 Candidate For Ketchikan City Council 3-year term seat - Three seats open Published:
Name: Mike Harpold Candidate for: City Council Address: 507 Pittinger Avenue - Ketchikan, AK 99901 E-mail address: rosebud2@ptialaska.net Telephone: 225-1315
Background: My wife, Elaine, and I have lived in Ketchikan for the past 18 years. Our daughters, Elizabeth and Sarah, were born here and are attending Ketchikan schools. Elizabeth is a sophmore at Kayhi and Sarah an eighth grader at Schoenbar. We attend First Lutheran Church. Elaine is employed by the U.S. Customs Service. I retired in 1998 after a forty year career of federal service which included the U.S. Army, the U.S. Border Patrol and the U.S.I&NS. I served two years in Viet Nam with the U.S. Agency for International Development, 1968-70.
Experience that qualifies me for this elected position: I have served on the Ketchikan City Council for the past three years and am seeking re-election. I served a three-year term on the Ketchikan Gateway Borough Board of Education and was president of the board from 1996 to 1997. Other community organizations I am involved in include; Ketchikan Campus Advisory Committee, UAS - I have been chair for the past two years; Gateway Center for Human Services Advisory Board - I was chair from 1987 to 1991; KGB Overall Economic Development Advisory Board - past three years; Rotary 2000 - eight years; and Moose Lodge #224 - 17 years. I have been a member of the church council at First Lutheran for the past three years.
3 reasons why I'm running for City Council: My entire adult life has been centered on public service. Now, at a time of my life that I have time, energy and experience to contribute, I want to serve my local community. My wife Elaine and I are raising our family in Ketchikan. As a family, the well being and future of our town is crucial to us. We are in troubled economic times right now and the City of Ketchikan and KPU play major roles in our island's economy. I believe that the city is on the right track by creating jobs through infrastructure improvement projects such as the electrical intertie which began this summer and the harbor renovation project which will get underway this winter. Construction will also start soon on a new harbormaster office and a new long term care wing for the hospital. I have worked hard to make these projects happen. We have kept taxes low and utility rates reasonable and I believe we can continue to do so.
Why should voters re-elect me? I have served on the City Council for the past three years. The present council works well together and gets things done. My interest is solely that of the community. I listen hard and I work hard to accomplish things whether it be lights for a pedestrian crosswalk or a $70 million electrical intertie. I am devoted to keeping arrogance and secrecy out of city government.
Local, regional or state-wide issues: Increasing the number of jobs in the private sector. Our best opportunity for job growth right now is through providing stability for the shipyard so that it can continue to develop to the point where it can be a commercial success. Every study shows that it can be, and certainly Ketchikan is well located to provide ship repair. The city and/or the borough can best help by either purchasing the property or entering into a long term lease with the current owner of the site, the Alaska Industrial Development Authority, who wants to dump it because it is not making a profit for them. Salmon harvest. Fishermen tell me that if things continue the way they are, harvesting pinks in Ketchikan will end within three years. The legislature has created a Salmon Taskforce which will make its recomendations this coming session. A community cold storage like Sitka's has been proposed. Last year the city provided extra funding for tourism marketing when that industry was threatened by cancellations because of 9/11. We need to step up to the plate for fishermen as well.
How do you determine your position on an issue? Study hard. Put things in perspective. Measure them against the standards in which I believe. Judge them in terms of benefit (or harm) to the community.
What would compel you to change your position? I have changed my position on issues when further study or additional information indicated that I should.
If a dozen people speak at a public meeting on a controversial agenda item with the majority of the speakers opposed and the minority for, how would this impact your ability to form a decision on what is best for the community? That's tough, but I've done it. I served three years on the school board. I know.
Where would you most likely obtain more information on agenda items? Staff recommendations; newspaper articles; letters to the editor; the internet.
Who would you most likely talk to prior to making a decision that affects the entire community? Family; people at your work; civic organizations; private friends; government staff; people in the community.
How would you deal with people whose views oppose your beliefs who want to talk to you about an agenda item or issue? I seek out such people when I know that an issue is controversial.
In a public meeting discussion, what would you likely do? Try to reach a compromise.
How do others view you? Conscientious, thoughtful.
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