By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
Chris Ystad, Richard Wein and Kris Chinalski filed this morning as candidates for the Assembly in the October 4 municipal election.
They will join incumbent Thor Christianson in the contest for the two Assembly seats that are open. The terms are for three years.
The deadline for filing for the two Assembly seats, mayor and three School Board positions is Friday.
Valorie Nelson, Kevin Mosher and Steven Eisenbeisz, the current mayor, have filed for a two-year term as mayor. Tristan Guevin is the sole candidate so far for School Board, which has three seats open, for terms of one, two and three years.
Richard Wein
Wein, 72, was on the Assembly from 2017 to 2020, but did not seek re-election when that term ended,
During his time on the Assembly, he served as liaison to the Health Needs and Human Services Commission, Library Commission, and Tree and Landscape Committee.
“My decision to run for Assembly after attending two years as a citizen was because we are entering very challenging times and as I look back at Assembly decision-making I feel that their choices could have been more considered and with better results,” he said today.
“Time and time again the Assembly did not maximize revenue opportunities for the city. As we approach potentially difficult financial times the revenue aspects of the city should come first,” he said.
As examples, he said the lease rate to Shee Atika Inc. for the city’s Harbor Point property near the ferry terminal was “inappropriate for the value of the property.” He said also that the city should have sold the old city hospital property for more than the appraisal figure of $8.25 million.
“I have no problem with the lease or sale of city assets,” Wein said. ”All I would like to see is Sitka receive its fair market value for its resources. The Assembly has a fiduciary responsibility to its citizens and that means obtaining value in everything the city does, to be knowledgeable and transparent about the decisions they are making for citizens.”
He said during his time on the Assembly and afterward he has done his best to “inform citizens of what the issues the city faces are, and how decisions are made because an informed electorate is part of what the Assembly should try to achieve.”
“No matter what happens during this election I’ve always been committed to Sitka and that’s best exemplified by my attending every meeting since I left the Assembly and win or lose I’m not going away because my commitment is strong,” he said.
Wein was born in Brooklyn, New York, and raised in New Jersey. After coming to Sitka in 2001 he was a surgeon at SEARHC Mt. Edgecumbe Hospital for nine years and at Sitka Community Hospital for eight. He currently serves as chairman of the Alaska State Medical Board.
Chris Ystad
Ystad, 38, was born and raised in Astoria, Oregon, and has lived in Sitka for 16 years. He currently is a member of the Port and Harbors Commission and the Gary Paxton Industrial Park Board. He is a commercial fisherman and is on the boards of Douglas Island Pinks and Chums, the Northern Southeast Regional Aquaculture Association and the Southeast Alaska Seiners Association.
“I just feel like it’s a great time to be on the Assembly with the current city staff, and with the strategic plan we’re working on, we can get a lot done,” he said.
At the last Assembly meeting he testified in support of a ballot proposal to dedicate hospital sale proceeds to construction of a boat haulout, and he is supportive of the project.
“Being a fisherman, the haulout is extremely important to me and is a valuable piece of infrastructure that the city needs,” he said. “I’ve been wanting to help with that for years, and hopefully I can continue that as an Assembly member. ... We’ve tried all of the other options, private funding, getting grant funding. In reality the city putting this funding forward will help get grant funding. If we’re lucky we won’t have to use it all, but it’s good to have that ability if we need to.”
Ystad said he believes his background as a fisherman will add a new component to the Assembly.
“We haven’t had a fisherman on there in a long time. It’ll be nice to have that perspective, a hardworking blue collar American,” he said. “I got where I am by the sweat on my brow and breaking my back. I bring that. I’ve worked for a lot of people in town and I’m able to bring a well-rounded background into this. Hopefully that’s able to translate into a lot of contributions.”
Ystad said he has been pleased with the city’s response to the increase in tourism, including increased parking enforcement, moving vendors, and relocating the RIDE bus service at Harrigan Centennial Hall.
“Tourism is something Sitka needs, it’s an economic driver, it’s not our quiet little town anymore, but a necessary thing,” he said. “We have to put up with it and in the end it’s good for us.”
The Sentinel was unable to reach Chinalski by press time, so an interview will appear in the Sentinel later this week.
