Three candidates are in the running for Sitka mayor this October. Lisa Lane filed to run for the assembly’s top job last week (8-6-26).
Lane moved to Sitka nearly 40 years ago, and is now semi-retired. She currently works part-time greeting guests and offering information at the cruise ship terminal, and volunteers cutting hair for residents at the Pioneer Home.
KCAW’s Hope McKenney sat down with Lane on Thursday (8-13-26) to discuss her bid for the seat and what she hopes to accomplish, if elected.
TRANSCRIPT:
LANE: I arrived here in 1988 as an entertainer. I have lived here since that time. I bought my first home in 1991. I have three fine sons that all graduated from Sitka High School, and I’ve been part of the community as a small business owner, a vacation rental owner, a long-term rental person. I’ve worked for other people as well. I worked for a video production company for several years. Part of that time, we filmed the assembly meetings, and I became real familiar with the process and the people, and very interested in it at the time. At the time, I felt with three kids and three jobs, I probably didn’t have the time to focus on what needed to be done in order to do that job. Now I have time for the research and the process.
KCAW: And so you’re running for the mayor’s seat against two current assembly members. Tell me a bit about that decision.
LANE: Well, as I just said, I became interested when I was working for a video production company, and we were filming the assembly meetings. At the time, Bert Stedman was on. Thor [Christianson] had just been elected, and so I’ve watched the process for a long time. I’m very proud of how our community works together as a community. I think it’s real important that everyone is inclusive. I don’t want to see us be something like Skagway, where we’re only a community during the tourist season. I like that we’re a real community. We have a lot of things going. I want to see those options continue. I had a couple of conversations that concerned me that made me think that maybe now was the time for me to run for mayor, as my children have all grown up and I’ve retired. Even though we sold the city hospital and the property, I think it’s still important that as a community we have a voice as to what is being offered at SEARHC. It’s a beautiful, brand new, shiny building. I’d like to see it have content that was stable, so we’re not just dealing with travelers or different travelers randomly. I think we need a mental health department. It distresses me that when people are in their largest form of need, they have to be shipped to Bartlett [Regional Hospital] or Anchorage. Same with dialysis. It seems that we could be able to offer those services here in such a beautiful facility, and acquire people that could come on a regular basis, even if they couldn’t live here full time.
KCAW: Yeah, and you’re touching on some of these issues that are important to you. What do you see as some of the other large issues facing Sitkans right now, and if elected as mayor, how would you address those?
LANE: Of course, the largest issue is probably housing. We have to be able to facilitate for everyone, and we have to be concerned that everyone is taken care of. Can’t leave anything out just for easy access. It’s important that everyone has water. I’ve talked to some people who actually get their water from a hose out of the creek. I want to make sure that everyone has water and sewer and all the basic facilities that happen. [I] want to see the harbors be safe. I think it’s important that we address some of the issues when we do have large boats and stuff. I’d like to see something happen, so the tourists are herded to the crosswalk instead of yelled at. No one’s listening when you get yelled at, and the distance between Lincoln Street and the bridge and accessing the airport and the hospital, I think that’s important that they’re actually herded to the crosswalk, which sounds a little frivolous, but I do think that’s important. Major issues: taxes are an issue, always an issue. I want to make sure that property taxes — there’s got to be some way that when you buy a property and you maintain the property, you’re not punished just because your neighbor sells at a very much higher rate, especially for people with fixed incomes and stuff, we have to really examine that. I understand we need the money in the infrastructure. I also know that when people have made something their home for a long time, you don’t want to punish them because they’ve done the repairs that are necessary to keep it standing.
KCAW: Can you tell me a bit about any past civic engagement? For example, have you served on any commissions or boards either in Sitka or somewhere else?
LANE: No, I haven’t. As I said, I had three kids and three jobs, so I felt like it was important that my focus was raising a family that made the paper in a positive manner, not a negative manner. As a hairdresser, I’ve done hair at the Pioneer Home as necessitated before my last child was born, and now that I’ve returned, I also visit people who are unable to get out and do their hair if it’s necessary. [I] try to be available if people are need me. I’m not necessarily someone who — I don’t look for boards and stuff. I will listen to anyone and everyone, and I will try to do my research and make any kind of judgments that are needed from me in a thoughtful manner.
KCAW: Why should Sitkans vote for you?
LANE: Well, I think that’s subjective. I don’t know that you should necessarily vote for me or anyone else. I do know that you should vote. It’s very important that you maintain your right to vote and you maintain your voice as a citizen. It’s very important that you read and make sure you understand what’s being said, and sometimes that is a little confusing. For instance, I was discussing the fact that it grieved me that we lost facilities like Raven’s Way because I think it’s important that when we’re trying to help the people that are in distress for whatever reason, we have more to offer than just methadone. I think we need to offer hope and education. I think that’s the real key to keeping younger people here, and keeping families together and stable, and keeping them safe.
