Candidate responses: Palmer City Council

Mike Chmielewski

Seat sought: Palmer City Council

Are you an incumbent: No

Age: 66

Residence in Palmer: Palmer city for 22 years and greater Palmer area five years.

Public service: President Palmer Museum of History and Art; Friends of Mat-Su. treasurer-Radio Free Palmer; chair Mat-Su Regional Hospital Ethics Committee; Palmer Rotarian; military service as USAF captain; former president Mat-Su Borough School Board; former member of Palmer Volunteer Ambulance and Valley Hospital Operating Board of Directors.

Family information: Married to Lee Henrikson; four adult children: Heather, Alex, Tad, Tasha (all PHS grads).

Why are you running for city council at this time: I have the time, energy and expertise to participate actively in the council. I see the council becoming more proactive in setting out an agenda for the city manager and staff. I also believe that good ideas and good people need to have the resources to be successful. I like Palmer and believe I can be an asset.

What experiences do you have that demonstrate your ability to be an effective council member: I have many years of practical experience on boards and committees both as a chair and a member. I believe in and understand the process of representing constituents and of decision-making for the long view. As a school counselor and instructor at Mat-Su College I have had contact with thousands of residents. Lastly, I've walked my talk literally by going door to door throughout the city to personally meet residents.

If elected, what would be your top priorities: 1. Clarify the relationship and responsibilities among the city manager, mayor and city council. Uncertainty clouds the present arrangement. 2. Establish the importance of working with the Borough and the state by ensuring that we are at meetings to lobby for additions to the Borough offices and for municipal revenue sharing. 3. Find ways to support staff to provide timely and consistent service to residents. 4. Require follow-up action so that projects involving state agencies don't languish (e.g. the downtown rail right of way bike path).

How would you address the growing traffic gridlock through downtown: 1. Continually remind the community that this is both an urgent and complex problem, there are no easy solutions. 2. Involve all those affected by proposals early and in ongoing meetings with traffic planners. 3. Guide development so that traffic impact is carefully considered. 4. Explore local and inter city bus service. 5. Learn from our mistakes.

What is the most urgent issue facing the city today and how would you address it: The most urgent issue we have is setting priorities and policies and sticking with them. Do we want a full-time mayor or not? What are the parking guidelines for new construction? Let's agree about what we want as a community. Then, we each must state what we are willing to do to make that happen. Next, we must work with the Borough and the Legislature to assure adequate funding for Palmer's needs.

Identify and explain one principled stand you would be willing to take if elected, even if it might cost some popularity points with voters: Having served in elective office I have learned that one principle serves in all situations: Keep an open mind. I clearly state my reasons for taking a stand after l have gathered as much information as is available and heard from residents. Further, I believe most voters elect a person to use judgment and take stands that are best for the community and not necessarily for an individual voter.

Katherine G. Vanover

Seat sought: Palmer City Council

Are you an incumbent: Yes

Age: 56

Residence in Palmer: I was born here and have lived here my whole life.

Public service: I have served three terms on the Palmer City Council and served on various local committees over the past years.

Family information: My parents were Hank and Erma Liebing, both now deceased. I have two sisters, Marjean Stewart of Anchorage and Bridget Cory of Wasilla, one brother, Pholia Liebing of Portsmouth Va. My husband is Jerry Vanover and we have two daughters, Naomi L. Piggott of Anchorage and Marie G. Sweet of Spokane, Wash.

Why are you running for city council at this time: I am running for city council because I believe I have represented my constituents fairly in the past. I understand the problems and the issues facing Palmer and believe that I can solve those problems and address the issues.

What experiences do you have that demonstrate your ability to be an effective council member: My past experience on the council speaks for itself. My previous work experience as accounting supervisor for the Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District also gives me insight into how government should work and the requirements for elected officials. I know that important decisions need to be made. I believe I can make them.

If elected, what would be your top priorities: Economic development, traffic issues and maintaining the values our forefathers had when they wrote the city charter.

How would you address the growing traffic gridlock through downtown: We have to work with the state Department of Transportation and the Alaska Railroad and the Borough to solve these problems. We the city cannot solve them by ourselves. I look forward to dealing with those agencies.

What is the most urgent issue facing the city today and how would you address it: I believe the funding of our public library is one of those pressing problems. We need to work with the Borough assembly to get fair funding of this straightened out.

Identify and explain one principled stand you would be willing to take if elected, even if it might cost some popularity points with voters: I do not want to give up our public library to the Borough. I know that many people want the Borough to take over all the libraries, but I am not convinced that is the only way. Palmer had that library before Alaska was even a state. It is not an asset I am willing to give up.

Michael A. “Mike” Thomas

Seat sought: Palmer City Council

Are you an incumbent: No

Age: 43

Residency in Palmer: Eleven years in Alaska, four years in Anchorage and the last seven years in Palmer.

Public service: None

Family information: Married for 17 years to wife, Jean, and step-son Allen.

Why are you running for city council at this time: For the past couple of years the city of Palmer has had the opportunity for more growth and economic development, but our current city council members have not been overly receptive to these projects. I would welcome the opportunity to express my thoughts and ideas on how future opportunities of the same nature would be beneficial to the city.

What experiences do you have that demonstrate your ability to be an effective council member: For my last 10-plus years in the military and the last three years in the private sector, I have been responsible for making decisions, creating policies and handling budget responsibilities that have impacted numerous employees.

If elected, what would be your top priorities: My top priorities would include changing the image of Palmer from being known as a city that is hard to start a business in to (one that’s) business friendly. I would look at bringing more activities for our youth, make sure that our EMS personnel stay on the forefront of current technology and training, and address the current retirement plan and health care cost for the city and its employees.

How would you address the growing traffic gridlock through downtown: Look at redirecting traffic to and from the Glenn Highway to some of our other side streets; find a way to help facilitate expanding Bogard Road so that it goes straight through from Palmer to Wasilla.

What is the most urgent issue facing the city today and how would you address it: The lack of revenue. The continued increase of costs for all commodities continue to rise and the budget for our core necessities — employees, services and residents — is feeling the pinch. We need to find more and better ways to increase the tax base in order to meet those challenges head on and succeed without compromise

Identify and explain one principled stand you would be willing to take if elected, even if it might cost some popularity points with voters: Any business, even major box stores and restaurants, wanting to open a store in Palmer would have my backing and encouragement.

James “Jim” Wood

Seat sought: Palmer City Council

Are you an incumbent: Yes

Age: 59

Residency in Palmer: 10 years

Public Service: Three years on Palmer City Council, vice chair of Alaska Juvenile Justice Advisory Committee, chair of subcommittee on Rural Issues, Governor's Conference on Youth and Justice, member Northeast Anchorage Community Advisory Council, retired police captain, retired U.S. Army.

Family Information: Wife Mitsuko has been my spouse, mentor and best friend for 36 years.

Why are you running for city council at this time: To continue to represent the residents of Palmer in matters of city government.

What experiences do you have that demonstrate your ability to be an effective council member: I am a good listener, a good debater and I'm a reasoned, logical and methodical decision-maker. Decisions I have made on behalf of Palmer's residents have been the right decisions.

If elected, what would be your top priorities: The health, life safety and welfare of the residents of Palmer.

How would you address the growing traffic gridlock through downtown: The most practical, cost-effective, efficient and expeditious means would be to continue the Palmer-Wasilla and Glenn Highway upgrades. I support the engineering preference for two one-way couplets via the Palmer-Wasilla Highway/Evergreen Avenue inbound and Dogwood Avenue outbound, and upgrading the remaining Palmer-Wasilla Highway to a four-lane. I also favor a Bogard Road extension that connects with the Glenn Highway, a four-lane upgrade for the Glenn Highway south and a two-way connector from Hemmer Road down the existing section line along South Blunck Street to the Glenn Highway. Last week’s agreement between Palmer and the Alaska Railroad to exempt the railroad track crossings on Evergreen Street and Fireweed Avenue in the vicinity of the depot and to cover the tracks at those two crossings will enhance traffic flow and make those crossings a quicker and safer access to the city's core. As funding becomes available, paving the remaining gravel streets in the city core will help.

What is the most urgent issue facing the city today and how would you address it: I quickly learned upon election that every issue is urgent to someone whether it be repairing sidewalks for elders, placing speed bumps to slow speeders, providing more recreation for kids, putting more police on the street, buying a new fire truck or road grader or planning a new sewage treatment plant. The urgent issue list is long. The most urgent issue facing the city is where to get the money to resolve all the other urgent issues. The city relies on federal, state and Borough grants, and its property and sales taxes to pay for all the resources and services the city provides for its residents. I want to see us maintain and invigorate those sources of funding, yet also invigorate new commercial growth to fuel our local economy to support our expanding residential base. The way I can help is to sit on the city council and adopt local legislation that allows prosperity to flourish.

Identify and explain one principled stand you would be willing to take if elected, even if it might cost some popularity points with voters: Any principled stand I might take on any issue might cost me some popularity with some voters. But that hasn't stopped me from making tough decisions regardless of the popularity of my stand on an issue. I'm not running to be popular. I'm running to be effective.