By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
In the final hours before the filing deadline on Friday, Ryan Herbert submitted paperwork to run for Assembly and Mitch Mork filed for School Board.
Mork was one of only two candidates to file for the three open School Board seats, which means the newly elected body of four members will appoint someone to the vacant seat to serve until the next regular election, a school district official said.
The city clerk issued this list of candidates whose names will be on the Oct. 4 city election ballot.
Mayor (two-year term):
– Steven Eisenbeisz
– Kevin Mosher
– Valorie Nelson
Assembly (two three-year terms)
– Kris Chinalski
– Thor Christianson
– Ryan Matthew Herbert
– Richard Jan Wein
– Chris Ystad
School Board (three seats for one, two and three years)
– Tristan Guevin
– Mitch Mork
It’s the first time in recent memory that there has not been enough candidates to fill all open seats. Following is candidate information about the most recent entries into the 2022 election.
Ryan Herbert
Ryan Herbert, 41, was raised in Simi Valley, California, and has lived here for about 30 years.
He currently works in preventative maintenance on commercial and residential buildings. Past employers from his earlier residence in Sitka included the Twin Coliseum, Shee Atika (restaurant), the Coliseum Theater and the Dugout.
He cites his concerns about the affordability of Sitka as a place to live as a main reason for running for Assembly.
“I want to save our town from becoming a tourist trap,” Herbert said. “I don’t want to see our town turn into Juneau, where the downtown is completely owned by the tourist industry.”
He said he sees a lot happening in Sitka that is geared toward visitors and not residents, which he believes will make the town more expensive to live in.
“A lot of people leave for education, and don’t come back,” he added.
He said that Sitka is missing out on opportunities for education and training programs, and creating a skilled workforce of tradesmen through programs at University of Alaska Southeast.
Herbert said Sitka also needs more housing for lower-income residents and summer workers, and wondered whether there are opportunities for keeping Mt. Edgecumbe High School dormitories open to meet some of Sitka’s housing needs.
He also suggested expanding the use commercial passenger excise tax (CPET) to pay for infrastructure projects - such as replacing aging water lines - that benefit everyone.
Mitch Mork
Mitch Mork, 40, was appointed to an unexpired term on the Sitka School Board in June. No board meetings have been held since his appointment, but Mork said he has been keeping up on relevant school district business through email. Board appointments are only for the period that ends with the next regular election.
Mork was born in Wrangell and raised in Sitka, where he graduated from Sitka High in 2000. He has a degree in civil engineering from the University of Alaska Anchorage.
Mork is a commercial fisherman. In the schools, he is a parent volunteer at Keet Gooshi Heen, where one of his two sons attends school; and he also coaches youth basketball.
He said he doesn’t see any major problems in the schools that he would like to fix as a School Board member.
“I just want to help any way I can,” he said. “I was surprised there are only two candidates.”
Mork’s wife, Kim, is a project manager for a private company, and school basketball coach. Their two sons are age 8 and 11.
One of the open seats in the School Board election is for a regular three-year term. The other two are from the resignations of Amy Morrison, who moved out of Sitka, and Andrew Hames, who was applying for a job with the school district.
The candidate with the most votes in the election will take the three-year position and the next highest will receive the two-year seat. After the election the board members will make an appointment to fill the vacancy on the board.
Write-Ins
Although the filing period is closed, the ballot is still open for write-in candidates for mayor, school board or Assembly. City Clerk Sara Peterson said those interested need to submit a letter of intent with applicable residency and voter registration information “not later than five days before the election,” city code says.
Those with questions may call 907-747-1811.
