District 1 incumbent Mary Becker said the Juneau Assembly has no control of the road out of Juneau \u201cbecause it is in the hands of the governor.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe might have opinions, we might even go so far as to tell him our opinions, but we have no decision-making rights,\u201d she said Tuesday night during the Juneau Votes Municipal Candidates Debate, an event organized in collaboration with the Empire and KTOO. Her response was in reply to a question about what issues local government has no business in.<\/p>\n
Becker got the opportunity later on in the forum to express her opinion on the road. When asked, \u201cDo you support the Juneau Access road?\u201d she said yes.<\/p>\n
Other road supporters include unopposed District 2 candidate Beth Weldon and areawide candidate Norton Gregory. Gregory, who\u2019s running against incumbent Kate Troll, said the road could be a revenue generator for the city. \u201cWhen you compare a community that has a road to a community that does not have a road, you\u2019ll see a very big difference,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Both of Becker\u2019s opponents, Arnold Liebelt and William Quayle Jr., do not support the road; the same goes for Troll.<\/p>\n
Senior issues<\/strong><\/p>\n One issue that came up again and again during the hour-long formal debate and the half-hour audience Q&A session was the senior sales tax exemption.<\/p>\n A year ago, the city Assembly voted 7 to 2 in favor of limiting the tax exemption to essential purchases, like food, heating fuel, electricity and other utilities. Seniors making less than two and a half times the federal poverty level are also eligible for an annual rebate. The city predicted the change would net approximately $1 million per year in increased tax revenue.<\/p>\n [City restricts senior tax exemptions<\/a>]<\/p>\n When KTOO reporter Lakeidra Chavis \u2014 a forum moderator with Empire reporter Sam DeGrave \u2014 asked candidates how they would address the concerns of Juneau\u2019s growing senior population, Quayle immediately said, \u201cReinstate the exemption for sales tax.\u201d<\/p>\n Weldon echoed Quayle\u2019s sentiments. \u201cI agree it needs to be looked at again. Unfortunately, right now I don\u2019t think there\u2019s votes on the Assembly to do so.\u201d<\/p>\n On a different question related to the limited senior sales tax exemption, Norton said he would work to reverse the limitation.<\/p>\n \u201cI strongly opposed the decision to eliminate the senior sales tax exemption. I\u2019ve been meeting with a lot of seniors during my campaign and what I\u2019m hearing is that we could possibly be facing a bigger hit. A lot of seniors have turned to Amazon for things that they used to be able to purchase locally; now they\u2019re buying them on Amazon where it\u2019s tax exempt and it gets delivered right to their door,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n His opponent for the areawide seat, incumbent Troll stood by her original vote last year to limit the tax exemption. \u201cTen years from now when this senior sales tax exemption is still around and we have a sustainable budget before the city council, it\u2019ll be due to seven Assembly members who had the wherewithal of making these changes and making the tough decisions,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n District 1 incumbent Becker said she was totally opposed to the Assembly\u2019s decision last year. \u201cI\u2019m the only one left on the Assembly who\u2019s still absolutely against getting rid of the senior sales tax exemptions,\u201d she said. Becker also said tax exempt essential purchases should include toilet paper, paper towels and laundry detergent.<\/p>\n When asked what else the city could cut to make up the $1 million in increased revenue, Becker replied, \u201cI would propose the city put a deficit of whatever it is into the budget like they do for everything else we do. I don\u2019t like the fact that seniors are treated as a special class of people who you can take things away from.\u201d<\/p>\n Liebelt, one of Becker\u2019s opponents, said he supports the limited tax exemption.<\/p>\n \u201cThis was a modest change. It changed it from a privileged program to a needs-based. Now that\u2019s what it really should be \u2014 needs-based,\u201d he said. \u201cThis will help our community by a million dollars and it will secure our financial future, in the end benefitting seniors.\u201d<\/p>\n Liebelt had earlier in the forum said senior housing was an important issue, as did Troll, Weldon and Gregory.<\/p>\n Gregory serves on the Juneau Senior Assisted Living Task Force, the group responsible for building an assisted living home in Vintage Park near Safeway. He said he wants to make sure \u201cJuneau is a senior citizen friendly community.\u201d<\/p>\n Weldon said she wants to look at ways to train people in vocational programs, possibly starting in high school, to address the shortage of workers for assisted living. Liebelt said Juneau should \u201cuse the senior economy to help grow the working class to provide services for our aging population.\u201d Quayle wants to make it easier for seniors to start their own business, and Troll said the city should make sure to keep senior property tax exemption in place.<\/p>\n Cultural diversity<\/strong><\/p>\n Another topic that came up more than once was diversity. Candidates were asked how each would ensure Juneau\u2019s diverse communities are represented in Assembly actions.<\/p>\n Noting that she\u2019s met with the Filipino Community and Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska, Weldon said reaching out was key to finding out concerns.<\/p>\n Gregory, who if elected would be the only Alaska Native Assembly member, said, \u201cIt is important that we have diversity on our Assembly and we make sure that there are people on there that our voters can relate to.\u201d<\/p>\n Troll said she often asks herself during Assembly meetings, \u201cHow does this affect the Filipino community? How does it affect those in the Native community? That\u2019s part of who I am naturally.\u201d<\/p>\n District 1 candidate Liebelt said the Assembly is already doing a great job at factoring in the needs of Juneau\u2019s different communities. Opponents Quayle and Becker both mentioned participation in ethnic events.<\/p>\n \u201cOne of things that I do and that I enjoy doing is I go to the Filipino dinners and also the Tlingit Celebration. I think if we are out in the public as an Assembly person, it\u2019s just naturally a way that anybody can come and talk to us,\u201d Becker said.<\/p>\n During audience Q&A, a member of the Filipino Community Board of Directors Edric Carillo asked the candidates how they would promote cultural diversity besides just attending cultural events.<\/p>\n Weldon brought up the idea of having Assembly liaisons to different cultural groups, which Troll said could work. Becker replied, \u201cI would not want to have a liaison assigned to a particular culture unless they asked for it. I don\u2019t think we should push ourselves into any of the communities.\u201d<\/p>\n Gregory said Juneau should throw a party to celebrate and embrace Juneau\u2019s cultures. While Liebelt said he liked Gregory\u2019s idea, he said he wasn\u2019t sure the city had a role in promoting cultural diversity. \u201cI would look to ethnic groups to be promoting that diversity and celebrating that publicly amongst themselves where the city can come in and help promote it,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n The candidates had different ideas for budget cuts, raising revenue and diversifying the economy.<\/p>\n Both Becker and Gregory talked about cutting the flower program under the Parks & Recreation department. Gregory said having a plentiful supply of housing will bring diversification. Liebelt said he wants to see more focus on independent tourism. Quayle brought up selling water to Southern California and getting cruise ships to come to Juneau in the winter to utilize the ski area. Troll and Weldon both mentioned bringing fisheries research jobs to Juneau and making Juneau an arts and cultural hub.<\/p>\n Absentee voting for the Oct. 4 municipal election is currently open. Registered voters can cast absentee in-person ballots now through Oct. 3 at City Hall or at the Mendenhall Mall Annex.<\/p>\n —<\/p>\n Lightning Round<\/strong><\/p>\n During Tuesday\u2019s Juneau Assembly candidate forum, moderators asked the candidates a series of questions meant to be answered with a simple yes or no reply during the \u201clightning round.\u201d The results are as follows:<\/p>\n Do you support the city\u2019s involvement in Pederson Hill?<\/strong><\/p>\n Norton Gregory: Yes Mary Becker: Yes Beth Weldon: No<\/p>\n Do you support the construction of the multi-million dollar proposed mental health unit by Bartlett hospital?<\/strong><\/p>\n Norton Gregory: Yes Mary Becker: Yes Beth Weldon: Yes<\/p>\n Do you support heavy restrictions or a ban on fireworks in Juneau?<\/strong><\/p>\n Norton Gregory: No Mary Becker: No Beth Weldon: It depends on the restrictions.<\/p>\n Do you support the Juneau Access Road?<\/strong><\/p>\n Norton Gregory: Yes Mary Becker: Yes Beth Weldon: Yes <\/p>\n Should Juneau have a second bridge passing Gastineau Channel?<\/strong><\/p>\n Norton Gregory: Yes Mary Becker: Yes Beth Weldon: If we develop the west side of Douglas, yes.<\/p>\n Should Juneau Police wear body cameras?<\/strong><\/p>\n Norton Gregory: Yes Mary Becker: Yes, if they want to. Otherwise, no. Beth Weldon: No <\/p>\n Do you think the city uses its cruise ship head tax money appropriately?<\/strong><\/p>\n Norton Gregory: Yes Mary Becker: Yes Beth Weldon: Yes <\/p>\n As it stands, is the Juneau Assembly representative of the community it serves?<\/strong><\/p>\n Norton Gregory: No Mary Becker: Yes Beth Weldon: Yes<\/p>\n \u2022 Contact reporter Lisa Phu at 523-2246 or lisa.phu@juneauempire.com.<\/p>\n Read more news:<\/strong><\/p>\n School board hopefuls discuss issues<\/a><\/p>\n Juneau teen writes for MTV News on the importance of sex ed<\/a><\/p>\n
Kate Troll: Yes<\/p>\n
Arnold Liebelt: Yes
William Quayle Jr.: Yes<\/p>\n
Kate Troll: Yes <\/p>\n
Arnold Liebelt: Yes
William Quayle Jr.: Yes <\/p>\n
Kate Troll: Depends. I want to look at them. <\/p>\n
Arnold Liebelt: Yes
William Quayle Jr.: I\u2019m for fireworks. <\/p>\n
Kate Troll: I\u2019m not inclined to support it, but it\u2019s clearly a state issue.<\/p>\n
Arnold Liebelt: No
William Quayle Jr.: No<\/p>\n
Kate Troll: Yes <\/p>\n
Arnold Liebelt: Yes
William Quayle Jr.: Yes <\/p>\n
Kate Troll: I don\u2019t know enough. <\/p>\n
Arnold Liebelt: No
William Quayle Jr.: Yes <\/p>\n
Kate Troll: Yes <\/p>\n
Arnold Liebelt: Yes
William Quayle Jr.: No <\/p>\n
Kate Troll: Yes <\/p>\n
Arnold Liebelt: That\u2019s a loaded one. Yes.
William Quayle Jr.: Yes. <\/p>\n