I support John Norton for assembly and hope you’ll consider voting for him too.

John came to Haines in the 1970s to build a cabin out Lutak. He’s raised a family in Southeast, worked a wide variety of jobs, and knows it takes flexibility and ingenuity to survive.

Now, as a retiree on a fixed income, he knows it’s important to spend money wisely.

As a trained scientist, John knows not to leap into action without facts. He can calmly evaluate a problem and work through collaboratively and respectfully to a solution.

That analytical approach will be important in facing a projected borough budget deficit, assessing potential income streams with an eye to preserving important services. But perhaps most importantly to me, he sees the value of nonprofit organizations that make Haines a place we want to live, and he contributes dollars and hours to keep them going.

I was disappointed this year when the assembly zeroed out funding for organizations that can multiply a dollar of local support into many dollars from donors, philanthropic organizations and government grants.

Sadly, those donations can be unavailable when a grantor sees that a project receives zero local government support.

I support an assembly that will get the most “mileage” out of our tax dollars by building partnerships and acknowledging that quality of life is as important as filling potholes in keeping Haines a vibrant community.

Bonnie Hedrick