Jerry Lapp. (Photo by Jillian Rogers)

The Haines Borough assembly appointed Jerry Lapp to serve as an interim assembly member at a meeting Tuesday. He will fill the vacancy left by former assembly member Sean Maidy, who resigned in December.

Jerry Lapp moved to Haines with his wife about 42 years ago to run the 33 Mile Roadhouse. They managed it for over 30 years.

This isn’t his first time getting involved with local government. He was elected as mayor of Haines in 1996 and served for six years. He also served on the borough assembly for thirteen years. He says he put his name in for an appointment because he wants to see Haines progress. 

“I would like to be on the assembly again to see that our community moves forward so that we don’t become stagnant. We need to embrace opportunities that this community has.”

He said there is opportunity in natural resource extraction and shipping.

“We have a dock here that we could be shipping things across there. I don’t think we’ve reached out to our potential. Another thing, we’ve got natural resources. If you utilize your natural resources in a responsible way you bring money into community, you bring jobs.”

Lapp was one of three candidates interviewed for the open seat on the assembly. Haines residents Jojo Goerner and Burl Sheldon submitted letters of interest and were considered for the position as well. 

Goerner is a four year resident of Haines in her thirties. She said she was running because she felt younger, newer members of the community are not well-represented on the assembly. 

“I’ve heard from a lot of my friends who are busy building their businesses, raising families that they just simply don’t have time to be as involved in the government, but they do want their voice heard,” Goerner said.

Goerner said her sociability would serve her well if she were appointed. She pointed to her work in the performing arts, education and various community organizations as assets.

Sheldon applied because he wants to see the community succeed and feels he is skilled at working towards a vision. He said his experience developing Haines Friends of Recycling and his work as finance director for Tenakee Springs demonstrate that. 

“I’m really a centrist,” Sheldon said. “I’m a person who wants to get the best ideas on the floor wherever they come from.”

Lapp was appointed in a 3 to 2 vote with assembly members Stephanie Scott and Zephyr Sincerny opposed.  Lapp was sworn in after the vote. 

There was some confusion about the number of votes necessary to confirm an appointment. While most assembly decisions require at least 4 votes to pass, there is an exception for filling a vacancy on the assembly.

After the meeting Lapp said he felt fortunate to be appointed. 

“It could’ve gone either way. We had very good folks put in their names for this seat, and I just feel fortunate that I got it,” Lapp said.

Lapp will serve on the assembly until the next municipal election, but he said he will probably run for a seat when his interim appointment ends. There will be four open seats on the assembly during the next municipal election in October.