By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
No new candidates filed today before press time for the Oct. 4 municipal election.
Kris Chinalski, Richard Wein and Chris Ystad filed Wednesday as candidates for Assembly. Statements by Wein and Ystad were reported in Wednesday’s Sentinel. Following is information about Chinalski, who spoke to the Sentinel today.
Kris Chinalski
Kris Chinalski, 60, was born in Seattle and has lived in Sitka for 16 years. She’s the owner of Grandma Tillie’s bakery, and she and her husband, Adam, own a contracting business.
The two have two adult daughters, a grandson, and extended family in town.
“One of the biggest reasons I’m running is I see a real crisis in housing and living expenses here,” Chinalski said today.
She said social media is filled with desperate messages from professionals who have accepted jobs in Sitka but have no place to live.
“I knew we were in trouble when you see a teacher or nurse say ‘I’ll live in a bedroom, I’ll live in a garage,’” Chinalski said. She said she and her husband, as professional builders, have been adding to the housing stock by purchasing derelict and abandoned houses, making repairs and renovations and turning them into family homes for Sitkans.
“There is a process that can happen, there are solutions but that’s where we’re at,” she said. “It needs to be a top priority.”
Chinalski, whose son-in-law is a commercial fisherman, also is in favor of getting a haulout and boatyard for Sitka, and asking voters whether they favor using the old Sitka Community Hospital sale proceeds toward that purpose. The question will be on the Oct. 4 ballot.
Chinalski also sees a need for healthy and wholesome indoor activities for families, particularly during the winter months, such as a skating rink, bowling alley, or putt-putt golf.
“We’d like to see that happen here and we’re willing to help, and put resources behind it,” Chinalski said.
She also sees the need to address food security on a larger scale, in addition to individual gardens. “We have some fantastic growers here right now. I think it’s possible and I’d like to see a focus, and to see the whole town participate,” she said.
City Election
The filing period for the Oct. 4 election will close at 5 p.m. Friday. Voters will elect a mayor, two Assembly members and three School Board members. There also will be two ballot questions, one proposing a special sales tax on marijuana, and the other proposing the use of funds from the sale of the old hospital for construction of a boat haulout.
As of 2 p.m. today the candidates for mayor are incumbent Steven Eisenbeisz, Kevin Mosher and Valorie Nelson. Assembly candidates are incumbent Thor Christianson, Kris Chinalski, Richard Wein and Chris Ystad.
Tristan Guevin is the only candidate for School Board so far.
