Gilbert cites economic development in reelection bid

Mayor Patty Gilbert ran for the office in 2022 with two goals in mind: economic development and improvements to the community's infrastructure. As she looks to win reelection this year, her goals haven't changed.

Before becoming mayor, she served on the city council and borough assembly for 14 years. She also served on the school board between 2020 and 2022.

A lifelong teacher with a classroom career spanning across six decades, Gilbert is confident she can continue to move Wrangell forward in a second term.

"I've got the drive, the time, the knowledge and the desire," she said. "I'm fearless."

She is proud of her track record as mayor: In the past two years the borough says it has acquired a record amount of project-specific federal funding.

Gilbert also advocated for converting the Economic Development Board from the ad hoc committee she inherited to its current iteration: a regularly meeting board. She sees the board not just as a way for the borough to promote economic momentum, but as a conduit for community input as well.

However, she admits there is a lot of work that still needs to be done. If Congress approves additional funding for Wrangell in next year's budget, such as repairs to the Public Safety Building, the borough will have received $40 million in federal funding in 2024-2025. The feat, while impressive for a small town, is also an economic catalyst that Gilbert sees as unsustainable.

"We have probably maximized outside funding," she said. She believes that an energized and more active Economic Development Board will help attract further economic opportunities for the town.

And while she acknowledges there are limits to relying on federal aid to pay the bills, Gilbert does not support any increase in the borough property tax rate of 9.75 mills, which works out to $975 per $100,000 of assessed value.

Her emphasis on infrastructure remains strong. In a second term, the mayor hopes to establish both short-term and long-term plans for the borough's roads and sidewalks.

"I want there to be a plan for which roads we are going to repave every summer, and then which ones we are going to fix the year after that," Gilbert said.

She feels passionately about transboundary river issues, specifically the Canadian mines that tribal and environmental groups say risk environmental damages downriver in Southeast.

"We need to pay more attention and make sure Wrangell is represented in those conversations," she said of U.S.-Canada talks. She emphasized the importance of working with WCA on this topic especially.

In her next term, Gilbert said she will advocate for moving the barge dock to the borough-owned former mill property at 6-Mile. She hopes this would help improve the visual appeal of Wrangell's downtown waterfront.

She also plans to work with Police Chief Gene Meek to "increase school security."

As for the ballot measures in the Oct. 1 municipal election, she endorsed voting yes on both questions.

She encourages people to approve the $3 million bond issue for Public Safety Building renovations. The mayor, who has been outspoken in assembly meetings about the building's poor condition, emphasized the importance of the "much needed" renovations on the 37-year-old structure.

Gilbert also implored voters to vote yes on the other ballot question, which would open the door for assembly members to receive compensation. She noted that her motivation is not based on personal gain. Instead, she hopes it will make the assembly more inclusive by attracting new members.

"If it entices people to run for office that would not have previously ran for office, we should do it," she said. She believes that compensation will help increase the "diversity of thought" on the assembly.