The initiative petition to elect Haines Borough Planning Commissioners passed 445 to 248 after Tuesday’s special election.
Voter turnout was 29% and the initiative passed by a 64% margin.
Borough clerk Alekka Fullerton said the borough assembly will be charged with how the election proceeds. Fullerton advised the assembly to phase in the election of members as their terms end.
“Seven qualified people seems like an awful lot to stand for election in one year in such a small community,” Fullerton told the CVN. “If the assembly adopts this plan, then three planning commissioners will be elected in October for seats to commence December 1. That being said, the assembly could have them all stand for election in October.”
If the assembly acts on Fullerton’s recommendation, Don Turner Jr.’s, Justin Mitman’s and Zack Ferrin’s seats would be up for election. Richard Clement’s and Scott Hansen’s seats expire in November 2024. Diana Lapham’s and Travis Eckhoff’s seats expire in November 2025.
The first public hearing on the ordinance that will spell out next steps is set for Tuesday’s regular assembly meeting at 6:30 p.m. at the assembly chambers.
Lapham told the CVN she wasn’t surprised by the results of the election, but feels disheartened that residents felt unrepresented.
“This may work, I don’t know. I don’t have a crystal ball,” Lapham said. “I’m really quite surprised that there are those in the public that felt, because we had voted in favor of some things, that the overall public were not being represented. That’s the only disheartening thing. We really try hard. But it is what it is and we’ll continue to do 110% until we don’t do it anymore.”
The CVN reached out to several commissioners who were unavailable for comment. Planning commissioner Richard Clement declined to comment.
Tom Morphet organized the ballot proposition late last year after the planning commission approved a heliport conditional use permit near a residential area that was later overturned by the assembly during an appeal process. The commission again approved a heliport conditional use permit last month that nearby residents opposed because of concerns over undue noise. Morphet said recent commission decisions did the work for him in convincing the majority of the voting public that commissioners should be elected.
“I think these most recent decisions, particularly for (another) heliport, just started becoming absurd,” Morphet said. “I think the commission didn’t do itself any favors in terms of presenting itself in a moderate way. I think most people want a moderate government. If they can’t get one by appointment, they’re going to get one by election.”