Juneau residents elected Paul Kelly and Ella Adkison as the new lawmakers of the Juneau Assembly. They also re-elected Alicia Hughes-Skandijs as well as Christine Woll.
They also voted down the bond proposal of $27 million to finance an entirely new city hall. which all four candidates had supported.
Kelly believes their victory as well as the bond’s failure prove that this wasn’t just only a one-issue vote.
” style=”font-weight 400 ;”>”I have had numerous conversations with people who were at the entrance – people who stated they’d be willing to vote for me, but opposed to building a new municipal hall.” the politician said. “I always made it clear that if I’m chosen and city hall is approved I’ll ensure that we are doing things in a different way. .”
Voters voted against the bond proposal of $35 million for a brand new city hall for 2022. The Assembly approved unanimously to place it on the ballot again but the second time, with a lower bond, which was approved in July.
Hughes-Skandijs sat in the Assembly at the time of that vote and she said she’s still pondering about the vote. Similar to Kelly she addressed those who supported her, but were against the bond. Many believed that the city should to look into other rental properties while others doubted the property taxes would not increase.
However, others appeared to oppose it on fundamental grounds, she explained.
It’s a span style=”font-weight 400 ;”>”If you had a discussion in a one-on-one conversation with someone, they’re able to say that it was a excellent plan, and your evidence are solid I’m convinced. But I’m going to say no, because I’m disgusted for you to put it in the same ballot next time”” she stated. “What I’ve observed from that is that people did not feel heard and did not feel valued. .”
Hughes-Skandijs stated that one Assembly meeting was always mentioned in conversations: the meeting in which the Assembly approved putting the bond proposition in the election.
Assembly members may protest the motion to make comments on it even if they intend on voting in favor. This gives them the opportunity to clarify their reasoning and acknowledge the aspects made by members the public that might be opposed.
The vote was held two and a half minutes into the 3 hour Assembly meeting. The vote was uncontested. Assembly members were opposed.
span style=”font-weight 400 ;”>”I believe that the reason nobody did is because we had a full agenda,” Hughes-Skandijs said. “I would have liked to hear something. I would still have been a voter at the time and yes. However, I would have done a better job of communicating with the public about what we were doing this .”
Hughes-Skandijs said that in between her doubts about the process of the Assembly the city hall bond as well as the demands of several candidates for greater transparency in the city’s government, she’s considering ways they can simplify the Assembly’s decision-making people to comprehend.
The span style=”font-weight 400 ;”>”Clearly we’re not making the process more easy so that people can follow it,” she said. “We’re conducting the work in public, but it’s done during committee meetings. If people are watching Assembly meetings, it’s like, ‘Where are these decisions being made? ?'”
Hughes-Skandijs stated that, for the moment she’s prepared to take a step back from the issue of city hall. The then-City Manager Rorie Watt noted that ballot propositions have been through voters numerous times previously, but Hughes-Skandijs does not believe that the city hall bond will or ought to be on the ballot next year.
The span style=”font-weight 400 ;”>”I believe that one day it will be,”” she added. “I believe we should take the time off from city hall and concentrate on the more pressing issues. .”
