Meet the Candidates - Mayor of the City and Borough of Wrangell

David Jack, incumbent, running for one two-year term

Past background:

"I've been retired for about seven years. I previously worked for the city in a couple of capacities. I first started as a police officer, then I was harbormaster for three and a half years after that. Then I drove a log truck for about three years and worked at Ottesen's hardware store for seven years."

What do you want to accomplish as mayor?

"I think the major issue right at this point is water treatment. You have to have infrastructure if you're going to expand anything. Looking at several things like that boarding school, if that is determined to be a good and feasible project, you get that many young people out there they're going to be taking a lot of showers and stuff, and it's going to be another drain. If we plan to grow or even provide for what we have now we need to look at the water situation pretty strongly."

What do you feel will be the Borough Assembly's main priorities in the coming two years? In light of a reduction in available state funding, what steps do you think the city should take to approach meeting its infrastructural needs?

"The federal government has a lot of different grants for water and sewer that the state just doesn't have. That's one thing, and then there are low-interest loans. If you have growth there's more income, then there's more tax revenue which can pay off loans. We're looking at grants first, then loans second."

As mayor, would you have a strategy for encouraging more people to become involved in local government, filling vacancies on various boards and committees?

"I think we developed a strategy in doing away with the financial disclosure statement, which basically in my opinion wasn't enacted for municipalities anyway. There were a lot of people expressing that's what stopped them. But, these people aren't coming forward. I would just encourage anybody to come forward. If you're dissatisfied with the way things are going or would like to help things improve, then run for office."

Kipha Valvoda, running for one two-year term

Past background:

"I grew up in northeast Ohio, worked as a commercial/industrial electrician over 30 years, in all 50 states. Moved here after the failure of a 23-year relationship."

What do you want to accomplish as mayor?

"To move forward the development of the old school property as well as the old mill property. Also, reach out to the schools as well as other institutions and improve the local knowledge and usage of all."

What do you feel will be the Borough Assembly's main priorities in the coming two years? In light of a reduction in available state funding, what steps do you think the city should take to approach meeting its infrastructural needs?

"Budget! The careful spending and oversight of public funds, with no new taxes or propositions of increases. The public is not a piggy bank."

As mayor, would you have a strategy for encouraging more people to become involved in local government, filling vacancies on various boards and committees?

"I would approach the school looking for civic-minded youth. Maybe investigate some sort of incentive plans, such as dinners or bowling nights. For people involved with needed groups."