Skagway City Hall on Election Day. Photo by Mike Swasey.
Skagway’s municipal elections this year feature competitive races for both Mayor and Assembly. The two candidates running for school board are running unopposed. On Tuesday KHNS’ Mike Swasey went down to city hall to cast a ballot and talk to voters.
There are two candidates for mayor this year in Skagway and three candidates running for two assembly seats. Municipal clerk Emily Deach says the town has 1,234 registered voters this year, and over the last two years, she’s seen voter turnout hover at around 40%.
She says she doesn’t expect final results on Tuesday night because absentee and early vote ballots won’t be counted until Thursday.
“I saw more people coming in to vote early in person in the two weeks before,” said Deach.
She also says she didn’t send out as many absentee ballots as in years past.
After I cast my vote in assembly chambers, with more election workers than voters present, I grabbed my “I Voted” sticker, a tiny candy bar, and I went outside to talk with some Skagwegians that had just voted.
Swasey – How was the voting process for you?
Voter 1 – It was wonderful. It’s very streamlined and socially distant and lovely.
Swasey – Aha, everybody’s masked up in there?
Voter 1 – Yes.
Swasey – Did you have a candidate today that you were excited about for assembly or Mayor?
Voter 1 – Yes.
Swasey – Do you want to share who you were excited about?
Voter 1 – No.
Swasey – Okay.
Voter 1 – (Looks at husband) Do you have anything to say?
Voter 2 – Easy decisions.
Voter 1 – Yeah, yeah. Easy decisions. Wonderful that we have people that care enough to continue to run.
Voter 3 – You’re not gonna put me on the news, are you?
Swasey – Not if you don’t want to be?
Voter 3 – No, it’s okay. What do you want to ask me?
Swasey – Well, just how did you find the voting process today?
Voter 3 – Oh, it was super easy. Super-duper easy. And I thought about pre-voting or voting ahead, but it was just so simple to come down here today.
Swasey – Did you have any candidates you were specifically excited about?
Voter 3 –Yes.
Swasey – Do you want to share who that candidate or those candidates were?
Voter 3 –I’ll just say I think it’s important to remember who took us through the pandemic and how we got to where we are right now. Was that okay?
Swasey – It’s great. Yeah, you can say anything you want.
Voter 3 – Anything?
Swasey – Yeah. Which is your favorite I-voted sticker?
Voter 3 – This one. The one with the Xtra-Tufs in the middle, these shoes, and these shoes. They can just all be Xtra-Tufs, but this one’s my favorite.
“I Voted” sticker, given out at Skagway City Hall on election day. Photo by Mike Swasey.
Swasey – Would you vote for Xtra-Tufs if they were running for office?
Voter 3 – Yes, I would. I did write them in for the school board. They have my best interest in mind.
Swasey – Dry feet.
Swasey – How did you find the voting process?
Voter 4 – Oh, fantastic. It was great. Easy. I brought my three-year-old in and couldn’t have been smoother.
Swasey – Who did you vote for sir?
(A child’s laughter)
Swasey – Okay, never mind.
Voter 4 – He votes for Kathy Carr (a municipal employee). That’s his write-in vote.
Swasey – How long have you been a voter in Skagway?
Voter 4 – Oh my gosh. I mean, as long as I’ve lived here year-round, 10 years.
Swasey – Have you ever tried mail-in voting?
Voter 4 – No, just because we live so close.
Swasey – It’s kind of fun coming down and participating.
Voter 4 – It is fun. It’s a beautiful city hall, it’s a nice place to visit, and yeah, it’s just too easy.
Voter 5 – I’m on municipal time.
Swasey – Perfect, you’ve got plenty of time then. How was the voting process? I’ll walk with you.
Voter 5 – It was great.
Swasey – How long have you been voting in Skagway?
Voter 5 – Oh, as long as I can remember, Swasey.
Swasey – Did you have any candidates you were really excited about?
Voter 5 – Yeah, I did.
Swasey – For which seat?
Voter 5 – For both seats, for school board, and for the mayoral-ship.
Swasey – What about assembly?
Voter 5 – That too… All three!
Swasey – Sweet! Okay, have fun back at work.
Voter 5 – Thanks, buddy.
