By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
Steve Lee on Monday became the second person to file for Assembly in the October 6 municipal election.
Lee joins Leo Jimmy in the race for Assembly, where two seats are open this fall.
Gary Paxton filed last week to run for a second term as mayor.
The three-year Assembly terms of Richard Wein and Steven Eisenbeisz will expire, and neither had decided about seeking re-election when they last spoke to the Sentinel.
Besides the two open Assembly seats, two School Board terms, formerly held by Elias Erickson and Dionne Brady-Howard, are expiring. Those seats are currently held by Andrew Hames and Blossom Twitchell, who were appointed to serve the remainder of those terms when Erickson and Brady-Howard resigned in June.
Lee, who ran for Assembly last year but was not elected, cited his “common sense” and “big heart” as among his assets as a candidate.
He also talked about testing positive three weeks ago for COVID-19, during SEARHC’s regular testing of its employees. He was and remains asymptomatic, and recently tested negative a few times, he said.
“I understand the COVID-19 experience, being in quarantine, I understand what people are going through,” he said.
Lee said he has followed the Assembly discussions related to racism and hopes he can help close the “gap of understanding” between groups.
“I want to reach out to people and be the bridge,” he said.
Lee, 44, is a hospitality clerk and driver for SEARHC. He is also working with clients at Sitka Counseling, and training to be a counselor.
One of Lee’s goals as an Assembly member is the establishment of a homeless shelter in Sitka. Besides his seven years in Alaska, Lee has lived in California, Hawaii and South Korea, where he lived as Buddhist monk for seven years.
The deadline for filing is 5 p.m. August 7 in the city clerk’s office. Candidates must submit a petition with signatures of 25 registered Sitka voters, among other requirements. Assembly candidates must have one year of residency in Sitka, and School Board candidates must have at least 30 days.
Candidate statements are available on the city webpage. Information about filing is available on the city webpage or from the city clerk’s office at 747-1811.
