By Ken Smith
Turnagain Times
The Anchorage Municipal Election is April 5 with local seats open on the Girdwood Board of Supervisors and six Assembly seats. There are also two school board seats open and 11 propositions are on the ballot, including Proposition 11 – a controversial advisory vote to mandate photo identification for the sale of alcohol by package liquor stores.
In Girdwood, Tommy O’Malley and Janice Crocker are running uncontested for two GBOS seats held by members John Gallup and Jake Thomson.
School Board seats C and D are open with three candidates vying for seat C and four candidates seeking seat D.
Assembly seats B (Downtown), C (Chugiak, Eagle River), E (West Anchorage), G (Midtown Anchorage), I (East Anchorage) and K (South Anchorage) are all being contested.
Assembly Seat K also represents Turnagain Arm communities and Girdwood. Incumbent Chris Birch and challenger Mike Kenny were asked by the Turnagain Times to provide a brief bio and address issues concerning the local area.
Incumbent Chris Birch
What I most like about Girdwood is your “can-do” attitude. Instead of waiting for someone else to solve your problems, Girdwood takes the initiative.
That’s how the resort started back in 1956. Girdwood had no economy so its 11 remaining families tossed in $250 each, formed the non-profit Alyeska Ski Club and purchased 160 acres of what is now the base of the resort.
In recent years, you’ve figured out how to improve your infrastructure, build a new town hall/library, construct the city’s best playground, plan your future growth, grow your fire department and maintain your streets. This is the type of attitude that’s made Alaska the Great Land.
It’s been my privilege to represent you on the Anchorage Assembly for the past six years and to advocate for your capital projects in Juneau, fight to keep property taxes under control, eliminate the IM program, protect your private property rights and make it easier for Girdwood residents to participate in Anchorage meetings and access city records. I was also pleased to uphold the vote of the people and keep John Gallup on your Board of Supervisors.
I look forward to voting “yes” on your badly needed K-8 school improvements and working with the legislature and Chugach Electric Association on a permanent fix for your power supply – essential to resort plans to replace Chair’s 4 and 6. What an improvement that will be!
For those who don’t know me, I was raised in mining camps around Alaska and went on to become an engineer. Today I work for NANA Development Corp. You can find a complete resume at www.chrisbirch.com.
My wife, Pam, and I are skiers and hit the slopes as much as possible.
Girdwood has made great progress on its vision to become a four-season resort while maintaining its small-town charm and atmosphere. That’s a vision I fully embrace, which is why I ask for your vote on April 5. Thank you.
Candidate Mike Kenny
I have lived along the Turnagain Arm for 40 years. I moved to Hope in 1970 and today still live on the Turnagain Arm behind Potter Marsh.
After moving from Hope in 1974, myself and my wife Val purchased land and began building our dream home – the way a lot of Alaskans do. We built the foundation and added on as we were able.
Ten years later, we were able to get a mortgage and finish the home. Our two children, Meme and Mickey, went through the Anchorage school system.
I have been active in the community council, serving as Chair of the Rabbit Creek Community Council for two years. I served on the boards of non-profits, including service on the Board of the Alaska Process Industry Career Consortium from 1999-2004 and on the Board of Junior Achievement from 2003-2007.
Throughout the years, I have worked as a surveyor which has taken me around the state. I spent time working in the Bering Sea Region and Norton Sound, Valdez, Prudhoe Bay and Amchitka.
In 1992, I was hired as a business agent for Teamsters Local 959. In addition to representing members as a business representative, I led the Fairbanks Joint Craft Council and the Alaska Petroleum Joint Crafts Council.
I was elected head of the Teamsters Local 959 in 2003 where I served for three years before retiring in 2007.
I have 35 years of experience in representing tax paying, home owning Alaskans face to face in the workplace.
I am exactly what “South Anchorage” needs – a long-time resident who knows the nuts-and-bolts of what has worked as well as a good understanding of the statewide issues that will affect local funding, projects and long term goals.
That’s what I will bring to the Assembly for Turnagain Arm, Girdwood, Hillside, and South Anchorage.
