Candidates for Seldovia City Council

I enjoy doing it, I enjoy the interaction with the council and solving problems.  I’ve served 2 and a half terms, so this would be my third election. I’m retired from the fire department, so I’m not working there, but I enjoy and want to serve our community, and the council has been a great way to stay involved.

Not necessarily my achievement, but as a council we have done and accomplished many good things since we hired a good city manager, it has made all the difference. To me it is very evident to see the changes that have happened over the last few years, as well as all the general improvements for our community.  We are a cohesive group of people who work very well together.  We didn’t have that before.  The Council, City Manager and City Employees have really come together and there has been a big improvement in the city’s ability to deal with issues and see resolutions.  There aren’t as many complaints as there once were, and it is a much more positive environment.

I’ll have to think about that one.  We are making headway, one step at a time, we have projects laid out and our job is to ensure that those projects are completed.  For example, the value added food processing facility, water/sewer improvements, the SHARE project and the filtration plant along with many other projects that relate to the support and sustainability of the city.  We are making progress, and that impacts the community.

Just moving forward can be difficult, but the people are good to work with, and it is exciting to see the good in all of the accomplishments we have made.  Getting things done is our biggest challenge, but we are moving forward with things like the fish processing facility, the harbor renovations and water filtration plant – all of these things will make a big difference for Seldovia.

I just wanted to say:  Thank you to the community of Seldovia for having the confidence in me and for electing me for two terms, and I look forward to serving again.

Well,things are moving forward, I am proud to be part of the change.  We will get the fish processing building here, which is a big step forward, meaning more jobs.  I like the way things are going – new water plant – and many other city projects.  Job opportunities are important, we need more people with family and kids, but I know it won’t happen overnight!  I joke about it, but I want to see the town come out of the stone age.  We’ve been stagnant, not doing anything for a number of years.  It will take a lot of different groups and people working together, like Ted and Patty Stallings, who took over the lodge and is bringing Heliski in this winter. This will be the start of getting winter tourism.  I believe you can get just as much business in the winter as during the summer with the right operation.  It is important to think outside the box – we must not be afraid of change and as a council we need to help people/businesses be successful in Seldovia.

I’m a long time Seldovian, as I was born here in the old hospital – now the Willard’s home.  Speaking of Gerry, God rest his soul, he got me elected the first time!   I like being part of the progress and change.   I’m hoping for more change that will bring more jobs.   To me, if you don’t change and move forward with the rest of the world, you will eventually become extinct.   The last 4 years with our city manager – we’ve made lots of progress, but we have a long way to go!  I want to continue to be a part of that.

I have served 2 terms – so this would be my third term.  There really isn’t one thing that stands out – there are so many things we have accomplished as a group – so many things are ongoing.  I think things through – and I encourage council to stand our ground and stick it out – even when it is difficult.  We have to keep moving forward, little by little, even though all the little bits of change can create opposition.  There has been a time or two where I would say no to something – but most everything has been geared towards change, and I’m for that!  The last 3 years things have been getting things done that have been planned for a long time.  Tim (city manager)  has made a big difference in all the progress lately, he is very diplomatic – that’s why we hired him!

I always want to be part of the solution, not part of the problem.  Besides all the things we talked about already (more jobs, improved infrastructure) along every building, and down the streets, I would love to see two feet of dirt, with grass, flowers and dirt, green and beautiful.  Growing up, Main Street had lots of trees and green spaces, and the boardwalk.  When urban renewal came in our Main Street looked like a gravel airstrip.  I would like to see the beauty put back into the city.

The biggest challenge on the council for me is the frustration of making plans and how long it takes sometimes to accomplish the results.  Everything involves so many entities to proceed, and that process can be super slow.  One thing that we are working on, is getting rid of the clash among our entities.  Eventually it will happen, it gets better over time.  For the community to move forward we all have to get along and work together.  For a while it was all the same people, we grew up together, had the same visions for the community, but over the years – it has changed.  Some folks are happy about change, and others long for the way things used to be.  When we as a council disagree, the City Manager does a great job seeing through the personal things and helps us to work things out – he is very diplomatic.