Michelle Putz was appointed to fill Phyllis Hackett’s seat in January, 2015. (Photo courtesy of the City and Borough of Sitka)
Sitka’s municipal elections are still three months away, but candidates are already deciding whether to run — or not. Last week, assembly member Michelle Putz announced she won’t seek a full term in October.
Putz was appointed to the assembly when Phyllis Hackett stepped down in December.
Putz announced her plans at the last assembly meeting — and encouraged other women to run.
“I sure hope to see some women come forward…and consider putting their name in for the assembly,” she said. “Because I think it’s important to have really diverse points of view…It’s a hard job, it takes a lot of energy, but it’s a really important one.”
Currently, Putz and Mayor Mim McConnell are the only two women on the seven-person assembly.
When she leaves office in October, Putz will have served two partial terms: she was previously elected to a one-year term in 2012. She said she imagines she’ll run again at some point, but for now, she’d like to have her life back — and have more time for volunteer groups like the Sitka Local Foods Network and the Sitka Global Warming Group.
Among the measures she’s sponsored in the past six months are proposals to double the tobacco tax, which passed; and to raise the summer sales tax, which didn’t. The two initiatives were efforts to raise money for the Sitka Community Hospital and Sitka School District, respectively. Putz said in her view, it’s crucial for assembly members to bring forward concrete proposals, even if they’re unpopular.
“The reason that people get on the assembly and the reason that people get elected is to make those tough decisions,” she said. “So, if you’re not willing to make that decision, the assembly is not the place for you. It’s not a place to just speak your mind. It’s a place to actually do hard work, and be willing to say, sometimes people won’t like it, but I’ve got to do it, and I’ve got to do it for my community. I am proud of that.”
And despite the controversial nature of some recent assembly actions, like increasing utility rates and certain taxes, she says the heat directed at assembly members isn’t the reason she’s stepping down.
“People are so, so kind,” she said. “I can tell you, I get a lot more pats on the back than I do unfriendly remarks.”
Putz’s assembly seat is one of two up for election in October. Assembly member Matt Hunter has also reached the end of his three-year term. Hunter plans to run for re-election.
Candidates for assembly can file petitions starting July 20th. The deadline to file is Friday, August 7 at 5 p.m. The municipal election will take place on Tuesday, October 6.
