By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
Polls open at 7 a.m. in Tuesday’s municipal election to pick candidates for Assembly and School Board, and weigh in on an advisory question.
Polling hours for Sitka’s two voting precincts are 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Harrigan Centennial Hall.
In-person advance voting closes at 4:30 p.m. today at the same venue.
City Clerk Sara Peterson said 585 in-person advanced absentee ballots had been cast as of Friday, and 115 faxed and mailed ballots had been received by that time.
“It’s down from last year but up from pre-pandemic levels, in absentee,” she said today.
In the election, three candidates are vying for two open seats on the Assembly: Dave Miller, Rachel Moreno and incumbent Kevin Mosher. Valorie Nelson, the other Assembly member whose term is expiring this month, decided not to run.
Todd Gebler and incumbent Amy Morrison are running for the two open seats on the School Board. Eric Van Cise, whose term on the board expires this year, decided not to seek re-election.
The ballot has an advisory question about the sale of the old Sitka Community Hospital properties.
The nonbinding question asks:
“Should the City and Borough of Sitka sell the two buildings and surrounding four lots at 209 Moller Drive, 202 Brady Street, 204 Brady Street and 302 Gavan Street, Sitka, Alaska, formerly the site of Sitka Community Hospital, as contemplated by the ordinance authorizing the sale previously passed on first reading by the Assembly? Yes or No.”
The Assembly passed the sales ordinance referenced on first reading August 24. It authorizes the sale of the buildings and four properties to SEARHC at their offered price of $8.25 million – the appraised value of the land and buildings.
The Assembly scheduled the second reading of the sale ordinance Oct. 12, at the first meeting after the election. The Assembly isn’t bound by the election results but the ordinance states: “The Assembly desires guidance from the voters of the City and Borough of Sitka in making their decision whether to sell the properties.”
SEARHC is currently leasing the properties from the city and providing health care such as urgent care, home health, long-term care and rehabilitation services. SEARHC submitted the only response to the city’s request for proposals. After reviewing SEARHC’s responses to all the issues, including price, a city staff committee said the offer met all of the conditions the Assembly had set in the RFP.
Ballots cast by voters Tuesday will be counted after the polls close. The Centennial Hall auditorium will be divided into two areas during the count, Peterson said. Election officials will conduct the count in one area, where the public won’t be allowed. The second area will be where the public can wait and review the results as they are posted.
“I don’t anticipate receiving anything before 8:30 p.m.” Peterson said. Absentee ballots will be counted starting at noon Friday at Centennial Hall.
The public is welcome to be present to look at the results of both the Tuesday night and Friday afternoon counts, but the clerk is asking people to remain in the areas designated for the public. The outcome from each precinct and absentee tally will be projected onto screens throughout the building, once they’re available, she said.
“We’ll post them on our website and Facebook page, too,” she said.
The results will be certified at the Oct. 12 Assembly meeting by the current Assembly members, who will also take up the hospital sale ordinance on second reading as well as other items under “unfinished business.”
Plans for the meeting call for the out-going members to be recognized, followed by a break for a brief reception. When the meeting resumes, the new members will be sworn in and participate in the “new business” portion of the agenda.
Only those already registered to vote in Sitka are eligible to cast ballots in this election, and all voters must present ID in order to receive a ballot. A provisional, or “questioned,” ballot may be cast by anyone not on the precinct register - or if they have no ID - and those ballots will be counted with the absentees if investigation shows those voters are eligible.
Peterson said mail-in votes are still coming in at a steady pace of 5 to 10 a day. Those voting by mail need to have a witness signature on the envelope, and the envelope must be postmarked on or before Oct. 5. Mail-in ballots may be dropped off at city hall before the building closes at 5 p.m. Oct. 5.
Those voting by fax may cast ballots as well, by submitting a request no later than 5 p.m. election day. The ballot needs to be filled out, witnessed and received no later than 8 p.m. election day, Peterson said.
Those with questions may call the clerk’s office at 747-1811 or 747-1826.
