Tuesday, November 8, 2016 is the United States General Election.
Polls in Sitka are open until 8 PM at the following locations:
Precinct 1:Grace Harbor Church – 1904 Halibut Point Road
Precinct 2: St. Gregory Nazianzen Catholic Church – 605 Lincoln (use Corrigan Hall entrance facing Lincoln Street)
Read candidate profiles and view a sample ballot in the official State Election Pamphlet.
KCAW Election Coverage:
Listen to or read a profile of Alaska Senate candidate Bert Stedman.
Listen to or read a profiles of Alaska House candidates Jonthan Kreiss-Tomkins and Sheila Finkenbinder.
KCAW Candidate Statements:
Legislative Forum at the Sitka Chamber of Commerce, October 26, 2016.
Finkenbinder (l.), a Republican, argued that her position in the majority would give her influence. Kreiss-Tomkins, the Democratic incumbent, suggested that the math this election might put him in the majority. (KCAW photo/Robert Woolsey)
Sheila Finkenbinder and Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins met in a lunchtime election forum before the Sitka Chamber of Commerce.
Listen to the entire 38-minute forum:
Legislative Forum at Sitka High School, October 17, 2016.
Monday night (10-17-16), the Sitka High American Government class hosted a forum with Representative Jonathan Kreiss Tomkins and the challenger for his House District 35 seat Sheila Finkenbinder, and with incumbent Senator Bert Stedman representing Sitka, Ketchikan, Petersburg, and Wrangell in Senate District R. Stedman’s write-in opponent, Michael Sheldon of Petersburg, was not present.
KCAW broadcast the forum live. It was also recorded for local television.
Students moderated the forum using questions from classmates, live audience members, and from KCAW listeners via Facebook. In the first segment Katherine Stager and Anders Marius moderated the state house debate. Elias Erickson and Kamryn Dodson moderated the town hall with Bert Stedman. Kailie VonScheerschmidt and Joe Pate covered the closing statements.
Here is the entire forum (about 90 minutes).
Here is the entire forum divided by question.
Part 1: Candidates for House District 35 representing Sitka, Petersburg, Angoon, Hoonah, and surrounding communities. Incumbent Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins (D) and challenger Sheila Finkenbinder (R).
1. On the threat presented by climate change.
2. On drilling in ANWR.
3. On logging old growth in the Tongass.
4. On new taxes to close the budget gap.
5. On the governor’s decision to cut the Permanent Fund Dividend.
6. On creating jobs, after cuts to state and local government.
7. On the accessibility of a college education, and keeping students in Alaska.
8. On prayer in school.
9. On standardized testing.
10. On keeping the ferry system running.
11. On the right to bear arms, for felons and the mentally ill.
12. On marijuana clubs.
13. On the death penalty.
14. On reducing domestic violence and suicide rates.
15. On state involvement in abortion.
16. On gender identity and public restrooms and locker rooms.
17. Candidates ask one question of each other.
Part 2: A town hall meeting with legislative candidates Kreiss-Tomkins and Finkenbinder, with Senate R candidate Bert Stedman (R), who represents Sitka, Petersburg, Ketchikan, Wrangell, and surrounding communities.
18. Your most important issue (Stedman answers first).
19. On funding resource management (e.g. commercial fisheries) with declining state revenues.
20. On repealing/replacing Common Core education standards.
21. On the discovery of a new oil field in Smith Bay, and the prospects for a cross-Baranof road.
22. On physician-assisted suicide.
23. On educating kids about marijuana.
24. Closing statements.
