With about a week until the filing deadline, the race for Ketchikan’s City Mayor is between two candidates – Bob Sivertsen and Janalee Gage.
The seat is currently held by Dave Kiffer, who does not intend to run for reelection.
Born and raised in Ketchikan, Sivertsen retired after nearly four decades [web: 38 years] with the Ketchikan Public Works Department, and was appointed to an open seat on the City Council in 2009. He served on the council through 2017 and was elected City Mayor the following year.
After completing his mayoral term, Sivertsen says he focused on serving as board chair for the Alaska Commission on Aging. He says he decided to run for mayor this year because he’s completed his work with the Commission on Aging and has more time now.
“We rewrote the senior plan for the State of Alaska which is required under the Older Americans Act. So it’s a document that will guide senior care in the State of Alaska for the next four years. I got through with those projects and am looking forward to doing some more,” Sivertsen said.
He also serves as chairman of the Southeast Alaska Power Agency.
Sivertsen sees the role of the mayor as a representative of the Ketchikan community on regional issues, and legislative matters.
“The mayor plays a big role in making those contacts and working with the legislators as we look at what the state can do to help, or the federal government can do to help out Alaska and the communities that it serves,” he said.
Sivertsen says the biggest issues facing the city are related to the budget and infrastructure. With tourism returning in full force, he sees many opportunities for the community.
He says, “I’ve talked to a number of people in the business and they’re having a good year. The city is going to realize the sales tax off of that. And with the seasonal sales tax, we can invest that money into the infrastructure of the community and the operation.”
Janalee Gage was also born and raised in Ketchikan. She was first elected to the City Council in 2015 and has served continuously since then. Gage says she initially ran for office because she did not feel people like her were being represented. After serving three terms, she’s no longer eligible to run for City Council.
Gage says she decided to run for mayor to be a voice for the entire community, not just industry.
“From our artists to our individuals that don’t feel that they’re heard. From minority groups to the local community and not just the business and tourism industry,” Gage said.
She says it’s important for the mayor to advocate for the community, especially with regards to state funding, and to help unite city and borough governments.
Gage says, “I’m a borough resident, just like anybody else. I’m a city resident too. There shouldn’t be a divide between the two local governments. It should be team work. To me that’s what the mayor should be doing.”
If elected, she says her priorities include addressing infrastructure repair needs by holding the cruise lines accountable and making them part of the solution.
“We have an infrastructure that is designed for a small population of our community. And at the end of the day, when we have an influx of visitors that come in, we’re inundating our water, sewer and garbage. We are making the jobs of our EMTs, our fire department (harder),” she said.
Gage says if infrastructure such as roads, sewers and utilities are not repaired now, the community will end up paying more down the road.
In addition to City Mayor, there are also seats open on the City Council, Borough Assembly and School Board.
The deadline to file for both city and borough offices is next Monday, August 26th at noon. The municipal election is October 1st.
