Current assembly member Thor Christianson has filed to run for a chance at a sixth term on the Sitka Assembly. Christianson sat on the assembly from 1998-2004, 2010-2013 and 2019-present. KCAW sat down with him to learn more about his decision to run again, and some of his priorities if elected. 

KCAW: So first of all, you’re wrapping up your fifth term on the Sitka Assembly. What keeps bringing you back?

CHRISTIANSON: Well, there’s always issues. Every time I run, it’s been something different. But I think right now we have a mixture of some real challenges, but we also have some very exciting things that may help Sitka in the long term. And honestly, I think we have a very good working assembly right now. We have obvious differences of opinion, but we’re respectful with one another. We’ve had some really good discussions where there’s been disagreements, but people listen and sometimes change the way they do or adapt, and I’d like to see that keep going. And it hasn’t always been that way on the assembly, and I think that there’s a lot coming up in the next few years that are going to make a big difference to a lot of Sitkans, and I would like to be there to help facilitate that.

KCAW: Can you tell me about maybe a piece of legislation that you’ve sponsored in this recent term that you’re most proud of?

CHRISTIANSON: Right before I started running last time, the haulout. I sponsored putting it on the ballot, and now we’ve been working to get it there. We are very close to hauling our first boats or ships, hopefully, before the election, it’s that close, and I’m very excited about that. I’ve also been working with some members of staff and with other groups trying to get some of the city land on the market to help with housing. And that’s a very long process. Right now we are in engineering, and it’ll be a multi-year process, but it’s one that requires attention constantly. But if we do it right, we could, I don’t know if we can lower housing prices, but we can maybe keep it from going up much. And maybe trying to focus in on things for more affordable size lots…trying to avoid having large lots that require million dollar houses to have more lots of small lots. And again, that’s more of a more behind the scenes, but trying really hard to push on that, I guess.

KCAW: You mentioned a lot of important issues facing Sitkans. If you are elected for another term, what’s your top priority?

CHRISTIANSON: Well, I’m not sure I could pick one top priority, but ongoing finding the balance between the summer tourism and Sitka life. Working on trying to help with the childcare situation is one of the top ones there, and then trying to work on ways to try and reduce the cost of housing, or at least make it stabilize. You know, one of the things that’s hard to admit when you’re on the assembly is the lack of power. Sometimes you have to nibble around the edges and try and do the best you can. But we’re limited in what we can do, so a lot of the times, to get things done, it’s more of a collaborative process, and it’s more of a working with other organizations, working within the assembly, working with city staff, to try and find solutions that can help, that may not be splashy ordinances, but more bringing people together to try and find solutions.

KCAW: Is there anything else I should have asked you, or you’d like to share?

CHRISTIANSON: Well, I think experience matters. [I’m] just wrapping up five terms on the assembly. And it’s really interesting how many times things come up that we ran into 20 years ago. And I can say, ‘You know, we tried X and it didn’t work out so well’ or ‘It worked really well.’ And oftentimes people are surprised. The institutional memory is lacking in the city, you know, it’s the nature of the beast. You’re going to have turnover and things. But I think it’s important to have a mixture on the assembly. And you know, when I was first elected, I think I was the youngest person on the assembly, and I’m not sure, I think I might be the oldest now, which is fine. I’m 61. I’m not that old yet, but I think it’s good to have that experience, and one learns. And you know, in a way, it gets easier, because you kind of know what to expect. It’s a lot easier for me to read the agenda now than it used to be. And so I hope that if the people elect me again, I can put that experience to use for people. Anybody who knows me knows they can always call me, and they do, and that’s just fine. And we’ll talk things out, and we’ll try and keep going and trying to make things a little bit better every day or at every meeting, and hopefully at the end of the day, it’s noticeable.

Sitkans will be voting to fill two open seats on the Sitka Assembly and two seats on the school board in the upcoming municipal election. Both assembly seats and one school board seat are three-year terms, and one school board seat is a two-year term. The filing period to run for a seat is open until 5 p.m. on Aug. 8. Sitka’s municipal election is Tuesday, Oct. 7.  

On Tuesday (7-29-24), former assembly candidate Austin Cranford filed to run a third time for a seat on the Sitka Assembly. This year, he’s the first candidate to throw his hat in the ring, and hopes to bring a youthful energy to the seven-member group. KCAW spoke with Cranford to learn more about his decision to run again, and some of his priorities if he’s elected. 

KCAW: To start, you’ve run for the Sitka Assembly before. Why are you throwing your hat in the ring again? 

CRANFORD: So I continue to throw my hat into the ring because essentially, the community wants me to. I have community members that are like, ‘Are you going to run? Will you run? Can you run?’ And as long as the community continues to want me to run, I will continue to run. As I’ve mentioned to people before, I’ve got plenty of stuff on my plate. So if I get it, great. It’s one more thing that I can put effort into and hopefully do a good job. And if I don’t get it, I have plenty of other stuff to keep me occupied. 

KCAW: If you are elected, what do you think that you will bring to the table? 

CRANFORD: I think I’ll bring a younger voice to the table. I’m 27, so I’d be the youngest person on the assembly if I was elected. As much as the current assembly…and I am on a conversation basis with some of them, Scott Saline and others…as much as I talk to them, yes, they’ve been here a long time, yes, they want what’s good for the community, I think they lack what it truly means for somebody that is coming out of high school, coming out of college, what it means to be in Sitka. They’re already well established in their careers, well established in their businesses. One of the recent things that came up in the assembly was like, ‘Oh, the reason people aren’t coming to Sitka is because there’s not recreational opportunities,’ it’s like, the reason people are leaving and not coming to Sitka is because they can’t afford to pay for their rent. They can’t afford to buy a house. So I’ll be bringing a younger voice to the assembly and hopefully being able to tackle some of the larger issues that are ongoing. 

KCAW: Yeah, so you touched on these larger issues. What do you think are some of the biggest issues facing Sitkans? And if you could choose maybe one of those to tackle, what would that be? 

CRANFORD: So some of the issues is obviously utility rates, cost of living, the housing crisis, the haulout is kinda in there. I know there’s been a lot of discussion about a city-run haulout versus a non-city-run haulout. Of all of those, I think, just like previous years, my main focus would be the cost of living, which would ultimately be utility rates, how to lower them, and how to lower housing cost, or somehow get more housing built. I know there’s been talk about, you know, getting the state land from Indian River Valley, or possibly even finishing that road out to the tribal land up north, but I’ve not seen any movement on the state or local level, other than ‘We’re working on it.’ Well, I’m glad that you’re working on it, but we’d like to see some movement on that. 

KCAW: And lastly, what do you think that Sitkans should know about you and your campaign? What’s important? 

CRANFORD: As mentioned, I’m focusing on cost of living. That’s been my platform for the past two years that I’ve ran. It’ll be the platform again. Really it’s, I would say, ultimately it tends to side closer to the younger age groups. Because, yeah, it’s like, I understand, oh, you know, you just have to work two or three jobs, or you just have to do this, or you just have to do that. Eventually, there is only so many hours in the day. I work for the University. I continue to be a part-time student pursuing my degree. I’m working on my certificates for my job. I hold two quasi administrative positions on top of my main title for my job, and I am on a out-of-state board. So cool, I can go get another one or two jobs, but at the end of the day, there’s 24 hours in a day, and wages nationally, not even in Sitka, have not risen at the same pace as inflation and all this other stuff. So that doesn’t fix the underlying problem as well. 

Sitkans will be voting to fill two open seats on the Sitka Assembly and two seats on the school board in the upcoming municipal election. Both assembly seats and one school board seat are three-year terms, and one school board seat is a two-year term. The filing period to run for a seat is open until 5 p.m. on Aug. 8. Sitka’s municipal election is Tuesday, Oct. 7.  

Photo: Sitka election workers deliver ballots from Precinct 1

Sitka voters have overwhelmingly rejected a ballot measure that would have capped the number of cruise visitors beginning next year.

Wednesday’s special election brought out almost 3,000 voters, 73% of whom rejected the proposition. This was the third largest turnout for any municipal election in Sitka since 2018.

Sitka Sound Cruise Terminal owner Chris McGraw led the opposition to the proposition. His group, called Safeguard Sitka’s Future, organized early in the process, and even campaigned to discourage residents from signing the petition initiative.

McGraw was heartened by the night’s results.

“I think it, you know, shows that the community understands the benefits of cruise tourism and that the proposed ballot initiative wasn’t the right answer at this time,” McGraw said in an interview with KCAW after the election returns were released at Harrigan Centennial Hall.

Although the outcome was a decisive “no,” McGraw is aware that the industry has work to do to address the concerns of the 27-percent of voters who supported limiting cruise visits to Sitka, like acquiring better buses, and refining the terms of a memorandum of understanding – or MOU – with City Hall to make sure the 7,000 passenger-per-day cap called for in that document is met.

“But I think that’s all a conversation that you have with the Tourism Commission, and the public, and everybody weighs in so that we don’t jeopardize the economic impact, but still maintain what makes Sitka great place to live,” McGraw said. 

Although it was not a good night for the proposition’s supporters, one of its authors, Larry Edwards, was glad to have had a chance to put the issue before voters – a process which took him two years, and four attempts.

Edwards said voters were faced with a very narrow choice on a complicated issue, and he does not consider the outcome an endorsement of the cruise terminal’s MOU with the city.

“There’s still the question of what numbers does the town really want, and would the town accept a regulatory approach, or does it really like the MOU approach, which is voluntary and really not that enforceable?” Edwards said.

Initiative co-sponsor Klaudia Leccese was unhappy in the outcome, but hopeful that Sitkans had a better understanding of the issue.

“It’s, of course, like he said, a disappointment, but on the other hand, the people got a chance to vote, and I think that’s really critical,” Leccese said. “Hopefully things will work out in the way that’s best for Sitka over the course of time.”

The final tally on Sitka’s Special Election to limit cruise ships was 773 in favor, and 2,071 opposed. Well over half of the electorate chose to cast their ballots early in this election. 121 absentee ballots will be counted on June 2, but they will not affect the outcome. The Sitka Assembly will certify the results at its first regular meeting in June.

Editor’s note: This is a developing story, and will be updated. 

Next month, Sitka will hold a special election for voters to decide whether they want to cut cruise traffic in Sitka by nearly half. Municipal Clerk Sara Peterson says the election isn’t just “special” because it’s happening in May. It’s actually the first of its kind in Sitka. 

“In my research it is, that’s what I was able to find, that it’s the first one that’s been triggered by the citizen initiative,” Peterson says. “So it’s been an interesting process to go through. And here we are.”

While it’s a different time of year than a regular municipal election, the voting process will look the same when polls open on Wednesday, May 28.

“On May 28 on election day, the polls are open at Harrigan Hall from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.” Peterson says. “Fortunately, we’ve been able to retain the same rooms that we use for the regular election.”

Early voting options will be available as well- voters can cast their ballots by mail, fax, proxy, or in-person beginning on May 13, including on Saturday mornings from 9 a.m. to noon. Sitkans must be registered to vote locally by April 28, in order to participate.

A local advocacy group Small Town Soul organized the ballot initiative. If approved by voters, it would cap Sitka’s tourism season at 300,000 passengers annually, set a daily limit of 4500 passengers, and set other requirements for cruise ships, including establish a permitting process, requiring the city to enforce violations through fines or revoking permits, and requiring cruise operators to report visitation data to the city. Over 600 people signed the group’s petition to get the cruise limit question on the ballot in a special election. In response, another advocacy group, Safeguard Sitka’s Future formed, calling for Sitkans to vote no. 

Find more information on the upcoming May 28 special election here.

Sitka’s municipal election is Tuesday, October 1. Seven candidates are on the ballot running for public office — it’s a two-way race for the mayor’s chair, and four candidates are in the running for two open Sitka Assembly seats. One candidate filed to run for one of two open seats on the Sitka School Board. Voters will also get a chance to weigh in on two ballot questions.

View a sample ballot here

To help voters make informed decisions, Raven Radio posed questions about some of Sitka’s most pressing policy issues to all candidates. You’ll find their answers below.

But we know there are more questions to be asked– so in mid-September we’ll host live election forums to ask candidates your questions. Submit questions for candidates to [email protected]

Mayoral Candidate Forum:
Tuesday, September 17, 6:30-7:10 p.m.
Click here to listen

Assembly Candidate Forum:
Tuesday, September 17, 7:15-8:15 p.m.
Click here to listen 

Click on a candidate to learn more

Click on a candidate to learn more

Click on a candidate to learn more

Shall the Home Rule Charter of the City and Borough of Sitka be amended to remove language in Section 11.13(g) referencing the Community Hospital? 

Informational: See ordinance 2024-16. This amendment is a housekeeping measure. Sitka Community Hospital closed on August 1, 2019, and no longer requires its own accounting system. 

Shall the Sitka General Code be amended to align procedures for the recall of elected public officials with procedures contained in Alaska state law? 

Informational: See ordinance 2024-18. This amendment is a housekeeping measure. As a home rule municipality, the City and Borough of Sitka is prohibited from enacting procedures for the recall of elected public officials that are contrary to Alaska state law under AS 29.10.200. 

Where to Vote in Sitka

Precincts 1 and 2 voters will cast ballots at Harrigan Centennial Hall. Polls will be open on Tuesday, October 1th from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Advanced (in-person) voting will be available weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in meeting rooms 2 and 3 at Harrigan Centennial Hall, beginning 15 days before the municipal election. You can also vote by mail or fax. Starting this year (2024), early voting is also open on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. 

Find more information about absentee voting in Sitka here. If you have questions about your precinct or the election, call Municipal Clerk Sara Peterson at 747-1811.

Click on the map to see your voting precinct. If you have questions about your precinct or the election, call Municipal Clerk Sara Peterson at 747-1811. (Map courtesy of CBS)

Municipal election season is in full swing in Sitka, and around the region. Candidates hoping to serve as Sitka’s mayor and assembly members crowded in KCAW’s air room Tuesday night for two live forums.

Listen to the mayoral forum here
Listen to the assembly forum here

Scott Saline, Austin Cranford, Kevin Mosher and Robert Hattle are vying for two open assembly seats this year. The candidates shared their platforms, and their thoughts on issues like housing, childcare, and what is the  “right-size” for cruise traffic for Sitka, and answered listener questions.

Kevin Mosher is an incumbent, seeking his third assembly term.

“I have tried to put my heart and soul in these past six years. I have made many mistakes, but I believe I’ve had some victories too. And as I said before, it’s always as a member of a team, not as one person,” Mosher said. “It has been my highest honor to serve the city, and I have grown professionally and emotionally and learned so much about myself and other people, and it has just been just a huge blessing.” 

Austin Cranford unsuccessfully ran for a seat on the assembly last year. He said while he understands that the current assembly works well together, he doesn’t think enough change has happened under their tenure.

“What are you working on? People are still leaving at a rapid rate. We have a population decline. It’s in the numbers. The research doesn’t lie,” Cranford said. “Do we give them another 10 years and then we’ll go back in 10 years and be like, ‘Oh, the problem still isn’t fixed,’ or do we put people into the position to get the problem fixed?” 

One problem incumbent Scott Saline hopes to fix is the closure of the Katlian Street sidewalk. After just one year on the assembly, the sidewalk is still closed, but Saline said he hopes with a new municipal attorney there will be momentum to solve this complicated problem.

“I guess I do have an ax to grind is why you should vote for me. That if you drive down Kaagwaantaan Street and you try to walk down Katlian Street, look at the transformer across from LFS. There’s just so much that’s wrong with the village that I I’d like to be able to show people that it affects, it’s connected to the rest of Sitka,” Saline said. “And there’s an issue of not paying attention and just clouding over with our prosperity that’s coming, supposedly, and then the village just keeps on being neglected.” 

First time assembly candidate Robert Hattle, however, said he didn’t have a specific agenda, or a complaint against the current assembly. Nevertheless, he felt ready to tackle some of Sitka’s ongoing problems.

“I use a moniker because it rhymes with my last name. I say ‘Hattle for the battle.’ I don’t have a ax to grind. I’m not upset with somebody, or think somebody’s not been doing their job, but I do think there’s a lot of issues regarding the haul out, regarding housing, regarding the cruise ship industry impact,” Hattle said. “All of those are uphill battles that we need to come for. I have a loud voice. I would like to be your strong voice on the assembly.”

Challengers Robert Hattle and Austin Cranford, and incumbents Scott Saline and Kevin Mosher, are vying for two open seats on the Sitka Assembly.

Incumbent mayor Steven Eisenbeisz and challenger Leah Mason also met in an on-air forum prior to the assembly candidates. You can listen back to their conversation, as well as to the full assembly candidate forum, at the KCAW Election Center . You can also find biographical information and detailed questionnaires about Sitka’s most pressing issues for all the candidates at the same link.

Sitka’s municipal election is Tuesday October 1, and early voting is now open at Harrigan Centennial Hall. 

Mayoral candidates faced off for the first time on Friday (9-13-24) in a forum held by the Sitka Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber’s candidate forums typically focus on issues of interest to the local business community- topping the list this year were childcare, workforce housing, and the visitor industry. 

Perhaps the most pressing and divisive issue the assembly will continue to grapple with from various angles is how the city continues to respond to increased tourism. But incumbent Mayor Steven Eisenbeisz does not support putting a cruise limit question out to voters, he said that’s largely due to the legal risk.

“Right now, the more that I’ve thought about this, I’ve realized that I have a fiduciary duty to the city, and if I was to put that ballot on there and then get sued, I think I’m in question of my fiduciary duty to the to the city,” he said. “I’ve also realized that industry, and I’m not talking cruise industry, but I think local businesses that are a member of the Chamber would sue. So that’s that’s an issue to me.”

His challenger, Leah Mason, felt it was time to put a ballot initiative out to the voters to decide, comparing it to a previous failed initiative to charge a fee for plastic bags in Sitka.  

“I think that that the community has been largely pushed out of this conversation, and it’s time that they did, and they can vote as to whether they want to take on that challenge,” Mason said.

Eisenbeisz is seeking his third term as Sitka’s mayor. Before that he served two terms as an assembly member. This is the first time Mason has run for public office, but she has served on several local committees and is the current president of Transition Sitka. 

Mason and Eisenbeisz also answered questions about how the city can work to alleviate the housing crisis, what the assembly can do to support the fishing industry and community garden initiative, and whether the candidates would support funding for a new police building.  They also discussed what the assembly could do to address the impact of the childcare shortage on Sitka’s workforce.

Mason said the response would really depend on what the community wanted from its childcare.

“If we go back to the past, we are looking at potentially licensing more people to take care of children in homes, that would free up people for the workforce. It would also employ more people,” Mason said. “However, if what you want is adequate preparation for schools, then you’re looking at a very different situation. How we want to go about sorting out what works for us again needs to be bigger than the small group of people who are trying to solve it.”

Eisenbeisz said the community at large should have a discussion about whether it wants to use some general fund money to subsidize childcare.

“Unfortunately, child care will need to be subsidized in order to continue at a rate that the community needs,” Eisenbeisz said. “Teachers don’t get paid well enough to do the job that they do, and you can’t charge enough tuition in order to pay those teachers, because then you wouldn’t have anyone in schools either.” 

Eisenbeisz and Mason spent just over an hour answering questions from the Chamber’s moderator and the audience. You can listen back to the full forum here.