Photo Courtesy of Caitie Kirby.

Caitie Kirby is originally from Idaho. She came to Haines for a visit in May of 2016, and by July she had sold all her things and moved here full time. 

“It just kind of sucked me in,” Kirby said. “I’ve worked a couple places in town. I’ve been working at Mountain Market for the past year and a half, two years. On the side I have some art projects. I’ve got a dog. Started gardening this year—bumper year for kale.”

Kirby is in her early 30’s. She said she decided to run for assembly because the local government needs more input from her generation. 

“I think we’ve got some good ideas. We’ve put down roots here. We’re starting businesses. Some people are starting families,” Kirby says. “I do hope that having a younger person run for assembly will motivate or empower others to do so in the future. I think it’s a good thing.”

As someone who is newer to the community, Kirby says she would bring a fresh perspective to the assembly. She says she doesn’t have strong opinions about local issues and knows how to keep a level head. 

“I think I would be able to gather information and make objective decisions based on facts instead of particular ties to anything. If the past few months are any evidence, we need to find new ways to secure food, energy and employment on short notice and I think I would be able to achieve that.”

Kirby says that communication between assembly members and between the borough and the public could improve. She says relying on Facebook for all information about local issues is not great, even if it is a good tool to reach a lot of people. 

There isn’t one local issue that is a priority for Kirby, but she says that the pandemic has shown a need to be prepared for emergencies. 

“Making sure we’re able to plan for our futures in the event of another emergency like this is super important, and taking care of folks during the current emergency is also very important.”

Kirby is one of six candidates running in the election for the four open seats on the Haines Borough Assembly. She will face Helen Alten, Brenda Josephson, Carol Tuynman, Jerry Lapp, and Cheryl Stickler in the election this October. You can learn more about the other candidates here.