Don McConachie being sworn in as mayor.
Assembly member Don McConachie was elected Mayor in Tuesday’s election by the thinnest of margins, with only two votes separating him and now former Assembly member David Jack.
After the votes were tallied – and with eight fax votes making the difference in the election – McConachie wasted no time in announcing his intentions on moving the city and borough forward.
“This is an exciting day,” McConachie said. “But, now we have to put Wrangell back into good stead with the state, and we need to advance as a borough.”
McConachie said one of his first moves would be to meet with Borough Manager Tim Rooney to discuss the funding of the Wrangell Medical Center replacement project.
“I’m going to meet with Tim and we’ll put together what he has already started to formulate about getting financing back for the hospital,” the mayor added. “We need to get everything back on track and get this building built.”
The Marine Service Center improvements and the possibility of Wrangell owning a 300-ton travel lift is also something McConachie said he will focus on.
“When we get that new lift here you will start seeing larger boats come into this town and the Harbor Department has been getting everything ready for that,” he said. “So, that is going to be a big focus because it will increase our business there. It will be nice to see larger boats from other communities coming into Wrangell not only with their vessels, but their dollars.”
Ever the gracious winner, McConachie showered praise upon outgoing mayor Jeremy Maxand and his two years of service as mayor to the borough.
“Anyone who puts their name forward to run for any position in government should be commended,” McConachie said. “Jeremy did what he did to make this town a better place in which to live. He did what he needed to do during his term.”
After the election, Maxand returned the favor saying, “It’s not an easy job, but a rewarding job, and it was a close election. I think either Dave or Don would have been a fine choice for mayor.”
McConachie was officially sworn in during the Oct. 9 regular meeting of the Borough Assembly. Any qualified citizen of Wrangell seeking to fill McConachie’s empty seat on the assembly should submit a letter of interest to Borough Clerk Kim Flores until 5 p.m. on Oct. 30.
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