MAY 3RD 2022 ELECTION: MEET THE CANDIDATES

ELECTION DAY IS TUESDAY MAY 3RD

Polls Open: 8:00am to 7:00pm

There is one Proposition on the Ballot. 

City Council Candidates

Alan Sorum

Please describe your relevant experience: Alan Sorum and his wife Ruth Knight have been residents of Valdez for 22 years. Alan worked as the Valdez Harbormaster and Port Director, served on the Valdez Port Commission, held positions on the City Council and School Board, and is currently on the Valdez Fisheries Development Association Board. He has also volunteered as a Scout Master and a Coast Guard Auxiliarist.

What are the main challenges for the City of Valdez | Valdez City Schools in the next five years? As a Council | Board Member, how do you plan to address these challenges?
The greatest challenge for the community is ensuring it remains a place where people can afford to live and raise their families. A number of issues fall into this problem and the City Council needs to continue working on making improvements that support this need:
 Valdez lacks adequate availability of housing. Efforts need to be made to increase the housing inventory within the City.
 There is a lack of childcare in the community that impacts the ability of people to work and live in Valdez.
 Staff of the City of Valdez, Valdez City School and Valdez Providence Medical Center need to be recognized and supported for the work they do to support the community.
 The City Council needs to back economic development efforts, supporting industries like commercial fishing and mariculture which are a good fit for the community.

David Tousignant

Please describe your relevant experience: Most of you know by now I’ve decided to run for city council. Some of you have asked why. It’s because I feel it’s time to step up and try to make a difference. I’ve been a resident of Valdez for the last 47 years. I went to Valdez High School for two years while my dad started to work on the pipeline. After that, I started working across the bay in the construction industry. During the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill, I decided to start my own charter company Northern Magic Charters.

What are the main challenges for the City of Valdez | Valdez City Schools in the next five years? As a Council | Board Member, how do you plan to address these challenges?
In the last two years with inflation and higher taxes, it’s been a real struggle. I can see both of these as being major issues for our community in the future. One thing that I can say was that my parents taught me a few things in life: good moral values, and civic duty. If you don’t like something, don’t complain about it. Get off your butt and do something about it. I’m running for City Council because after enduring the frustration and hearing the same thing from so many of you, I believe that we all having something we can offer to the community. This is where I feel in my heat that it’s time to step up to the plate to see if I can help make a difference in this community. If you choose to elect me to represent you, I’ll do everything in my power to make this community a better place to live. Thank you for your trust.

Christopher Knowles

Please describe your relevant experience: I went to my resume to answer this question, to pull Items from a list and make them sound more relevant to a Councilman’s work. I found: a HS Graduate from Eielson, United States Marine, UAF student, Years of Commercial Fishing, Charter Boat Operator, Pipeline Worker, IT Tech. All of these would allow me to bring something to the table for the people I would represent. But the thing not listed on that piece of paper is the 22 years of living in Valdez, embracing the community, while raising 5 children as a single parent. This has most shaped me for this run.

What are the main challenges for the City of Valdez | Valdez City Schools in the next five years? As a Council | Board Member, how do you plan to address these challenges?
1) Valdez is a vibrant economy with a lack of affordable housing. Too many people are living in substandard conditions and struggling. Affordable housing is the key to stabilizing people’s lives and retaining quality workers. The City of Valdez is one of the largest landowners in town. We need to get more of that land into private citizen hands and streamline the processes for them to develop this land. I will purpose a land auction. This will also reduce the burden of current property owners.
2) The City’s recent increase of property values has kept check with inflation though its need for the increased revenue has not. I Believe the City needs to make a budget FIRST determined by it needs for the year, including contingencies. Then stick to that budget. When tax time comes, tax the current mill rate. The current over-the-needed mill rate will give us a surplus.
Take that surplus and inflation proof our savings. Take the remainder and then divide it by two. One half back to the tax payers who paid it. And one half back to the people living in Valdez. If you are tax payer living in Valdez you get double.. If you are a cooperation from NY manipulating the Valdez housing market you get……

Dennis Fleming

Please describe your relevant experience: I have been a council member for 8 years. Born in Valdez, has made Valdez my home for the last 52 years.

What are the main challenges for the City of Valdez | Valdez City Schools in the next five years? As a Council | Board Member, how do you plan to address these challenges?
For the city of Valdez some of major challenges are:
Housing in the Valdez area, at all levels that will allow a steady growth in Valdez.
Working with the city’s Planning department to streamline the permitting process, to be understandable and quick that gives both citizens the information they need to move forward in the city process. With the city comprehensive plan done, it will now be up to the city to figure out how to move forward. There have been may people waiting too long to move to the next phase in the comprehensive plan. This is where the city council needs to work with the city administration and help speed this process up, so all parties get what they need to move their projects along in a timely and cost-effective way.
The city of Valdez needs to maintain the buildings and systems that support the citizens of Valdez. This will include a big sewer system repair and continue to maintain city programs that support Valdez citizens, in a cost effective

Valdez City School Board Candidates

There are two vacancies (three year term) available on the Valdez City School Board.
Candidates listed in no particular order. 

Lindsay Hasse

Please describe your relevant experience: I served for 3 years on the board for the Valdez Cooperative Preschool. I also help my spouse run 2 restaurants in town. I believe this gives me a unique perspective and has prepared me for a role on the school board.

What are the main challenges for the City of Valdez | Valdez City Schools in the next five years? As a Council | Board Member, how do you plan to address these challenges?
I’d say some of our biggest challenges would include moving past living around covid and beginning to live with it, improved communications and involvement between board and the community/parents, and most importantly we need to try to ensure lower turn over rates and adequate substitute staffing and training for staffing.
I hope to bring ideas, suggestions, and support for each of these issues.

Christopher Wiles

Please describe your relevant experience: I have spent time on Church boards throughout my life. This will be my first official position on a school board.

What are the main challenges for the City of Valdez | Valdez City Schools in the next five years? As a Council | Board Member, how do you plan to address these challenges?
I feel that getting unification on the board and bringing the people of Valdez together with the board will be the biggest challenge. There has been a disconnect for years and I will do my best to bridge a gap. Given the light of certain subject matter, of course, keeping the town informed and encouraged to attend monthly meeting whether it be in person or through streaming.
I also see a big challenge in our curriculum. Testing and attendance, given the light of the Covid years, has been a struggle. I’d like to see an improvement in those areas and will make it my goal to address those issues.

Scott McCumby

Please describe your relevant experience: I’m married with three children in the local public schools and have worked in law enforcement for over 20 years. I’ve served as an Area Road Service Commissioner in Fairbanks where I was responsible for budgeting, planning and organizing road maintenance for my service area. I’ve served as a Parks and Recreation Commissioner in Valdez and most recently, I was appointed to the board of directors for AVV. I am also a small business owner responsible for managing my company’s finances.

What are the main challenges for the City of Valdez | Valdez City Schools in the next five years? As a Council | Board Member, how do you plan to address these challenges?
In the next five years, budgeting, rapid inflation, recruitment and retention of qualified teachers and staff, as well as student absenteeism, will be challenges for the district. Although the amount of state funding we receive is out of my control, as a board member I would be involved in how our district allocated funding. I would like to see an emphasis on keeping and attracting qualified teachers and staff. Without fair and competitive working wages and benefits, our district will continue to see staff depart and we will fail to attract qualified candidates over other districts that offer more competitive salaries and benefits. Student absenteeism began to rise during the onset of COVID and has continued despite mitigations and lower case counts. This district-wide issue inhibits academic progress and burdens the educational staff in our district. Implementing early warning systems to identify and intervene at-risk students will provide a pathway to academic success.

Tom Gallatin

Please describe your relevant experience: Besides being elected water fountain monitor, and hall pass boss in 2nd grade. Like most of the other candidates and elected board members, I have no formal prior elected experience. What I do have is 16 years of my children going through the Valdez city school system and seeing the same issues that have not been fixed. It’s time for wide spread change this year and for the next few years.

What are the main challenges for the City of Valdez | Valdez City Schools in the next five years? As a Council | Board Member, how do you plan to address these challenges?
1. Transparency , on the things that are not confidential. No beating around the bush. Tell it like it is. The community needs answers as to what is going on in the school district. Valdez being Valdez and the rumors that get started could have huge long lasting impacts on someone’s livelihood and their ability to find employment.. 2. Being fiscally responsible. Why is the spending all this money that it doesn’t need to every other year it seems like to hire a new superintendent. Spend money where it needs to be spent, education. Not necessarily traditional/book education, but educating the students on tobacco, drugs , alcohol, sex and the most widely spread one. VAPING. Kids as well as the parents need this education and also need to be held accountable for their actions. Bullying, kids from HHES, GMS as well as VHS are being subjected to this bullying on a daily basis. Once again both kids and parents need to be held accountable for these problems. Revisit a 4 day school week.

Michelle Baker

Please describe your relevant experience: I began my adventure in the Education realm in 1998. I have my Teaching Certification in Texas, Pre-K – 8th Grade. In the course of the years, I have also worked with special needs children within the Foster Care system, working with them on social/emotional and developing a curriculum for private use. I was also a foster parent, myself. I have taught both in Public and Private schools. I was also the Director for Stepping Stones during the transition from private ownership to Non-Profit.

What are the main challenges for the City of Valdez | Valdez City Schools in the next five years? As a Council | Board Member, how do you plan to address these challenges?

I believe that communication and trust has become broken between our community, our schools, and our School Board. It is my goal to start building back that bridge. My goal is to increase accountability whether the Board is in the right or the wrong. Increase Transparency by updating the School Board Policy that was last updated in 2015. Additionally, state the Board’s goals/objectives on the website. We can post our School Report Card that comes out annually. Certain Financials can be posted online, where a citizen does not have to “dig” through the information at the District Office. Timely and Current minutes can be posted, as well as include recordings, as the City Council does. More importantly, Public input needs to be conducted prior to Executive Sessions, as the input should be considered in the session. There are several programs that I also have in mind that I would like to explore with the board. My goal is to improve our District in all areas.

Joe Prax

Please describe your relevant experience: Valdez has been home for my wife Laurie and I for 29 years. We have three children and the youngest is a Freshman in Valdez High School. I have served three terms on the school board and previously had served six years on the city council. The schools are lucky to have the high level of local support and I understand both the city and the school budget process. I was board president for seven years. My business employs students and I have helped with many youth activities.

What are the main challenges for the City of Valdez | Valdez City Schools in the next five years? As a Council | Board Member, how do you plan to address these challenges?
Providing an education that equips students for success is the biggest challenge. Students have to attain life skills, be ready to enter trades or higher education and most importantly learn how to communicate and process information to be life long learners. This requires a continual process of honest assessment, celebrating successes and improving where needed. Superior staffing is essential to accomplishing this. Developing, recruiting and retention at all levels will be a continual challenge. The board needs to ensure a student centered focus and provide the most opportunities for all.

A specific project is the city is considering the future of the high school. We need to have a building to complement education in Valdez for the future.

Valdez Schools has the students, staff, administrators, resources and size to be the premier district in Alaska. I would like to return to the board to continue that journey. If you have more questions please call 831-0058. Thank you.

ABSENTEE BALLOTS

There are four ways to cast an absentee ballot for the May 2022 Election.