the tourism and economic development fund.

“Advertising for independent travelers is something that can be a high priority, arguably a higher priority than spending for cruise ship tourists,” Aultman-Moore said. “Per capita, independent travelers spend a lot more money and a lot more time in Haines.”

Jones said she’d make those decisions based on feedback she received from stakeholders such as tour operators and those who have been exploring various methods of economic development.

“I’d like to see a little more go toward economic development,” Lapp said.

Thomas said the borough is using the fund like a grab bag and that the funding could market the community to tourists in ways not directly related to tours. He commended tourism director Steven Auch for marketing Haines as a wedding destination.

“Ultimately, fund twenty-three is going to continue to be a grab bag until we…dedicate the funds,” Thomas said.

Holle said he’s like to see the fund continued to be used as a grab bag or used for training in the trades.

“I would like to see the funding incentivize training, (for) year-round jobs that would be specialized jobs, electricians, welders, plumbers, things like that,” Holle said.

Asked about what industries candidates think have a bright future in Haines, Jurewitz said the borough should focus on attracting remote workers.

“If we can have more robust internet here, then we can go into the lower 48 and advertise Haines,” he said. “Come here and rather than sit in LA doing your business, sit in Haines and have a good life. That is an industry we need to look at.”

Thomas said rather than fight about resource extraction, and industry he said is occurring and will occur, the public should have conversations about how to take advantage of resources.

“Instead of fighting over if it’s going to happen or if it’s not going to happen, we need to be having a conversation of when it happens, what are we going to accept as a community,” he said.

Lapp and Jones stressed that tourism has a bright future. Jones added that residents should be willing to look at what the potential benefits of resource extraction are and how to mitigate risks associated with such industry.

Aultman-Moore said industries with bright futures are already the pillars of the Haines economy, tourism, fishing and location neutral workers.