KCAW AI Disclosure
Did you use artificial intelligence (ex. ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini) to complete this questionnaire?
Candidate: No
Name: Darrell Windsor
Age: 67
How many years have you lived in Sitka and Alaska? 32 years
Occupation: Appliance repairman
Describe your family:
Live by myself, my Son and daughter-in-law and grand-daughter live in Sitka
Community involvement, past and present:
Planning commission, and member of Mason’s
Have you previously run for public office? When and what office?
No
Previous government or other relevant experience:
On planning commission 15 years
Why are you running for the an assembly seat this year?
I was planning on doing 2 terms on planning commission, then assembly, was in planning commission longer then expected
What are your top priorities if elected?
Housing and tourism and less spending
Childcare Shortage
A recent report commissioned by the city shows Sitka’s childcare system has the capacity to serve only about half of the young children who need it. The assembly is considering a seasonal sales tax change to fund a $1 million-a-year plan to help address the childcare shortage. Do you agree with this approach? What further steps, if any, should the city take to address the crisis?
I do not beleave in any new taxes until some cuts are involved.
Budget:
How do you propose funding city government (including enterprise funds, electricity, water, etc.)?
I think the tax structure in place now will work for funding the city. I beleave we have to go over the whole budget line by line, which I have to admit, I haven’t done so in the past, but will definitely in the future
Schools:
Do you support funding the Sitka School District to the maximum allowed by state law (a.k.a. the “cap”)? Why or why not?
Yes, our schools are one of the top priority’s. The city should support the schools any way it can
Affordability:
Affording daily life in Sitka is difficult for many, between rising fuel and grocery costs and housing and childcare shortages. According to a 2024 report by the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Southeast Alaska’s overall population is projected to drop by about 17% by 2050 — or roughly 12,000 people. That’s about the populations of Sitka and Wrangell combined. As an assembly member, how would you work to address affordability for Sitkans?
First, try to lower cost of housing, and utilities. Housing is a tough one, but the city can help with land policy. And good long look at utilities may come up some way to lower cost. Hard to pin point without budget right in front of me on the utilities
Tourism:
The commercial passenger vessel excise tax – also known as the CPV – is a “head tax” collected by the state and distributed to port cities. The funds are highly restricted, and can only go toward harbor or other infrastructure related to services or facilities used by cruise ships and their passengers. As an assembly member, how would you prioritize spending CPV money, considering the restrictions?
First, look for problems in the harbor and infrastructure, prioritize the list and start working at solving them
The city has expanded its tourism management in recent years, adding a tourism commission and hiring on a new tourism director in response to growth in the sector. From your perspective, what should be the city’s role in tourism moving forward?
Infrastructure, such as adding rest facilities such
Artificial Intelligence:
The use of artificial intelligence has proliferated over the past several years. It’s reshaping how people work, learn, and participate in daily life. What are your thoughts on using AI in your role as an assembly member or to write legislation?
I think AI should only be used as a reference point. Not writing anything on its own.
Municipal Administrator:
The city has been looking for a new municipal administrator for about a year now. You would likely be part of that hiring decision. What qualities would you look for in a leader?
Someone that has ran a department or company in the past. Also, hopefully someone from Alaska
