LUTHERAN QUILTERS – Members of the Quilts for Comfort Group stand between pews draped with some of the 205 quilts they made, in the Sitka Lutheran Church Tuesday. The group made the quilts for five local non-profits and one in Anchorage. The remaining quilts are sent to Lutheran World Relief which distributes them to places around the world in need, such as Ukraine, as part of Personal Care Kits. Pictured are, from left, Helen Cunningham, Kathleen Brandt,Vicki Swanson, Paulla Hardy, Kim Hunter, Linda Swanson and Sue Fleming. (Sentinel Photo by James Poulson)
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Daily Sitka Sentinel
Sitka Police Chief Loses Seat on Marijuana Board
By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
and The Associated Press
Sitka Police Chief Jeff Ankerfelt has been removed from the state Marijuana Control Board, where he was the public safety member. He said he was not given a reason.
“I didn’t ask,” he said, about the phone call he received last Thursday from Gina Ritacco, transition director for Gov. Mike Dunleavy, informing him his services were no longer needed. “I have no idea what their reasoning was.”
Dunleavy spokesman Matt Shuckerow told The Associated Press by email that for “various reasons” Dunleavy’s boards and commissions director chose to reopen the search for applicants. Shuckerow said the decision was not based on prior policy positions.
Ankerfelt said he was surprised, and felt strongly about the work being accomplished by the board. He wrote to his four fellow board members and MCB staff, telling them of the phone call “informing me I was no longer needed as the Law Enforcement representative on the Marijuana Control Board”:
“I want to thank all of you for being so wonderful,” he said in his message to the other board members. “It has been a real privilege to have been associated with all of you. I really enjoyed my time with you all. Please know that you always have a friend in Sitka and that I will be cheering you on!”
Ankerfelt has served on the board since last May, which meets quarterly to approve marijuana permits, and set policies.
“I was so impressed by the function of the board and its people,” he said today. “They’re nice people to be around, and they’re forward-looking.”
The chief said the decision to replace him may have simply been the result of a change in administration – and the fact the new governor does not know him – or it could have been influenced by his vote at the December meeting in favor of setting rules for on-site marijuana consumption.
The vote was 2-2 when Ankerfelt cast the tie-breaking vote in favor.
“My voting probably bothered some people,” he said. “I’m just guessing.”
He clarified that his vote in favor of setting rules for on-site consumption at permitted shops was not necessarily in favor of such establishments, but to leave it in the hands of communities.
“It was to continue to generate that dialogue and discussion and open it up for broader community debate,” he said.
Ankerfelt said he’s enjoyed his time on the board, and felt the work was important in a state that has decriminalized the recreational use of marijuana.
“I wanted to move the bar forward,” Ankerfelt said. “Over the course of 30 years I’ve seen the cost of (the war on) this drug. In my previous job, it was a great preoccupation of mine to keep young people from killing each other over a drug, while the middle class smoked away. Meanwhile, kids are killing each other over it. I tried to keep it from happening. I’ve seen all kinds of suffering and sadness.”
Ankerfelt said he also felt the time and money spent enforcing laws against marijuana use could be better spent on fighting meth and heroin use, or on education, mental health counseling and drug treatment. He said the laws against marijuana also prevented research into use of the drug for medical purposes.
Ankerfelt plans to retire July 1 as Sitka’s police chief. His term on the marijuana board was scheduled to expire in 2020. Ritacco told Ankerfelt that he wouldn’t be needed for the February MCB meeting.
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20 YEARS AGO
March 2004
Advertisement: Tea-Licious Tea House & Bakery 315 Lincoln Street Grand Opening! Freshly Baked Scones, Cakes & Pastries Innovative Salads, Soups & Sandwiches Harney & Sons Tea. Lunch * Afternoon Tea * Supper.
50 YEARS AGO
March 1974
Photo caption: National Republican Chairman George Bush takes a drink of water offered by Jan Craddick, Sitka delegate, during the Republican convention held here. Mrs. Craddick explained to Bush that the water was from Indian River, which means, according to local legend, that he will return.