KCAW News, Author at KCAW

Sitka School Board approves resolutions for state consideration

KCAW News — Sat, 05 Sep 2026 01:14:08 +0000

Artificial intelligence policy guidance, data protection, and dyslexia screening– these are some of the issues the Sitka School Board wants the Alaska Association of School Boards to consider advocating for at the state level.

When the school board met Wednesday night (9-3-26), it approved a handful of resolutions to send to the statewide organization for consideration.

School board member Paul Rioux drafted the resolutions by comparing Alaska’s book of resolutions with other state school board associations around the country to see what language was missing. He also looked into the latest issues schools are facing, like developing policies for artificial intelligence.

The seven resolutions unanimously approved by the board also included absenteeism, maintaining local authority over challenges to library materials, homelessness, and emergency training.

View the full list of resolutions here

The resolutions will be sent to the state association annual conference for consideration in November. The resolutions that ultimately get the greenlight will inform the board’s policy recommendations to the legislature and the state’s department of education.

2026 Assembly Candidate Questionnaire: JJ Carlson

KCAW News — Thu, 03 Sep 2026 20:44:13 +0000

Listen to interview

KCAW AI Disclosure

Did you use artificial intelligence (ex. ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini) to complete this questionnaire?

Candidate: No

Name: JJ Carlson

Age: 40

How many years have you lived in Sitka and Alaska?
24 years (18+6). Born and raised in Sitka. Left for school and career. Returned to live.

Occupation:
Nonprofit management

Describe your family:
Hardworking

Community involvement, past and present:
My recent community involvement ranges from volunteer roles in coaching, gardening, public health initiatives, public art, advocacy for neurodegenerative conditions, and community organizing. I’m a current member of the Sitka Community Health Council that acts as an advisory body to the SEARHC healthcare system.

Have you previously run for public office? When and what office?
Yes. 2023, Sitka Assembly Member

Previous government or other relevant experience:
Sitka Assembly Member

Why are you running for the an assembly seat this year?
There is work to be done. I still have goals and would like a 2nd term to achieve them. I would like to serve this community that has given me so much and ensure a happy and healthy Sitka for today, tomorrow, and 30 years from now.

What are your top priorities if elected?
Livable and affordable Sitka for my generation and generations to come.

Childcare Shortage

A seasonal sales tax is one of the few ideas the assembly is considering as a funding mechanism to support childcare in Sitka. The first assembly meeting in September is scheduled to include a discussion on the next steps for what municipally-supported childcare could be.

Budget:

How do you propose funding city government (including enterprise funds, electricity, water, etc.)?

Property and sales tax are the main mechanisms that fund our city government. Excise taxes could be utilized more. Property tax go to schools, and sales tax funds the rest of the general-purpose municipal responsibilities (streets, planning, fire, police, library, parks and rec, etc.). Utilities and specially services (electricity, water, wastewater, garbage, airport, harbors, etc.) pay for themselves through fees for the service. These are handled differently because they are not typically provided by the municipal government. All that background sets up the opinion that a solid one-year budget is the immediate result of a good 5 to 10+ year plan. The best thing we can do for prudent financial management is strong long-term planning and fiscal modeling.

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. Education is highly valued by Sitkans. Quality schools for their kids is one of few things a working family does not need to stress about in Sitka. The cost of living is burdensome for families here. Maintaining a high-preforming school system is imperative for retention of school-age families in Sitka.

Affordability:

The CBS strategic plan lays out a quality and targeted approach to addressing affordability challenges for Sitkans identifying housing, utility costs, childcare, and food security as action items. The assembly annually reviews utilities costs and is actively working on housing and childcare. ADU code refinements will be voted on within the next few months, and a childcare solution is progressing in development. I will continue to address affordability for Sitkans with steady, collaborative, and creative problem-solving.

Tourism:

Utilizing interest on the CPV special revenue fund is a viable avenue of exploration. After annual CBS operational expenses are covered (per the existing formula), capital project prioritization happens annually as part of the capital improvement program. I currently, and will continue to, prioritize spending CPV money on projects that meet the stipulated needs of visitors while addressing quality of life concerns for locals.

CBS has taken great steps so far in managing cruise tourism. Thank you everyone for your patience and understanding as we grew in knowledge and capacity to meet the current levels. As an assembly sponsor of many of the recent tourism management initiatives, your feedback and participation was invaluable in crafting our current response to the increase of cruise visitation. Going forward, the city must consistently reiterate to the cruise lines – and actively review for right-sizing – Sitka’s preferences of a 7,000 daily passenger limit, designated quiet days, and a shorter season. Sitka has long been a desirable destination by the independent traveler. Moving forward, we need to re-focus on increasing independent travel to Sitka in the shoulder season.

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?

AI is a potential tool, but writing an ordinance is not where the bulk of the work is. Coordination, communication, and community feedback is the work of the assembly member and AI is not directly applicable.

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?

Leadership and management are different still sets; the CBS municipal administrator needs both to be successful. Prioritization and time management are key for effective and efficient workflows, while at the same time, an approachable demeanor and receptive listening are also a necessity. There are many of these seemingly opposite qualities that make for a strong leader. It provides balance and demonstrates a holistic approach that is often a product of experience and is transferable between subject matters.

2026 Municipal Election Center

2026 Assembly Candidate Questionnaire: Sherri Blankenship

KCAW News — Thu, 03 Sep 2026 20:44:08 +0000

Listen to interview

KCAW AI Disclosure

Did you use artificial intelligence (ex. ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini) to complete this questionnaire?

Candidate: No

If you responded “yes” to the previous question, please describe how you used AI here:

Candidate:

It took me a four hours to write this without using any generative AI. However, I did use grammerly for Assisted AI for grammar, punctuation and spelling. The distinction is important.

Name: Sherri Blankenship

Age: 46

How many years have you lived in Sitka and Alaska? 23 years

Occupation: Business owner and a clinical nutritionist by trade

Family:
I have 3 sons and a daughter .
Colton 28
Vaughn 27
Gabriel 18
Sadie 13
All my kids have grown up in Sitka and were/are enrolled in the Sitka School District.
I am married to Justin Peeler who has been a commercial fisherman for the past 32 years.
We have a puppy named Charlie girl and a cat named Honey girl

Community involvement, past and present:
I am currently serving on the Sitka Chamber of Commerce board, the Chamber Foundation Board and served on Sitka Safeguard committee

Have you previously run for public office? When and what office?

Yes— 2025 Assembly

Previous government or other relevant experience:

I am currently serving on the tourism commission

Why are you running for the an assembly seat this year?

I’m running for Assembly because I care deeply about Sitka and the direction our community is heading. I believe we have tremendous opportunities in front of us, but taking advantage of them requires people who are willing to listen, ask difficult questions, build partnerships and look beyond the way things have always been done.

Through my work with local businesses, community organizations and workforce development, I’ve had the opportunity to hear from people across many different parts of Sitka. I want to bring those perspectives to the Assembly and help create stronger connections between the City, our businesses, organizations and the people who live here.

Most importantly, I want to be part of building a Sitka that is economically strong, financially responsible and creating opportunities for the next generation. I’m not running because I believe I have all the answers. I’m running because I’m willing to do the work, listen to the people who know these issues best, and help turn good conversations and ideas into meaningful progress.

What are your top priorities if elected?
My priorities are economic development and responsible city spending, addressing our population and workforce challenges, and strengthening the systems that allow people and businesses to succeed in Sitka.

I want Sitka to be much more proactive about pursuing outside funding, partnerships and new economic opportunities. We should continue supporting the industries that are already foundational to our economy, including fishing, maritime, tourism, healthcare and our small business community, while also being willing to explore new opportunities that bring revenue and good jobs into Sitka. I don’t believe the City needs to have all of those answers itself. We need to listen to the people working within these industries and be willing to become a better partner when opportunities exist.

I’m also concerned about our long term population trajectory and what it means for our workforce, schools, businesses and community. I want us investing in educational opportunities, workforce development and career pathways that give younger people a reason to stay, return after college or training, and see a future for themselves here.

Part of that is building the support systems a working community needs. Childcare is one of them. Sitka has had the conversations, has done significant work around this issue, and is developing a plan. I support moving toward implementation and developing funding partnerships with the private sector and large organizations in Sitka. Some of our largest entities employ significant workforces and represent a substantial portion of the demand on our limited childcare system, yet they have largely been absent from the conversations and solutions. I want to bring them to the table.

Finally, I believe strongly in responsible stewardship of City resources. We need to plan further ahead, maintain the infrastructure and assets we already have, pursue every reasonable opportunity for outside funding, and continually look for ways to strengthen City revenue without automatically placing more of the burden on Sitka residents and businesses.

For me, these priorities ultimately come back to building a stronger and more sustainable Sitka economically, socially and financially, while making sure the decisions we make today create opportunity for the people who will be here tomorrow.

Childcare Shortage

Sitkans have continuously been clear about the high cost of living here, and I am hesitant to add another cost to residents through an increased sales tax before we have fully explored other funding opportunities.

I believe we should first bring the private sector and some of Sitka’s largest organizations to the table. Many of these organizations employ significant workforces that depend heavily on our limited childcare system, and they should be invited to become meaningful partners in the solution. I would like to explore private sector funding partnerships and then aggressively pursue state and federal funding opportunities that could match or leverage those local investments.

Childcare is workforce infrastructure. A strong childcare system benefits our employers, our economy and our entire community. I support investing in it, but before asking Sitka residents to pay more, I want to know we have done everything possible to build a broader funding partnership and bring outside dollars into the solution.

Budget:

How do you propose funding city government (including enterprise funds, electricity, water, etc.)?
I believe city government has to be funded responsibly, but affordability has to be part of every budget conversation. Sitka residents and businesses are already carrying a high cost of living, and increasing rates, fees or taxes cannot continually be our first solution when costs rise.

We need strong long term financial planning, careful review of spending and better prioritization of the infrastructure and services we already have. For our enterprise funds, we need to look individually at what it actually costs to operate and maintain each system, plan for future capital needs, and work toward keeping those systems financially sustainable.

But responsible budgeting cannot only be about cutting costs or finding new ways to collect more from residents. We also need to grow the revenue side of the equation. I want Sitka to actively pursue projects, partnerships and economic opportunities that bring new money into our community and expand our economic base. That includes supporting and strengthening the industries we already have while being open to new industries and opportunities that make sense for Sitka.

I also believe we should be much more aggressive about pursuing state and federal funding, grants and public private partnerships for eligible projects. We should be looking for opportunities where outside investment can help us build infrastructure, create economic activity and strengthen City revenues over the long term.

Before asking Sitkans to pay more, I want us asking whether we are spending wisely, pursuing every reasonable outside funding opportunity, and doing enough to create new sources of economic activity and revenue for our community.

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. I support funding the Sitka School District to the maximum allowed by state law…

I believe education is paramount to a healthy community. Strong schools contribute not only to academic success, but to the overall wellness of our children, families and community. They create opportunity, stability and connection, and they are an investment in Sitka’s future.

This also connects directly to our concerns about population and retaining younger families. If we want families to choose Sitka as the place where they build their lives, we need to demonstrate that educating and supporting their children is one of our highest priorities.
I recognize that maximizing school funding requires difficult choices within the City budget, particularly when resources are limited But education is an area where I believe we need to prioritize our investment. Our children deserve strong schools, excellent educators and meaningful educational opportunities, and I support funding that commitment to the maximum allowed.

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?
Affordability is one of the biggest challenges facing Sitka, and I don’t believe there is one policy that will solve it. We need to look at the cumulative cost of living here and recognize that every increase in taxes, utility rates, fees, housing and childcare adds to what families and individuals are already carrying.

As an Assembly member…, I would be cautious about adding new costs to residents without first exploring other options. That means responsible budgeting, aggressively pursuing state and federal funding, developing private sector partnerships where appropriate, and looking for projects and economic opportunities that bring new revenue into Sitka rather than continually relying on the same taxpayers.

Housing and childcare are significant pieces of affordability, and both require us to move from repeatedly discussing the problems toward implementing solutions. With childcare specifically, I believe some of our largest employers and organizations need to become active partners in funding and strengthening the system their workforces depend on.

I also think affordability and population decline are directly connected. We can talk about attracting and retaining younger people and families, but if they cannot afford to build a life here, we will continue to lose them. Addressing that requires more than lowering one particular cost. It means strengthening our economy, creating good jobs and educational opportunities, supporting local businesses, expanding housing opportunities and building the support systems that allow people to stay.

The goal should not simply be making Sitka less expensive. It should be making it more possible for people to build a sustainable life here.

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?
I believe the restrictions surrounding CPV funding deserve to be revisited. The impacts of cruise tourism on a community extend beyond a narrow definition of port infrastructure, and I would support advocating at both the state and federal level for greater flexibility in how communities impacted by cruise tourism can use those revenues.
Until those rules change, however, we have to work responsibly within the guidelines we have.

I would prioritize projects that have already been identified and discussed by the community, while also developing a clear list of eligible needs based on urgency, community benefit and how long those needs have gone unaddressed. I don’t think we should create projects simply because CPV money is available. The funding should be directed toward projects we actually need and that provide long term value to Sitka.
We also have to recognize that many major infrastructure projects will cost considerably more than the CPV funds available. That means looking strategically at how CPV dollars can be combined with grants, state or federal funding and other eligible funding sources to accomplish larger projects without unnecessarily placing the remaining cost on Sitka residents.

These funding programs can be restrictive and often move slowly, so good planning matters. If we establish our priorities ahead of time and have projects ready, we are in a much stronger position to pursue and leverage additional funding opportunities when they become available.

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?
I believe the City’s role should be to support a strong and sustainable tourism economy while making sure the industry continues to benefit Sitka as a whole.

Tourism is an important economic driver for our community. It supports local businesses, creates jobs, generates City revenue and brings outside dollars into Sitka. I believe the City should recognize that value and work collaboratively with the businesses, organizations and industries that make our visitor economy successful.

Moving forward, I would like to see the City focus on strengthening those partnerships, supporting local businesses in capturing more of the economic benefit tourism brings, and making thoughtful investments in infrastructure and services that benefit both our visitor economy and our community.

As tourism continues to be an important part of Sitka’s economy, we should be looking for opportunities to make sure that economic activity translates into meaningful benefits for our local businesses and community.

At the same time, we need to continue listening to the community as a whole and be willing to make thoughtful adjustments along the way when needed. Tourism should work for Sitka economically while also maintaining a level of balance and comfort for the people who call Sitka home.

Artificial Intelligence:

As an Assembly member, I would use AI in much the same way I use other tools and resources. It can be helpful for comparative research, organizing large amounts of information, improving grammar and clarity, and helping create flow when communicating complicated ideas. But the information it provides still needs to be questioned, verified and understood.

Some of the most valuable knowledge we have comes from homegrown conversations, listening to people with direct experience, learning from past decisions and the wisdom of mentors, and building relationships with people who understand an issue from different perspectives
AI cannot replace that.
When it comes to legislation, I would be comfortable using AI as a research or organizational tool, but I would never rely on it solely to create policy. Legislation requires legal review, factual verification, public input and ultimately human accountability.
AI can make us more efficient and help us ask better questions, but the responsibility for the decisions we make should always remain with us.

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?
I would look for someone who understands small communities, ideally through lived experience, and understands that managing a small municipality requires a different kind of leadership. I want someone who will genuinely integrate into Sitka, become invested in our community and understand the realities our families, businesses and residents experience every day. Someone who can meet people where they are.

A strong background in management and financial literacy would be very important to me. We need someone who understands budgets, people, operations and accountability, but who also recognizes that good leadership is about more than policies and procedures.

I would look for someone who understands that policy and structure are necessary, but they don’t replace common sense, compassion and good judgment. More government does not automatically mean better government, and more control does not necessarily create better outcomes.

I would also look closely at someone’s entire leadership history, including their failures. I don’t expect a great leader to have a perfect record. I would rather see someone who has faced difficult situations, made mistakes, learned from them and demonstrated a pattern of stronger decisions and success afterward….

Most importantly, I would look for someone with integrity, humility and the ability to listen. Sitka needs an administrator who can lead effectively while remembering that municipal government ultimately exists to serve the community.

2026 Municipal Election Center

2026 Assembly Candidate Questionnaire: Darrell Windsor

KCAW News — Thu, 03 Sep 2026 20:43:20 +0000

Listen to interview

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

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:

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:

First, look for problems in the harbor and infrastructure, prioritize the list and start working at solving them

Infrastructure, such as adding rest facilities such

Artificial Intelligence:

Municipal Administrator:

2026 Municipal Election Center

2026 Mayoral Candidate Questionnaire: Kevin Mosher

KCAW News — Thu, 03 Sep 2026 20:42:30 +0000

Listen to Interview

KCAW AI Disclosure

Did you use artificial intelligence (ex. ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini) to complete this questionnaire?

Candidate: Yes

Please describe how you used AI here:

Candidate: I did some research and drafted it myself. Then I I used AI to help me make it more concise and improve overall flow.

Name: Kevin Mosher

Age: 52

How many years have you lived in Sitka and in Alaska? 33 years

Occupation:
I work as a staff accountant for Shee Atiká, Inc.

Family:
My wife and I have been married for nearly 30 years and have five children together.

Community involvement, past and present:
Serving on the assembly requires all of my free time at present. When our children were younger, we participated in school events.

Have you previously run for public office? When and what office?
I was elected to serve on the assembly for three terms, since 2018. I ran for mayor once in 2022.

Previous government or other relevant experience:
My government experience is primarily from serving on the assembly these 8 years. I served as Deputy Mayor, and as assembly liaison to the following boards and commissions, committees, and Government to Government relationships: STA, School Board, Investment Committee, Sustainability Commission, Parks & Rec Committee, Local Emergency Planning Committee, and SEDA.

Why are you running for the mayor’s chair this year?
I am running for mayor in order to provide stability, because we are in a time when leadership of the assembly and city staff is changing. The mayor is key to setting the tone for our local government, and I will keep that tone positive. I want to support our city staff as they continue to provide services and maintain city infrastructure. I would like to ensure that the assembly stays focused on key priorities, such as cost-of-living issues, which include housing, childcare, economic prosperity, and maintaining our quality of life.

What are your top priorities if elected?
To promote local economic vitality, address housing and and childcare affordability, and support public education.

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?

Childcare is a major obstacle to prosperity in Sitka. Market forces alone may not fully address this challenge, and some level of public investment may be warranted. I support the city being a part of the solution. We need more community discussion about the best way to do that, and I am prepared to lead that discussion at the assembly table. Several ideas have been proposed, and there is good momentum so far.

Budget:

How do you propose funding city government (including enterprise funds, electricity, water, etc.)?

First, the city should do its best to maximize efficiency in order to keep the cost of city government down. Second, we need to maximize outside revenue from state and federal grants, low interest loans, as well as tax revenue from visitors, while being mindful about the costs of tourism. Third, I support our general policy on enterprise funds, where users pay the costs of utilities and harbors. Finally, sales and property taxes will remain critical to providing general services, including public safety and education. I support having regular community discussions about our desired level of services, and the structure of our property and sales taxes.

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. Although there has been a recent increase in the base student allocation, it has not kept up with inflation. The school district has made painful cuts, and the city has taken on new responsibilities, such as maintenance of school facilities, to make sure our schools continue to offer an excellent education and critical activities-such as youth athletics and performing arts. Young families are critical to the health of our community, and to keep them here, we need to continue supporting our schools.

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

We should do everything we can to help, while acknowledging that some things are beyond the city’s control. We also need to be mindful about achieving a balance between short-term and long-term costs, and between costs and quality of life. For example, the Blue Lake Dam expansion was a major investment that increased utility rates, but now it is providing some protection from the major swings in the price of diesel.

The demographic reports show that almost all of the decline in population is among working-age residents and youth. That is a very worrisome trend. We need to focus on what we can do to keep Sitka affordable for young people and families. Subsidizing childcare is an important part of that. Many Sitkan’s have concerns about cruise ship tourism, but it has also created opportunities for many young people to start businesses that allow them to live here year-round.

The cost of housing in Sitka is driven by our limited supply of land, the cost of materials, and a shortage of construction labor. The city can provide some relief through zoning changes, by making city land available for development of housing that people can afford to pay for. Right now, the Planning Department is working on providing pre-approved home plans. I would be open to discussing options for addressing housing affordability through our tax code as well.

Tourism:

First, we should continue to get reimbursed from CPV money for all the services that the city offers to tourists, including but not limited to increased police, fire, and other emergency services, as well as personnel costs associated with managing tourism.

I also support working collaboratively with the tourism industry to find other uses of this fund that will benefit visitors and tourists alike, such as Lincoln Street improvements.

The city should be very active in managing tourism. By working with residents, the tourism commission, business owners, the tourism industry at large, Visit Sitka, and city staff, we should continue to make sure that the community derives real value from tourism and that visitors continue enjoying Sitka. Not every single person will be happy, but if we work together, we can find a balance.

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 believe AI can be used as a helpful tool to work more efficiently. I have used it to help me draft assembly memos. In those instances, I did not ask it to do everything for me. I took my notes from meetings with other assembly members, city staff, and members of the public, independent research I did online, and then used that to help me craft a document that could articulate the purpose and flow of the agenda item. Then I reviewed the draft to make sure it was accurate and that it made sense. I haven’t used it to write legislation. As technology develops, I’ll continue to look for ways to use AI ethically.

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?

I am looking for someone who knows how to work collaboratively with people in an open, friendly way, and who will interact with staff, the assembly, outside entities, and the public respectfully and effectively. We need someone who has either worked as an administrator before, or who has worked in a capacity that has demonstrated and developed leadership ability, an understanding of how city government works, and the ability to learn quickly. Problem solving, financial management, and skills are essential.

Mayor:

How do you envision your role as mayor will be different from that of an assembly member?

The mayor represents our assembly and the community. The person in this job sets the tone for local government and presides over meetings. The current mayor has set a good example by being respectful, running orderly meetings, getting business done, supporting the administrator and city staff, and focusing on local issues while avoiding hot button political issues that divide people. I intend to follow his example.

2026 Municipal Election Center

2026 School Board Candidate Questionnaire: Matt Potter

KCAW News — Thu, 03 Sep 2026 20:29:48 +0000

Listen to interview

KCAW AI Disclosure

Did you use artificial intelligence (ex. ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini) to complete this questionnaire?

Candidate: Yes
Please describe how you used AI here:

Candidate: Grammarly

Name: Matthew Potter

Age: 42

How many years have you lived in Sitka and in Alaska? I moved to Alaska when I was six years old and have lived here for most of my life. I first moved to Sitka in 2017. I’ve lived here for most of the time since then.

Occupation:
I have spent most of my career working in education at the building level, mostly as a teacher and an administrator. I now work for the Association of Alaska School Boards (AASB), helping oversee a grant that supports schools and communities throughout Southeast Alaska.

Describe your family:

I live with my wife and our two sons. Our oldest is in third grade at Keet Gooshi Heen Elementary, and our youngest attends preschool. We enjoy spending time together and being part of the Sitka community.

Community involvement, past and present:

Since moving to Sitka, much of my community involvement has centered on raising our children and staying connected to their schools and activities. As our family has become more established here, I’ve been looking for additional ways to serve and contribute to the community

Have you previously run for public office? When and what office?

No, this is my first time running for public office.

Previous government or other relevant experience:

My most relevant experience comes from working in public schools as both a teacher and an administrator. That work has given me a firsthand understanding of how public decisions affect students, families, staff, and the broader community. It has also taught me the importance of listening, communicating clearly, and working together to find practical solutions.

Why are you running for a Sitka School Board seat this year?

I am running for the Sitka School Board because my background as a teacher and school administrator is a strong fit for the work of the board. I want to use that experience to help ensure that my children and, as an extension, all of Sitka’s students receive the best education possible.

What are your top priorities if elected?

My top priority is ensuring that Sitka’s schools make decisions that support both students and staff. I want students to receive the best education possible while making sure our educators and staff have the resources, support, and working conditions they need to succeed.

Vision

What’s the biggest challenge the Sitka School District faces today, and how would you address it? Biggest strength?

The biggest challenge facing the Sitka School District, like many districts across Alaska, is uncertainty around education funding. I would address this by advocating for stable funding, making thoughtful and transparent budget decisions, and keeping the community informed and involved.

The district’s greatest strength is its people—our staff, students, families, and the broader Sitka community. Their commitment to our schools provides a strong foundation for working through challenges together.

Budget:

What’s your budget philosophy for Sitka’s schools? Are there areas you would cut? Spend more?

My budget philosophy is that school funding is a balancing act, especially when districts are trying to meet growing needs with a shrinking pie. After years of budget reductions, there are no easy cuts left to make, and further reductions will have real effects on students, staff, and programs. I would prioritize what most directly supports SSD’s staff as well as student learning, while making budget decisions that are based on the needs of Sitka’s schools.

Funding:

In your opinion, does the state fund schools adequately? As a school board member, what would you advocate for if tasked with lobbying the legislature in Juneau?

The simple answer is no; the state does not adequately fund its schools. I would advocate for forward funding education and tying the Base Student Allocation to inflation so districts can plan responsibly and funding keeps pace with rising costs. Alaska’s schools should not be used as a political bargaining chip; students, staff, and communities need stable and predictable funding.

Achievement:

Sitka’s most urgent area for academic growth is to continue to ensure that students are prepared for a rapidly changing world, whether they enter the workforce, pursue career and technical training, or attend college. That means strengthening CTE and hands-on learning while maintaining rigorous academic programs that prepare students for higher education. We must also help students learn to use emerging technologies, including AI, thoughtfully and responsibly, so every graduate leaves school with the knowledge, skills, and adaptability needed to succeed.

Enrollment:

The district cannot address declining enrollment on its own, but it can be an active partner with the City and Borough of Sitka and other community organizations. We need a coordinated effort to address the issues that make it difficult for families to stay in or move to Sitka, particularly the lack of affordable housing and accessible childcare. Strong schools are also part of what attracts and retains families, so the district must continue offering high-quality programs and clearly communicating the opportunities available to Sitka’s students.

Technology :

What’s one technology rule you would like to enact in the school district?

I have not seen that screentime is a problem in any of the schools, however, I believe it is worth discussing age-appropriate limits on screen time during the school day. Technology should be used thoughtfully to support learning while maintaining a healthy balance with hands-on experiences and meaningful interaction.

Engagement:

How would you work to increase visibility and engagement with the school board?

I would work to make the board’s decisions and discussions clear, accessible, and easy for the community to follow, asking for input in ways that are convenient, and showing people how their participation can make a difference. Engagement grows when families, staff, students, and community members feel heard.

Return to 2026 Municipal Election Center

2026 School Board Candidate Questionnaire: Phil Burdick

KCAW News — Thu, 03 Sep 2026 20:13:40 +0000

Listen to interview

KCAW AI Disclosure

Did you use artificial intelligence (ex. ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini) to complete this questionnaire?

Candidate: No

Name: Phil Burdick

Age: 59

How many years have you lived in Sitka and in Alaska? Since 1992

Occupation: I currently consult with schools, tribes, and youth organizations in implementing and integrating Restorative Practices in Education using Circle Peacekeeping, Culturally Responsive Education, and Trauma Informed practices.

Describe your family: I am married and have two children, one in high school and one college graduate.

Community involvement, past and present:
I have served on many boards including the Island Institute, Youth Advocates of Sitka, Mt. Edgecumbe Preschool, and the Sitka Native Education Program Parent Committee. All of my board involvement focuses on education and youth.

Have you previously run for public office? When and what office?

I was elected to the school board in 2023. I was also elected to the Assembly for a one year term in the late 90’s.

Previous government or other relevant experience:

I have 30 years experience in the Sitka School District as teacher, principal, district administrator, and board member. I am a current member of the Alaska Association of School Board.

Why are you running for a Sitka School Board seat this year?

I am running for School Board because I want to change the world. I want to live in a world where everyone has the opportunity to achieve their goals and the belief they can. I believe that public education is the best way to achieve that. Also, there is always work that needs to be done and I have the time, the energy, and the expertise to support education.

What are your top priorities if elected?
Create systems and processes to ensure smooth transitions for new members. Improve communication with the community. Advocate for adequate State funding.

Vision

What’s the biggest challenge the Sitka School District faces today, and how would you address it? Biggest strength?
The biggest challenge facing the Sitka District is the same as many districts across the country and every district in the state. We continue to face fiscal uncertainty that forces us to do more with less. We are directed to accomplish mandates with no funding to support our efforts. The only way to address this is to elect officials who understand that public education is the foundation of a stable democracy, a strong economy, and that we need to treat our students, families and staff as the precious resource they are.

The greatest strength in the SSD is our people and our partnerships. We have a dedicated staff and committed community who support our students and families. We have dozens of business and non-profit partners who volunteer and enrich what we can offer.

Budget:

What’s your budget philosophy for Sitka’s schools? Are there areas you would cut? Spend more?
I would like to see a more strategic budgeting process. It’s difficult because of the uncertainty of funding, the timing of the process, and the reactive nature of educational budgeting.
We have already cut all of the fat, most of the meat, and have been gnawing on the bones for the last three years. There is nowhere left.
There is nowhere to spend more. The best we can do is to ensure that we allocate resource to our priorities and our strategic plan.TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT

Funding:

In your opinion, does the state fund schools adequately? As a school board member, what would you advocate for if tasked with lobbying the legislature in Juneau?

Ummmmmm. Hell no!

I would advocate for Rep. Story’s HB 261 that would stabilize funding by using a three year average count so Districts know how much money they have going into the fiscal year instead of having to guess during the budget process and waiting until the end of the year to find out what the final numbers are.

I would advocate that educational spending be inflation proofed and that it be paid for by a corporate tax structure. We are educating the workforce. The corporations should invest in the human capital that is their future.

Achievement:

Monitoring student achievement and developing policies that boost student success is one of the school board’s top responsibilities. What do you see as Sitka’s most urgent area for academic growth? And how would you address it?

We need to close the achievement gap. We have talked about it as long as I have been involved in education in the SSD but we have never been able to crack that nut. I honestly don’t know how to address it. For 30 years we have tried policy mandates and goals, programming changes and offerings, professional learning in efficacy and best practice, personnel shifts and department creation and still the gap exists.

Enrollment:

Across Alaska, school enrollment has been shrinking. While numbers have seen a slight jump in Sitka in the past couple of years, larger trends point to a loss of several hundred students over the past two decades. What steps should the Sitka School District take in response to a shrinking population?

We need to make strategic budgeting decisions that reflect the reality of our situation and not simply roll over spending because that’s how we’ve always done it. This is easier said than done because it would rely on a flexible staff who may need to be re-assigned year to year. It’s also not fiscally prudent to simply close a school although we may need to look at how we structure grade bands and programs.

Technology :

What’s one technology rule you would like to enact in the school district?

It’s not a rule but more a guideline. Technology is a tool and we need to teach how to use it responsibly.

Engagement :

How would you work to increase visibility and community engagement with the school board?

As current Board President, my goal is to have conversations with partners, organizations, and community members to determine what a “Portrait of a Graduate” from the Sitka School District would look like. I would like to start the budget process earlier to ensure community priorities are reflected in our programming.

Return to 2026 Municipal Election Center

2026 School Board Candidate Questionnaire: Kat Richards

KCAW News — Thu, 03 Sep 2026 15:58:06 +0000

Listen to interview

KCAW AI Disclosure

Did you use artificial intelligence (ex. ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini) to complete this questionnaire?

Candidate: No

Name: Kateri ‘Kat’ Richards

Age: 53

How many years have you lived in Sitka and in Alaska? 24 years

Occupation: Registered nurse and business owner

Describe your family: My husband, Richie, works as a paraprofessional in the Sitka School District. Our son, EJ graduated from Sitka High School in 2024 and attends UAS-Sitka majoring in Political Science and Education. Our daughter, Marley graduated from Sitka High School this last year (2026) and will be attending University of Wyoming in Laramie, WY majoring in Geology. We also have a pitbull name Amara, a pug named Willow and two sweet cats (Beau and Hassan).

Community involvement, past and present:
Currently I am board President for Sitka Youth Football, which is a non-profit sporting club. I was on the Babies & Books board for 3 years. I also served on Sitka Little League Board in the past. I am a member of the Emblem Club #142 and am involved in many fundraising events at the Elks.

Have you previously run for public office? When and what office?
I ran for School Board in 2014 (I believe)

Previous government or other relevant experience:
No previous government experience however I have experience on boards (sport clubs and Babies & Books) and budgetary experience in healthcare.

Why are you running for a Sitka School Board seat this year?
To support the community, to be involved as a civic duty, learn new processes and bring my healthcare knowledge to the district in a board level position.

What are your top priorities if elected?
Learn, be involved, and be part of the process to support and lead our public school system.

Vision

What’s the biggest challenge the Sitka School District faces today, and how would you address it? Biggest strength?

The reality of shrinking financial support of the public school system paired with students that have increasingly complex needs. Honestly, I don’t have a pre-conceived idea of how to address it. I do have the desire to be part of the group that works tirelessly to continue to provide students with quality education while also supporting incredibly talented teaching staff.

Our strength is our community. Peoples want to be involved, as seen by individuals that continue to run and volunteer to be on boards as well as businesses that support fundraisers

Budget:

What’s your budget philosophy for Sitka’s schools? Are there areas you would cut? Spend more?

I am not coming in with pre-conceived ideas. I am ready to learn.

Funding:

In your opinion, does the state fund schools adequately? As a school board member, what would you advocate for if tasked with lobbying the legislature in Juneau?

I believe that state funding should match inflation.

Achievement:

Monitoring student achievement and developing policies that boost student success is one of the school board’s top responsibilities. What do you see as Sitka’s most urgent area for academic growth? And how would you address it?

I am looking forward to educating myself regarding student achievement so I may understand the challenges and work with the board and SSD staff to see our students succeed.

Enrollment:

Again, I look forward to learning the complexity of enrollment and how it impacts funding. It is my understanding that Sitka is not alone in the decreasing student population. I believe working with local administration, as well as networking across the state can increase problem-solving ideas for this challenge.

Technology :

What’s one technology rule you would like to enact in the school district?

Incorporating Ai responsibly. Bringing in and encouraging student to use Ai as an adjunct to their education verses Ai giving answers would be beneficial.

Engagement :

How would you work to increase visibility and community engagement with the school board?

Increase social media presence

2026 Municipal Election Center

Sitka Community Garden celebrates first harvest with picnic

KCAW News — Wed, 02 Sep 2026 22:01:57 +0000

The Sitka Community Gardens Association is hosting a community picnic at its Jarvis Street garden location on Sunday, September 6. Lee Rector and Kari Sagel joined KCAW for the Morning Interview to discuss the event, which will feature a musical jam session, floral arrangement and dessert contest. Listen here:

Sitka Sentinel seeks community feedback in 2026 survey

KCAW News — Wed, 02 Sep 2026 20:43:47 +0000

Lisa Bush from Friends of the Sitka Sentinel joins KCAW to talk about the importance of local news. The Daily Sitka Sentinel is an independent, family-owned newspaper that’s been reporting on local issues for over 85 years. The Sentinel is looking for feedback in their 2026 reader survey. The form is open through Sept.18 for everyone in the community to fill out, regardless if they are subscribed to the paper or not. Listen to the conversation here: