The Candidates Are Coming...

...to Mosquito Lake School, Saturday, October 1, 11 AM - 12:30 PM.

Picking up on the theme of increasing communication and accessibility, Candidate Karen Hess spent Saturday morning on the phones, contacting all the candidates and arranging for access to Mosquito Lake School. The session will be informal, guided by questions from residents. An impartial moderator has yet to be identified, but no doubt we will be able to recruit some brave soul or souls.

The collaboration by ALL the candidates is just another example of what a great community we live in. We are people with differences of opinions but with synchronized hearts. In this case, our hearts are beating to the drum of open dialogue and accessible government - beginning at the very start - access to candidates, and revelation of the differences and similarities among candidates in a public venue.

Please join us at Mosquito Lake School, next Saturday, October 1, at 11:00 AM.

Advisory Committees

By accident I attended the inaugural meeting of the Parks & Rec Advisory Committee Tuesday evening. It was preceded by the Government Affairs/Services Committee meeting devoted to the topic of economic development, which I attended deliberately. As we concluded, seven very enthusiastic individuals slipped into their newly appointed places. Members ranged in age from a high school senior to a senior citizen. They all held a common belief: recreation is good for everyone. Advisory committees are unabashedly "special interest."

When Assembly member Daymond reminded the group that they were strictly "advisory," and that requests for Assembly support may or may not prevail, one member wryly speculated, "Oh but if we have the community behind us, they will listen... ."

I was struck by the recognition that these advisory committees are exactly the right vehicles for "getting the community behind" an idea, a project, a perspective. I am less sure whether or not the committee needs to be aligned with the government. The advantage of a government based committee is that the committee's deliberations are then open to the entire community. If the committee is an ad hoc citizen's group or even a non-profit, supporters and critics alike might be less likely to participate. Lack of participation can lead to lack of insight and the failure to form a broad based concept.

So, my "special interest" is economic development. Originally I was skeptical of the idea of an "Economic Development Advisory Committee." But the enthusiasm of the Parks & Rec group perked me up. Why not convene a group of people dedicated to economic development and ask them to explore options in a public setting? I can't think of anything more exciting than discussing economic development with people who are as savvy about the benefits and needed infrastructure for economic development as the Parks & Rec people are about recreation.

Moving Forward

We live here. We all know each other. In many circumstances, we all pitch in to help each other. From athletic events to medical emergencies to clean-ups. During those times we work shoulder to shoulder, getting to know each other even better.

I would like the remainder of this political season to be more like a community-wide effort to do our best to help each other. I look forward to the upcoming Chamber Forums (noon, September 23, Haines Borough Library) and the KHNS/CVN Forum (6 PM, September 26, Chilkat Center) as opportunities to forge connections and to develop mutual insights that will last long after the election.

What is it that we have to help each other do? We have to elect representatives who will enable us to move together, as a community to solve some tough problems: high cost of energy; threatened fish runs; infrastructure degradation; revenue short falls; rising transportation costs; revitalization of diversity in our economy.

Haines has long had the reputation as being a fiesty place. We express strongly held and often differing opinions. That’s “us.” And that’s OK. In fact, I see our ability to articulate our opinions as a positive. We do talk to each other. Let’s tweak that trait just a little bit and learn to prize those differences for the golden nuggets they are.

Each difference is an idea. No one of us is so smart that she or he is in possession of all the good ideas. We overlook ideas contrary to our own at our own peril. We can learn to listen to ideas with “a willingness to change.” Listening with a willingness to change smooths the rough edges of debate.

But as in all debates, the time will come for a decision. Decisions are not easily made or taken. The elected decision makers are the Mayor and the Assembly. The Mayor and the Assembly may have to be tough. They will have to be tough because they will have to make decisions that are best for the future of the entire community. These decisions may not necessarily be the most popular decisions. But that is what the Mayor and the Assembly have been elected to do.

The Mayor and the Assembly are, in fact, in a representative democracy, the “deciders.” But decisions will be defensible if they are arrived at through listening carefully to each golden nugget brought and sought.

My vision for Haines is that someday we will still be regarded as “fiesty,” but in a good way. We will be regarded as a place where issues are thoroughly debated, options carefully considered, and the best possible way forward selected by a thoroughly informed Assembly backed by an electorate that participated every step of the way.

Why Would You Want to Be Mayor Anyway?

That question comes up in the "most frequently asked" category in the conversations I have been having around the community. Without a doubt, being a mayor is a hard job. The Mayor's Handbook, downloadable from the Alaska Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development, describes the position in detail.

I sat down with this document this week and it reminded me of my number one objective for becoming a mayoral candidate: to launch a conversation amongst ourselves of what we want our mayor to be, to do.

I believe that part of the mayor's job is to be a mediator and a diplomat. As mediator the mayor must see all sides of the issue and be able to explain the "big picture" to the Assembly and to the community. The best way I know of to see "all sides," is to thoroughly study and understand the issues. The mayor, as leader of the debate at the Assembly level, may have to put in extra time and effort to prepare for each Assembly meeting.

Being a diplomat means to skillfully handle issues without arousing hostility. The mayor needs to have the ability to get along with people and relate to them positively and constructively on their issues and concerns. It does not mean agreeing with everyone. In fact, the mayor needs to be tough. But toughness does not mean unwilling to listen or to respond to new ideas and information. Toughness means sticking to a position when it is correct, even if it is unpopular.

Sounds tough to be "mediator, diplomat" and "tough" at the same time. But that's part of the answer to why I want to do the job. I value hard work and the satisfaction that comes from trying to do my best. But even more I am dedicated to the idea of improving the community and instilling pride in everyone.

The Rules We Live By

Our rules are laid out in the Haines Borough Code (HBC) and Charter. These documents are the ultimate authority for local decision making because we are a home rule borough. Home rule means just what it says, we make our own rules within the constraints of state (AS 29.10.200) and federal laws - especially the United States Constitution.

The HBC section that strikes me as particularly important for us all to keep uppermost in mind is Section 2.10.060 Assembly Rules -Speaking, Rules of Conduct. I think these are so important that I am going to publish a section every week in the newspaper for the next three weeks. The section I published this week is Section 2.10.060 (B):

B. Every member while speaking shall speak only to the subject under debate, shall refrain from personalities, and shall not refer to any other member of the assembly except in a respectful manner.

I, as the presiding officer, must make sure this rule is actively in place. That is my job. Any member of the Assembly can call me to task if I fail to perform. The public can do the same.

The problem arises when we, either as elected representatives or just as important, as citizens, do not know or recall the rules. There are many ways to keep these rules alive. Specific code sections could be rotated through as footers on the agenda; the mayor could read one of the rules under the Mayor's Comments at each meeting - similar to the way the School Board often reads one of its policies from the policy manual at the opening of its meetings; flyers with these important sections could be distributed; the rules could be posted on the Chamber walls - I am sure there are many reminders we could adopt.

I am completely open to an examination of our Charter and Code. But some rules are keepers. We can live by the rules we keep, and work to change rules we find of questionable value. I highly value Section 2.10.060 of the Haines Borough Code.

Protecting the Economy that We Do Have

Over the past two weeks, the Lynn Canal Gillnetters Association has been meeting among themselves and with Representative Bill Thomas to work on a strategy to effectively raise the question of possible mis-management of the Lynn Canal sockeye fishery. The Gillnetters estimate at least 50 boats are homeported in Haines, feeding at least $6 million into the Haines Borough economy. They worry that current management decisions, which allow seiners to scoop up hundreds of thousands of pounds of incoming wild stocks, will lead to the demise of our local run and the collapse of our fishing industry. They will present information to the Borough Assembly and ask for a resolution of support. That would be good, proper, necessary, but when the time comes I also like the idea of showing up in person to speak directly with the decision makers on behalf of Haines fishermen. That would be a valid expense of our 1% sales tax for tourism and economic development!

Although I have long been associated with the fishing fleet, mostly through my children, I am a novice with respect to the regulations and needs of this complex but vital industry. When was a commercial fisherman last seated on the Assembly? Too long ago. If we are serious about a diverse economy in Haines, we will need to be more attentive to our fishing fleet in terms of required physical infrastructure and political advocacy.

Curbing the Effects of Alcohol Abuse

I went to the Haines Town Hall meeting to discuss alcohol abuse or misuse in Haines last Tuesday. Police Chief Lowe helped us outline the scope of the problem and brainstorm some solutions. A task force is to be formed and a plan to implement some of the solutions will be presented to town leaders.

A couple of voices are still ringing in my ears. I was particularly moved by parents crying out for enforcement of the DUI laws. "I warn my children, " they said. They wanted law enforcement to catch and convict when wrongs are committed, not issue additional warnings.

If convicted of a DUI in Alaska, the consequences are definitely severe. The first offense includes mandatory jail time (72 hours minimum), a $1500 fine, and a 90-day suspension of your driver's license. On top of that, there is the license reinstatement fee, court fees, and administrative fees. If you really get the book thrown at you, you might be required to install an ignition lock device for 12 months for about $1700, and or to purchase SR22 insurance for $2000 a year for 5 years. Maybe you'll hire your own attorney. The State of Alaska, Division of Motor Vehicles, estimates the average cost for a first DUI at about $22,000.00.

Apparently, the operative word is "if." There is the perception that DUI's, especially for underage drinkers, are not prosecuted in Haines.

I would encourage the new task force to examine this perception. Do drivers in Haines feel immune to interception by authority and so push the envelop of safety when driving after drinking? If so, what is needed to heighten driver awareness of the risk they run if driving after consuming alcohol? Are local authorities stymied by district attorneys who are reluctant to prosecute cases from remote locations? If so, what can we do counter that resistance?

Most of us have stories of taking risks, especially when we were youths. One person later framed the question of alcohol abuse among people this way, "I was lucky. What can we do to increase the luck of our young people?" One thing we might be able to do is to increase the probability that people, no matter what the age, will be intercepted and prosecuted if driving under the influence of alcohol.