Preliminary results from Lynn Canal’s Oct. 1 general elections left Haines and Skagway residents wondering who will serve on the assemblies. KHNS reporter Melinda Munson has the breakdown of the latest election.

 

For Skagway voter Molly McCluskey, casting a ballot in Southeast Alaska was a unique experience. 

“I typically vote in Washington, D.C., where voters are pretty disenfranchised,” she said. “And it’s nice to be able to come vote specifically for people that I know around town, that I know are working hard to make this community better. That I just ran into at the coffee shop or on the way over here. It really has a pretty profound impact.”

Haines and Skagway held local elections on Tuesday. Both assembly races are too close to call before results are certified. Haines has 41 absentee, early and questioned ballots still to be counted. Skagway has 40.

For Haines Borough Assembly, Cheryl Stickler is in first place with 645 votes followed by Mark H. Smith with 568. Richard Clement has 564 votes and Debra Schnabel has 542. There are three open seats.

Jerry L. Lapp and Eben Sargent take the two Haines Planning Commission spots.

Kari Johnson, Brian Clay and Michael Wald claim the three Haines School Board positions.

Initiative One, which increases the property tax exemption from $150,000 to $300,000 passed 639 to 432.

For Skagway Borough Assembly, Deb Potter has 237 votes with Jonathan Hillis in second with 187. Jay Burnham placed third with just five less votes than Hillis. There are two seats available.

Cory Thole and Chad MacPerson will fill the uncontested Skagway School Board seats.

Proposition One, which allows Dahl Memorial Clinic to transition to non-profit status passed 295 to 43.

Skagway election worker Janilyn Heger is serving in her first year. This is her second election. As a volunteer, she might count votes, check IDs or direct residents to the sticker and refreshment tables.

“We live in a place where it’s kind of hard to participate on a grand scale,” she said. But at whatever level I’m able to participate, it’s important to me. So I’ll be here as long as they’ll let me.” 

The Haines Election Canvass is Oct. 8th at 6:30 p.m. during the regular assembly meeting. The Skagway Canvass Board will meet at 4 p.m. on Oct. 3 in Assembly Chambers. Until the elections are certified, the Haines and Skagway vote counts are preliminary.

Mark Larsen contributed to reporting for this story.