Dear Editor: Every community reaches moments when it must decide: do we keep doing what we’ve always done, or do we choose leadership that can bridge gaps, connect systems, and move us forward? Sitka is at one of those moments, and I believe I can help guide us through it.
I have spent my life immersed in the industries and community systems that define Sitka. From fishing and seafood to small business and tourism, from health education to community wellness programs, my work has always connected me to the very heartbeat of this town. I don’t represent a single issue or a single perspective—I represent the whole of Sitka, because I have lived and worked across so many of its layers.
As a business owner, I understand how fragile and yet how vital our small businesses are. I know what it takes to keep a business steady through economic shocks, labor shortages, and rising costs. More importantly, I’ve seen how supporting employees and their families creates stability not just for a business, but for an entire community.
As a mother of four children raised here in our schools, I carry the perspective of parents who want Sitka to remain a place where their children can grow, learn, and one day choose to stay. I know what it means to face housing barriers, to juggle child care challenges, and to worry about opportunities for the next generation. That perspective grounds every decision I make.
And as someone who has worked in health education and community wellness, I know that strong economies are only possible when people themselves are strong. That means bridging gaps in access to care, building systems that support wellness, and ensuring policies are not just words on paper, but improvements in daily life for Sitkans.
I believe my strength as a leader lies in connection: connecting industries to support, connecting families to opportunity, and connecting our economy to the social fabric that holds us together. Sitka needs leaders who don’t just promise change, but who understand how to turn vision into action with both empathy and resolve.
On October 7, I humbly ask for your vote. Together, we can protect the industries that define us, strengthen our community wellness, and create a Sitka where families, businesses, and our shared way of life not only endure but flourish.
With respect and gratitude,
Sherri Blankenship
Candidate for Sitka Assembly
