The Chilkat Valley News and KHNS hosted a live candidate forum at the Chilkat Center on Friday.
Moderators Rashah McChesney and Avery Ellfeldt questioned four candidates for two open positions on the assembly and two candidates vying for the mayor’s seat.
Assembly candidates are Lee Robinson, Anne Marie Palmieri, Beau Bradley and Diana Lapham. Candidates for mayor are Jan Hill and Douglas Olerud.
Members of the public also had an opportunity to ask questions of candidates.
The borough election will be Oct. 6, and profiles of the candidates have been published in full at chilkatvalleynews.com under the “2026 Haines Borough Election” header on the homepage. You can also find a playlist of interviews with candidates on YouTube.
Excerpts of interviews can be found in the Sept. 17, Sept. 24, and Oct. 1 print editions of the Chilkat Valley News.
In addition to the candidates for office, Haines borough residents will also vote on three ballot initiatives and two propositions including one that would return the planning commission to an appointed body, one that would roll back a senior and disabled property tax exemption, one that would repeal the borough’s new seasonal sales tax, one that would add a severance tax to borough code, and one that would add a 2% sales tax on alcohol.