The filing period opened this week for nine seats on the borough assembly, school board and port commission. Which means it's time for people to think about what they want for the community's future and how they could help make it happen.
The best candidates are those who are for something, not against. Those who have ideas, not grudges and gripes.
There is probably no shortage of people against COVID-19 health rules, taxes, zoning restrictions, cell phone towers, school policies, dog control laws, water and sewer rates and public spending decisions, but criticizing the past and present doesn't necessarily lead to a better future. And elections should be about the future.
Wrangell has a lot of issues to solve:
What to do with the old hospital building, which costs about $100,000 a year to heat, insure and maintain.
Whether to rebuild the rot-damaged Public Safety Building, pegged at more than $13 million, and how to pay for it.
How to pay for stabilizing and rebuilding the community's water reservoirs and dams, estimated at as much as $50 million.
What are the options to expand Wrangell's successful marine services industry?
And how to build a stronger overall economy, attracting more jobs and families and students for the schools - while seeing that more housing is available.
It would be good to hear from candidates who have ideas, who want to study the issues and campaign on what they would like to do in the years ahead. We look forward to candidates telling voters what they want to get done and how they propose to do it.
It's about running to lead the community rather than criticizing others.
The filing deadline is Aug. 31. Candidacy forms are available at the borough clerk's office. Residents can complete and return their filing paperwork for any of three seats on the borough assembly, three seats on the school board, and three seats on the port commission.
The municipal election is Oct. 5.
We encourage community members to run for public office. May the best ideas win.
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