Two Juneau Assembly members are running for reelection next year, and each is up against one opponent. In District 2’s seat, Assembly member Christine Woll faces David Morris.
Woll has been on the Assembly for the past three years. She spoke to the media in an interview and stated that her main focus is housing and believes her experiences will help her for a new term.
“It is definitely an extended time to be up to date in the way that the city operates and what are the main priority areas that must be focusing around,” she said.
In the meantime, Morris says he’s running because he believes there is a need for more public transparency in the city’s government.
“They have spent a significant amount of time in closed-door meetings and in executive sessions,” Morris said in an interview.
Woll serves as an executive change guide for The Foraker Group, where she assists nonprofits in recruiting as well as select next chief executives along with board members, as well as other leadership positions. She holds a master’s degree in marine sciences from the University of Alaska Southeast and a bachelor’s degree in Biology at Bates College in Maine.
She says that they have already rewarded builders to construct more dense homes however, she believes the city should be more proactive in opening its land to development.
span style=”font-weight 400 ;”>”I think that our codes and our zoning regulations are ineffective when it comes to the construction of higher density dwellings,” she said. “I have friends who want to build a tiny home on their property for rent out, but they’re not able to at the moment. We must clean up our code and zoned areas to ensure that we have a wide range of housing alternatives. .”
Morris was a former swimmer coach and an former Alaska Marine Highway System employee and is a member of Family Promise’s Board directors. Morris agrees that Juneau has a need for more housing. In order to get there In an interview that he supports an areawide campaigner Nano Brooks’ plan of offering 1 acre plots to the residents.
It’s a style=”font-weight 400 ;”>”If you constructed luxurious housing in this area, people who are living in mid-range housing and are looking to upgrade would move into the houses,” he said. “And when there are vacancies and people who are living in low-income homes and looking to upgrade could move into those spaces. .”
Another one of Morris’ most important priorities is the landfill. The Juneau landfill has around 20 years remaining at the current rate of usage. Morris believes that using an incinerator could be beneficial.
He added that he’s also been contacted by a lot of voters regarding property taxes. The mill rate this year was the lowest since the past ten years, however, because the value of property also increased, many Juneau residents are now paying more property taxes.
It’s a style=”font-weight 400 ;”>”The factor that afflicts everyone I speak to is taxation,” Morris said. “Everybody is extremely unhappy about tax burden. .”
In an event hosted by KTOO , Woll stated that she would prioritize essential community needs such as building maintenance, while making sure that the city has enough funds to cover these needs.
It’s a span style=”font-weight 400 ;”>”I am sure that many there are many who feel strapped this moment. My house’s monthly payment was up by a significant amount this year as did many people in Juneau but it’s not an easy task,” she said. “The good thing is that the economy of Juneau is growing and has enabled us to decrease the milling rate, even when materials and personnel rise. If other revenue sources are growing and we are able to keep property taxes in a steady .”
Woll and Morris have differing views about how to proceed with Bartlett Regional Hospital, which is owned by the city. In a forum organized by the Juneau Chamber of Commerce, candidates debated the issue of turnover within the hospital’s management. Woll suggested that assisting the hospital’s board was crucial and Morris suggested that the hospital be privatized.
However, Morris claims he’s running to improve the transparency of the local government. In one instance Morris says that the city manager selection process, which an advisory group Woll chaired – was conducted mostly in executive sessions.
The selection committee evaluated the applications and conducted interviews in executive sessions. Finalists met with city officials in a closed-door staff meeting. The Assembly conducted interviews in a closed-door executive session prior to choosing Engineering and Public Works Director Katie Koester for the role.
Woll has raised more than $6500, including her own funds of $1,200. Her donors include Sen. Jesse Kiehl, former Assembly member Carole Triem, former Juneau Mayor Bruce Botelho, school board president Deedie Sorensen and Juneau Career Firefighters.
Morris does not yet reported any fundraising for a campaign.
Woll as well as Morris both reside in Morris and Woll both reside in the Mendenhall Valley – a requirement to be a candidate for District 2’s seat Juneau residents are able to vote in any race by casting a ballot. Election Day is Oct. 3.
