By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Staff Writer
In the hope of getting Sitkans out to vote, Ray Majeski plans to lead a walk the entire length of Halibut Point Road, Monday.
Majeski, a long-time Sitkan, told the Sentinel that he wants to encourage political participation.
The project “started because I couldn’t just vote – I felt I had to do something more than just vote. This is such an important election I wanted to do something to honor those who sacrificed so much to give us this right to vote,” Majeski said.
A U.S. Air Force veteran, Majeski was a Sitka police officer for several years, and is now retired as Sitka’s harbormaster.
He stressed his desire to keep the event apolitical.
“We don’t want anyone wearing any Biden stuff or Trump stuff. We just want to march as Americans to vote. We’re just not trying to be partisan about this – I don’t care who anyone supports, I just want people to vote,” he said.
Ray Majeski (Sentinel Photo)
He invited anyone interested and able to join him on his walk. He plans to begin at the ferry terminal at 9 a.m. Monday and walk the seven miles into town.
Majeski said he had thought originally of making the walk on Tuesday, election day, but moved it to Monday to avoid any appearance of electioneering.
He said all non-motorized transport is welcome, including bicycles and skateboards.
Majeski hopes that his walk will get a lot of voters on the move, and stressed his own mobility difficulties – he recently underwent a back procedure in Seattle.
“I’m limited in my abilities to walk and everything else, but I figure if I can walk from the ferry terminal to Centennial Hall they can get off their duffs and go vote,” he said.
He joked that he may even tie a rope to his friend Jeff Budd and make Budd carry him down the road. The two plan to complete the walk together, regardless of weather conditions. (The National Weather Service is forecasting rain, even the possibility of snow, and a high temperature of 45 degrees.)
Majeski wanted Sitkans, even those not interested in walking down Halibut Point Road, to help other locals get to the polls.
“Get up and vote. Whatever you can do as a citizen of the United States to help bring out the vote – if you can drive your neighbor to the polling place at Centennial Hall if they can’t drive… help your neighbors, help each other,” he said.
The election is Tuesday, November 3. Early voting is open now in Sitka, at Harrigan Centennial Hall from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. today and Monday. Voting will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday.
