Whittier city council candidates vie for seats in October 6 election

By Shannon Tolman
Special to the Turnagain Times

Tuesday, Oct. 6, Whittier voters will go to the polls to choose their newest City Council members. In a town of 170 registered voters and a 71 percent turnout average, we can expect winners to be decided with about 60 votes. Every vote counts in our little town, clearly.

In seat (A) there are three contenders. The incumbent Peter Denmark and the candidates Shawni Phillips and Casey Jackson.

Peter Denmark has completed two terms and has been championing a campaign to adopt written policy and procedure for all the various City Departments. Councilor Denmark also owns Alaska Sea Kayakers and sits on the advisory board Ports and Harbor Commission.

Long time resident Shawni Phillips is a mother of four boys, she runs Custom Marine Services and began a community organization called We Care, which provides services to our neighbors in need.

Sixth year resident Katherine Jackson is a mother of two, grandmother of five, is President of the Board of Directors for the Begich Towers Home Owners Association, coordinator of City of Whittier Volunteer EMS and a retired broadcasting vocational instructor.

Seat (D) also has three hopefuls. The incumbent Jerry Vandergriff and the candidates Ben Cottle and Larry Bussman.

Councilor Vandergriff has completed a single appointed year and then an elected three year term. He has been scuba diving from Whittier since 1992 and a resident since 2000. He is a former business owner and was instrumental in the formation of the Smitty's Cove Marine Park

Life long Alaskan and third year Whittier resident Ben Cottle is a former Community Health Aide and emergency medical technician who enjoys recreational mining and perusing an activist agenda of local issues.

Larry Bussman a veteran of our armed forces likes to hunt and fish. He has enjoyed Whittier for 16 years and made Whittier is permanent home since 2004. He runs the Harbor Store in the summer and our Liquor store in the winter time.

I sure encourage everyone to seek all these candidates out and get there opinion on issues that are most important to you. These are the people who will bridge us to another era, Hopefully one that well take care of the residents of Whittier. Hopefully a change that supports healthy growth and development. Certainly a place were jobs are finally attainable by local residents. Working and living here in Whittier, part of a community. Make sure these people will make the difference that will allow Whittier to grow to the gem we know it is.

Shannon Tolman is a member of the Whittier City Council.