By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
Former School Board member Cass Pook has filed for School Board, and Loyd Platson has filed for Assembly in the Oct. 1 municipal election, the city clerk’s office said today.
Pook filed her petition Friday, becoming the first candidate for School Board in this year’s election. Platson, who filed today, joins newcomer Steve Lee and former Assembly member Ben Miyasato in the race for one of the two Assembly seats to be filled. Those seats currently are held by Aaron Bean and Kevin Knox, whose terms are expiring.
Jennifer McNichol, who is president of the School Board, is the only member whose term is expiring this year.
Pook served on the School Board for 17 consecutive years through 2018, when she finished behind Eric Van Cise and Amy Morrison in the race for two seats on the board. She was a member of the Association of Alaska School Boards for four years.
She is out of town through Aug. 12 and could not be reached for comment today.
Born and raised in Sitka, Pook attended Sitka schools, graduating in 1980. She is the daughter of Bertha and the late Pete Karras, and married to Stewart Pook. She and her husband have five children.
Her candidate statement on the city website says:
“Due to her success as an artist and not college bound following High School, she understands the importance of vocational and trade options for students and keeping them engaged in school through vocational classes and after-school activities to enhance their education.”
Cass Pook (Sentinel Photo)
She is enrolled at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, pursuing her bachelor of social work degree, and expects to be finished by the fall of 2021.
Pook wrote that she wants to offer her years of experience and knowledge from her time on the board and AASB, her contacts statewide and legislative experience, to help the school district.
“My focus is school climate, welcome environment, and student achievement outside the box of core classes such as vocation and extracurricular activities to build assets of wellness and success in our children,” she wrote. “It is my goal to maintain programs outside the core classes to keep students engaged in learning and attending schools.”
She takes the job seriously and is concerned about students who “are in the gap and are in need of successful endings and pride in education.
Assembly candidate Platson lived in Sitka from 1984 to 1987, and returned in 2015. In his draft candidate’s bio he states that he has been on the Health Needs and Human Services Commission and Police and Fire Commission since 2015.
He said in his draft statement that in each city he has lived, he has tried to make it a better place.
“Sitka has so many positive aspects and yet like other communities there are things which can be improved,” he said. “We have challenges related to financial stability, affordability, equity, reconciliation, shared governance, adequately funding our schools and the arts, issues surrounding mental health, substance misuse and homelessness.”
Platson said he would like to see a “cultural” change in how Sitkans and Assembly members communicate with each other.
Loyd Platson (Sentinel Photo)
“We are all ‘in this together’ and need to be able to listen to each other from a position of respect, courtesy and the desire to understand all sides, especially those sides we may not agree with,” he said. “We need to be able to compromise and promote a community agenda rather than personal agendas.”
Platson has worked in the field of substance misuse prevention for more than 45 years and currently works as the prevention director at Sitka Counseling. He holds a master of science degree in guidance and counseling, alcohol and other drug abuse and family systems counseling. He is a certified prevention specialist, and an Internationally Certified Prevention Specialist.
Platson says in his candidate statement, “I love Sitka and all that it offers. I like to hike, kayak, fish and spend time with my wife, kids and grandkids.”
The filing deadline is 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 2.
