TRUCK FIRE – Firefighters knock down a fire in a Ford Explorer truck in Arrowhead Trailer Park in the 1200 block of Sawmill Creek Road Saturday evening. One person received fire-related injuries and was taken to the hospital, Sitka Fire Department Chief Craig Warren said, and the truck was considered a total loss. The cause of the fire is under investigation, Warren said. The fire hall received the call about the fire at 5:33 p.m., and one fire engine with eight firefighters and an ambulance were dispatched, he said. (Sentinel Photo by James Poulson)
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Daily Sitka Sentinel
Chamber Election Forum Shifts to All Online
By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
The Chamber of Commerce has moved the municipal candidate forum from a live in-person event to an online format, starting at 11 a.m. Wednesday.
The mayor’s forum runs from 11 to 11:45 a.m., followed by Assembly candidates from noon to 1:45 p.m. and School Board candidates from 2 to 3 p.m. Chamber director Rachel Roy will host the event from her office on Lake Street.
Roy had hoped to hold the forums at Harrigan Centennial Hall, with candidates present in person and COVID precautions including physical distancing in place. The plan would also have allowed participation and attendance through Zoom videoconference.
Late last week Roy was contacted by City Clerk Sara Peterson, who said the forums would not be allowed at Centennial Hall because of the conflict with state election law.
Harrigan Centennial Hall is the location where advanced/absentee voting in person for the Sitka municipal election started Monday and will run 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays through October 5.
“We can’t allow electioneering within 200 feet of the polling place,” Peterson said today. “So it’s a no-go for Harrigan this year while the polling place is open – it’s not an option during the day.”
Electioneering defined by state law includes discussion of candidates, bumper stickers, campaign signs, wearing buttons or pins, and displaying marked sample ballots, she said.
Mayoral candidates Gary Paxton and Steven Eisenbeisz received questions in advance related to financial stability, reversing the population decline, land development and economic development investments. After that there will be questions from the public and closing statements. The mayor’s position is a two-year term.
There are eight candidates for two open positions on the Assembly: Marshall Albertson, Amy Bethune, Diana Dapcevich, Crystal Duncan, Rebecca Himschoot, Leo Jimmy, Steve Lee and Frederick Olsen Jr. Assembly terms are three years.
Candidates will be given time for opening and closing statements, and asked questions on population decline, employment opportunities, and land development. There will be additional questions as time allows, Roy said.
There are three candidates for two open seats on the School Board: Andrew Hames, Cass Pook and Blossom J. Twitchell. School Board terms are three years.
Their list of prepared questions are related to the budget, workforce development, and “distance learning and COVID-19.” Time is also being allotted for opening and closing statements and questions from the public, as time allows.
Roy said questions for the candidates may be emailed to her at info@sitkachamber.com.
The forums are free to attend. Roy encouraged registration in advance to attend virtually through:
https://us02web.zoom.us/ meeting/register/tZYoc- ugqz0iE918anlfhcZ_BVSHMFwlIXSQ
After registering, the Chamber will send a confirmation email with information about joining the meeting.
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20 YEARS AGO
March 2004
Businesses using the Centennial Hall parking lot testified Tuesday against a proposal to charge them rent in addition to the $200 annual permit fee. City Administrator Hugh Bevan made the proposal in response to the Assembly’s direction to Centennial Hall manager Don Kluting to try to close the $340,000 gap between building revenues and operational costs.
50 YEARS AGO
March 1974
Alaska Native Brotherhood Grand President William S. Paul Sr. will be special guest and speaker at the local ANB, Alaska Native Sisterhood Founders Day program Monday at the ANB Hall.