Candidate responses: Wasilla City Council

Norm Fuller

Age: 42

Seat sought: Wasilla City Council Seat E

Are you an incumbent: No

Residency in Wasilla: Wasilla resident since 1992.

Public Service: Wasilla City Council, Palin administration 1996-2000; Mat-Su Borough’s Local Emergency Planning Committee 2002-2004; American Red Cross Local Leadership Board; Boy Scouts of America; youth leadership for church.

Family Information: Married to Juanita for 20 years. We have three children, Elle, 17, Jenna, 14 and Alex, 12

Why are you running for city council at this time: Better, more involved leadership is needed to address the city’s increasingly complex land use issues. Protecting the property rights of our current neighborhood residents is paramount. Traffic issues have to be better addressed. I want to ensure smaller business owners, residents and future employers are all treated fairly.

What experiences do you have that demonstrate your ability to be an effective council member: See answers to above questions.

If elected, what would be your top priorities: As stated above. Land use, land use, land use.

What is your position on Wasilla Prop. 1 and why: I encourage all employees to seek the best deal out there. I think the residents of Wasilla want employees who are properly compensated and have an avenue to address grievances. In return, Wasilla’s residents ask for increased public safety and overall good customer service when dealing with a city entity. The Oct. 2 ballot proposition is a good way to answer this question.

What is the most urgent issue facing the city today and how would you address it: Again, Wasilla residents want protection of property rights. They want traffic intrusion and noise kept at a minimum. Development will continue to happen, but (it needs to happen) in an open and transparent process.

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 would like to see a more transparent property use permitting process. This can slow down or delay a project, but I feel residents want more input at an earlier date when changes occur that directly affect them.

Dianne Woodruff

Seat sought: Wasilla City Council Seat E

Are you an incumbent: No

Age: 45

Residence in Wasilla: Eight years in Wasilla, 16 in Alaska.

Public service: I helped lead an effort to have the developer of a large area in our city (Shadowood) change his plans to follow the city code. After that I was appointed to be the Wasilla representative on the Mat-Su Borough Planning Commission, where I have been serving for the last year and a half and am currently vice chair.

Family information: Divorced. Two ex-stepdaughters; the youngest graduated from Bartlett High this year and is currently at boot camp. Children living with me are two canine and one feline, named Chewy, Jody and Stir Fry, respectively.

Why are you running for city council at this time: Wasilla is my home and I want to help make it better. We need to plan together now to drive our rapid growth in a positive way instead of letting the change drive us. We need to promote responsible development that enhances the character of our community and provides good jobs while continuing to support and recognize the contributions of our existing businesses and residents. Our hard-earned tax dollars should be managed wisely so we can appropriately support our senior citizens and veterans, essential services like the library and police department, and maintain and upgrade our infrastructure.

What experiences do you have that demonstrate your ability to be an effective council member: As a certified public accountant I am a trained fiscal conservative. I have been the CFO over a budget that was roughly the size of our city budget and have had a good deal of experience in a supervisory capacity. As a MSB planning commissioner I have been on the front lines looking at our area’s growth and the challenges that brings us as we strive to cope with the changes and plan for our future. I have made quite a few contacts in that capacity that will allow me to help facilitate working cooperatively with other agencies and governmental departments to benefit our community.

If elected, what would be your top priorities: My first priority is to represent the members of our community as they strive to have their concerns addressed and their suggestions implemented. I’ve met a lot of smart people with great ideas while campaigning door-to-door and I’d like to help make our government more welcoming so more of them will come forth and share. As to specific items, I want to work on spending, library funding, see what can be done for our senior citizens and work on traffic safety, congestion and connectivity issues.

What is your position on Wasilla Prop. 1 and why: Some city employees want a union and some don’t. I support Wasilla Prop. 1 (not to be confused with MSB Prop. 1) because our employees should have the same right to decide if they want union representation as the rest of us. Their issue isn’t money, it’s about working conditions, being treated with dignity and respect on the job and a lack of consistency in their policies and procedures as administrations change.

What is the most urgent issue facing the city today and how would you address it: The lack of transparency and planning for the future are the biggest problems I see. We need to get the public involved early and often. Ordinary residents shouldn’t be the last to know what is happening in their neighborhoods and only brought in after the deal appears to have been done with a developer. On the larger issues, it would be good to have work sessions at which they are a part of the dialogue instead of just being allowed to speak at the “audience comments” time, as often happens when work sessions are arranged as special meetings. The administration needs to do a better job of keeping our city planner in the loop and the planning commission should have access to more and better information before being asked to make decisions. They certainly should be involved before any more threatening letters go out to property owners (like the one that went to the owners of the Windbreak) or negotiations are made to abandon or exchange rights-of-way without full discussion of connectivity issues in the area and any requirements by agencies like the Federal Highway Administration that requires repayment for improvements they funded that are not properly maintained and for which they have not agreed to accept an alternate access.

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’m going to do what I do on the planning commission by taking my responsibilities seriously and applying the code to everyone equally, even when I wish I could make an exception the law simply doesn’t allow me to make. I always encourage anyone who doesn’t like the rules the way they are to work with their representatives to change them through an open, public process.

Mark Ewing

Seat sought: Wasilla City Council Seat F

Are you an incumbent: Yes, current sitting member 2004-2007 Seat F

Age: 52

Residency in Wasilla: 37 years as a Wasilla resident

Public service: Elected Wasilla City Council Seat F 2004-2007, current representative for Wasilla on the Mat-Su Borough Local Emergency Planning Committee. On the Community Awareness Committee I developed a coloring contest we used to gain access into the elementary schools, allowing the Red Cross to present emergency preparedness education to the children. Elected as the first “Leader of the Coalition of Student Leaders” representing all 34,000 students of the University of Alaska statewide; UAA Chancellors Tuition Task Force, appointed as one of two students where he worked with staff and administration to set the university tuition rates for the following 10 years. Past commander of AMVETs Squad 11 (where I) coordinated the sending of 400 boxes to the Alaskan troops in Iraq for Christmas 2006. I spent five years as a Wasilla Little League coach, sponsor and umpire and an currently a three-year trustee for the Elks Lodge in the Valley.

Family information: Married to Leone Harris-Ewing; sons Jeremy and Cameron Ewing, Charlie and Michael Harris; daughter-in-law Megan Harris; grandson Charlie Harris IV.

Why are you running for city council at this time: Three years ago I would have answered because I was requested to do so at my 30-year class reunion by fellow graduates of the Wasilla High Senior Class of 1973, who were troubled with some of the changes that were being implemented in the city. The same is true today; however, it’s not the senior class of 1973 asking me to represent them but people throughout the community who have witnessed first-hand my passion for making Wasilla a better place to live and enforcing fiscal accountability by the administration with regards to its expenditures of taxpayers’ dollars.

What experiences do you have that demonstrate your ability to be an effective council member: Three years ago this would have been a difficult question, as my involvement was then limited to the University of Alaska as an appointee to the Chancellor’s Tuition Task Force setting tuition increases based on a $900 million budget and also serving as the Speaker of The Coalition of Student Leaders representing the 34,000 students of the university system. Now, after three years as a seated member of the council, I can reflect on that experience as a valuable learning process on all the issues facing the city. The last three years I have worked to create a transparent environment much like Gov. Palin is doing throughout the state by informing the public of issues coming before the council that could have an impact on the residents, thus getting them involved with their attendance and public input. Before I was elected I sat in on council meetings that had two members of the public in attendance and the meetings lasted 45 minutes with what appeared to be a continual rubber-stamping of administration’s funding requests. I am happy to report that these things have changed, but from the comments made at the Wasilla Chamber of Commerce candidate forum it appears there are some candidates who view debating as arguing and unnecessary and view the public process as too time consuming, therefore making the meetings last entirely too long. If candidates are not willing to sit and listen to debate and public comment, perhaps they should look at some other public service that would better accommodate their time (availability). Well, that was the way it was before I was elected. I refer to that as the “Kumbaya” period when meetings lasted 45 minutes with no discussion and everybody went home with a $75 check. I was amazed that Robert's Rules of Order was not being properly used or understood until after I made the council aware that I was going to enforce it. I have made government open by contacting people who would be impacted by the proposed agenda issues that may affect them and encouraged them to get involved with our government by using their rights to comment publicly.

If elected, what would be your top priorities: Rigorously promote and assist in the development of a real comprehensive city economic plan to promote business and create jobs. This includes a strategic plan for the next 25 years to assure controlled growth and not pre-urban sprawl. Wasilla has a unique situation and we need to focus on our quality of life and provide a frame work for private partnership to be joined with public ideas and actively pursue that. If we create an infrastructure centered on renewable resources such as tourism, light industry and technology, we can then focus our planning to invite new economic opportunity allowing us to foster growth and prosperity. This city was founded on the entrepreneurs who had a vision. It’s important that we foster their ideas and allow them to flourish. The benefits from all this are not just a healthy business environment, but a tax base that will continue to grow and benefit the city. It’s important that we dedicate our efforts to include businesses that will not just meet entry level, but professional level employment. Again, it’s a partnership between the city, small business and the large businesses that will create a friendly environment that attracts more development.

What is your position on Wasilla Prop. 1 and why: Vote “yes” on Prop. 1. It’s good for the city, It allows the employees an opportunity that is granted to us by our Constitution — the right to choose. This was taken away many years ago when Wasilla had just three employees. The current system is not working. City employees are asking for a set of standards and conditions that will be consistent regardless of who is voted in or appointed to oversee them. This petition was signed by the city and the box was checked by administration that there would not be any fiscal impact on the city. This is not about increases in pay but about fair treatment to employees.

What is the most urgent issue facing the city today and how would you address it: The Wasilla Sports Complex. I hate to beat an old drum, but as I said three years ago we have a great investment on a piece of property that we have not yet paid for. The numbers that you have seen in the newspaper only reflect the possible current cost of the land, not the ground rental, the attorney fees, the master appraiser fees, and when the residents of Wasilla see the final tally and cost they need to prepare for some major sticker shock. Remember, we just sold off 40 acres, or 20 percent, of the city’s raw land for $306,000 to the Alaska Live Steamers at Borough appraised value. Three council members voted against the sale, but the mayor chose to break the tie allowing the purchase to take place without a market appraisal or even, at the very least, a broker’s opinion of value.

Identify and explain one principled stand you would be willing to take if elected, even if it might cost some popularity points with voters: In the past few years the city has funded traffic lights over a state highway at the cost to taxpayers of $150,000 after the corporation had already agreed to fund the project due to the impact it created on the intersection. This specific corporation had a gross profit of $18 billion that year. I voted against it and am adamantly opposed to using city funds for corporate welfare. With that being said, our Wasilla Senior Center that serves hot lunches to many of those who would go without has seen a heavy increase in utility costs this year. Yet the administration complains when the council would like to step up to the plate and help keep the Senior Center kitchen open. They were unable to pay their utility bills last month and saw a 45 percent increase in utilities just this year. If we can’t take care of our seniors and our children then what kind of quality of life do we really have? That o$150,000 the city gave away could have helped offset the increased cost at the Senior Center for years — not to mention we have done nothing to help the small business community, yet we bend over backwards to accommodate the box stores that will eventually hurt the very people who have built this town.

Dr. Kristofer D. Larson

Seat sought: Wasilla City Council Seat F

Are you an incumbent: No

Age: 29

Residence in Wasilla: Wasilla for 12 years.

Public service: Many hours as volunteer team doctor for Valley athletics (football, basketball and soccer; multiple state and regional tournaments and races for multiple sports); past president and treasurer for college chapter of the Student American Chiropractic Association; lobbied the U.S. Congress for improved health care and patient rights for four of the last five years; involved with Rotary International; served as Cub master for the Boy Scouts of America; currently a volunteer Sunday school teacher for my church; and extensive high school and undergraduate public service and political involvement.

Family information: Married to Alisa Larson, no kids yet.

Why are you running for city council at this time: I am an honest and hard-working member of the community that understands the needs of businesses as well as individuals and families. I believe I possess the vision that will help shape the future of Wasilla and make it a great and prosperous place to live for this and future generations.

What experiences do you have that demonstrate your ability to be an effective council member: I have dedicated my life to helping people in my community through my personal, spiritual and professional life as a doctor. In my professional and volunteer efforts my decisions and actions affect many lives in a very personal way. I will take the same skills, level of commitment and respect for personal dignity with me to the council. I will always remember that my decisions and actions can effect the lives of others living in and around Wasilla.

If elected, what would be your top priorities: Maintain the financial security of the city. Develop better communication between the council, city administration, and the residents and businesses in Wasilla. I will find ways to make council functions more open and accessible to the residents of Wasilla. I will find ways to help the city become prepared to accept the opportunities for industry development that will bring well paying jobs to Wasilla.

What is your position on Wasilla Prop. 1 and why: Prop. 1 is a voter issue not a council issue; however, if elected I will respect the decision of the voters. I am not a proponent or detractor of Prop. 1. Like most voters that I have talked with, I would like a clear description of how this proposition will affect the city and its residents. I believe this is a polarizing issue and I am in favor of getting the best value for the city residents. I will work with the community and city employees to ensure fair and equitable employment and wage structure.

What is the most urgent issue facing the city today and how would you address it: Infrastructure to support growth as Wasilla transitions to be the hub of Valley activity. The focus of Wasilla's future is being derailed by political divisiveness that is not the core function of city government. Current council members are making promises for political gain that are eroding the city's fund balance when there are shortages in other areas and unfunded liabilities. Loose spending habits can ruin individuals, families and governments. We all know that difficult financial commitments can arise with little warning, but being prepared for the unexpected can save us all from ruin. The city's reserves must be protected and should be replenished quickly if they must be used. I will always remember that it is the taxpayer's hard-earned money, not just “city money” that we are working with here. I am not in favor of increasing taxes for operating budgets. I am in favor of temporary tax increases for capital improvement projects that are approved by the voters (e.g. the Sports Complex, etc.). I would hope that the city will never agree to instituting a city property tax.

Identify and explain one principled stand you would be willing to take if elected, even if it might cost some popularity points with voters: The government should live within its means. I am willing to say "no" to increased spending on noncritical issues that have the potential to put the city into financial hardship or decrease our reserves regardless of how popular the measure may be. I won't indulge the desires of residents today if it is likely to put our tomorrow at risk.