Roppel running first time for port commission

Frank Roppel has served the past year on the port commission, but this is the first time he is running for elected office. He was appointed last year to fill a vacant seat, and has decided to seek a one-term term in Tuesday's municipal election.

He is unopposed for the seat.

Roppel, 84, has a lot of experience in marine transportation and docks, working more than 40 years in the Southeast timber industry, including about 20 years as an executive with Alaska Pulp Corp. until his retirement in 2001.

He was in charge of constructing a dock at Klawock in 1980, and oversaw management of Alaska Pulp's two sawmill docks in Wrangell.

From his seat on the port commission, Roppel hopes to work toward attracting more boat owners to come to Wrangell for work on their vessels or just for pleasure. "We have an excellent marine service center and good docks," he said. "There are opportunities to attract visiting boats, not large ones but smaller ones."

In addition to spending money in town on maintenance and hardware, boaters fill up on fuel and stock up on food. "That might help generate extra revenue for the community," he said.

Roppel also cited his experience in public finance, having served 20 years on the state-owned Alaska Housing Finance Corp. board of directors.