Meet the Candidate- Port Commissioner

What experience or qualities do you have that would make you an effective Port Commissioner?

"Commitment to Wrangell and working with others. I have lived in Wrangell

since 1983 and I'm committed to and involved with this town as my home. My wife, Carol Ross, and I owned and operated a business here until 2007. I am a board member now with KSTK and Coast Alaska. I attend St. Philip's Episcopal Church, where I have served on the Vestry Committee. I am a member of Wrangell Volunteer Fire Department and an EMT/Firefighter. I have been a user of the port facilities for over 30 years. I have owned and operated my own boats since moving here, with stalls in all three harbors. I briefly worked as a deckhand with Doc Davenport, and this past summer I worked as a deckhand/guide on excursion jetboats, but mostly my experience is as a recreational boater.

At the moment, what do you see as the most pressing issue for the Port Commission to address?

"It would be presumptuous to speak as an authority on port issues as a new member. However, I do see the obvious needs of repairs to the Shoemaker Bay harbor, construction of the long-awaited mariner's memorial and ongoing support for the marine shipyard. I think the marine shipyard is a success story that has a lot more to come."

How do you propose to attract more business to Wrangell's port facilities?

"Again, as a newcomer, I need some time to develop specific ideas, but as I said before, I feel the marine shipyard has a lot of growth ahead of it. I think the port needs to continue to supply the opportunity for vendors to serve the boating public, and at the same time try to let them conduct their business without undue interference. I think there is a large demand for services above and beyond those of the local fishing fleet, that more cruising boats are being wintered here and repaired here. An opportunity to serve more of those customers is available, and the port can and should support those who want to provide services."