Assembly candidates discuss tourism

WASILLA — Tourism and economic development are one and the same, candidates for borough assembly told a forum Friday afternoon.

Candidates for the fourth and fifth borough assembly districts met at Evangelo’s for a forum hosted by the Mat-Su Borough Convention and Visitors Bureau Friday. Fifth district candidate Bill Kendig put it best on an answer to an audience question on supporting cruise ships.

“That’s going to fuel our tourism more, which fuels our small businesses, which is the backbone of our economy,” he said.

Kendg and District 4 incumbent Steve Colligan agreed that cruise ships were essential to growing the economy, and supported allowing them to dock at Port MacKenzie in the future.

Dan Mayfield, in the unenviable position of answering the question first, said he would require time to do some research.

“The port is more industrial, so my off-the cuff answer would probably be no at this point, but we should probably have more consideration than that,” he said.

It may have been the only time Kendig or Mayfield differed in a measurable way from each other, apart from which side of a largely pro-tourism message the tended to emphasize.

Both Kendig and Mayfield pointed to success with trails in their experience. For example, Kendig worked on the Knik-Fairview community Council to help create the Knik Sled Dog recreation district

“It’s the first of its kind in the country,” he said. “We worked for two years bringing dog mushers and developers together.”

Officials spent the next three years arguing with the borough to retain their original plan, only to ultimately prevail.

“The kept wanting to take the teeth out of the development,” he said.

Borough officials should foster “development, but responsible development,” Kendig added.

Mayfield worked with trails in the Big Lake area, and said he favored balancing competing recreational interests.

“I would like to see a four-wheeler park established so we can give those folks an opportunity to play,” he said. “Trails, motorized or non-motorized, are very important in my book.”

Colligan and Mayfield both focused on partnerships between the borough assembly and private organizations, while Kendig favored infrastructure development.

“The borough and cities should create infrasturcutre for the small businesses,” he said. “We’re here to provide infrastructure, such as roads and utilities so that our small businesses can thrive. It’s pretty cut and dry. If you’re for one of these question you’re probably for all of them.”

That infrastructure could include trailhead bathrooms, Mayfield said. It could also include less tangible services.

“I think we can help to market tourism,” he said. “We need to reach out to other organizations such as non-profits. We need to increase tourism by giving them grants that will help them move their agenda forward and increase tourism in their area.”

All candidates favored yes votes to both ballot initiative B1, which would allow assembly district boundaries to match Division of Election precincts, and B2, which would allow seniors and disabled veterans a $68,000 tax credit of assessed value against houses exceeding $150,000 in assessed value.

Colligan, who faces no challenger in the Oct. 17 elections, said the assembly work was grueling at times, but ultimately rewarding.

“It’s been uncomfortable being on the assembly at times,” he said. “You can’t please everybody. You gotta kind of take the best option and move forward. “

“At the end of the day, here at this table, we’re all in the tourism business,” Colligan added.

Contact Brian O’Connor at 352-2269 or brian.oconnor@frontiersman.com