Chugiak-Eagle River residents will elect a member of the Anchorage Assembly during Tuesday's municipal election from a pool of three candidates, including write-in candidate Janet Brand, Anthony Lemons and incumbent Bill Starr. The winner will represent the area on Seat C for the next three years.
To assist voters in making an informed decision before casting a vote, the Alaska Star asked each of the candidates five questions concerning local issues.
Janet Brand
Age: 51
Family: Dr. Jeff Brand, husband. Children, Kelsey, 24, and Jacob, 22.
Occupation: Registered nurse.
Years living in Chugiak-Eagle River: 26.
As the Chugiak-Eagle River area grows, the demand for municipal services increases. How would you fund the increased demand?
Revenues increase with new housing, which will help support our service areas. A clear delineation of what our taxes are used for (i.e. education, public safety, roads, parks, etc.) needs to be presented so we can make informed decisions about what we do or don't want to spend our money on. This could be included with our tax statement or perhaps on the municipal Web site.
If you could do one thing to maintain neighborhoods and make Chugiak-Eagle River a better place to live for everyone, what would it be?
I would make the core area more user-friendly and a safer winter city to live, walk and drive in, especially for our seniors and disabled. A town center would greatly help this, as would better access to shopping and walking.
Do you support the development of the proposed Eagle River Town Center? If so, how should it be funded?
Yes, very much so. Our library is the most used library in the municipality - it would provide a great “anchor.” Consolidated municipal services are also an advantage to our residents. I think it also maintains our sense of community that is unique to Chugiak-Eagle River. Each department should contribute a specified amount based on how much space they require. Parks and recreation has been saving money for several years to be ready to contribute their share to this project.
As a member of the Anchorage Assembly, what would be your top three priorities?
1. The Eagle River Town Center.
2. Separate chapter of Title 21.
3. Finishing our long-needed road projects.
What is the most pressing issue facing Chugiak-Eagle River and how would you help solve it?
Solving our road projects - Eagle River Loop Road and the Old Glenn Highway are dangerous. We have traffic congestion with unsafe turns off the Old Glenn. We need to sit down with DOT (State of Alaska Department of Transportation) and impress upon them the need to move our projects forward without delay.
Anthony Lemons
Age: 34
Family: N/A
Occupation: School bus driver for Chugiak-Eagle River area schools.
Years you've lived in Chugiak-Eagle River: Three.
As the Chugiak-Eagle River area grows, the demand for municipal services increases. How would you fund the increased demand?
With the cost of property taxes being a huge burden upon homeowners and small business owners, it is due time to have the state release sufficient funds to not only alleviate the property taxpayers of the burden, but to aid in funding any increase to municipal services. The heavy burden of funding our city's services should not fall upon homeowners and small business owners.
If you could do one thing to maintain neighborhoods and make Chugiak-Eagle River a better place to live for everyone, what would it be?
I would like to get the community more involved in the goings-on around them. With more community involvement, many benefits are gained, such as more control over how and where new construction takes place and input on the impact of such new construction. We need to make Chugiak-Eagle River inviting to potential investors, who would in turn add to the city's economy and employment rate. We need to have community involvement on all issues that we may face.
Do you support the development of the proposed Eagle River Town Center? If so, how should it be funded?
I support this development, simply because it will be more attractive for potential investors. We need to also ensure that while we are improving, developing and creating jobs in our community, we are not creating a congested and confusing environment to the residents of the community. A balance must be maintained. As with all issues, the opinions of all citizens need to be heard and feedback given to them.
As a member of the Anchorage Assembly, what would be Candidatesyour top three priorities?
1. Decreasing crime. The safety of our citizens needs to be the top priority for everyone within our city. (DUIs need to be dealt with more harshly while we're at it.)
2. Alleviating the tax burden for both the homeowner and the small business owner.
3. Our roads need some major improvements.
What is the most pressing issue facing Chugiak-Eagle River and how would you help solve it?
Depending on whom I talk to, the issues are numerous, and one issue doesn't downplay another in precedence. In my view, public safety, developing responsibly and growing our economy takes the front seat to all of the issues. As with all of the issues, community involvement must be encouraged.
Bill Starr
Age: 46
Family: Jacque Starr, wife (25 years). Children, Ryan, 21, Megan, 19, and Jordan, 16.
Occupation: Business owner, Anchorage Assembly member
Years you've lived in Chugiak-Eagle River: 14.
As the Chugiak-Eagle River area grows, the demand for municipal services increases. How would you fund the increased demand?
General increases in our public safety needs should be appropriately shared by all residents of Anchorage through current area-wide taxes. Police are adding more officers, and I'll work to ensure that we get our fair share of this increased protection. Local area budget decisions are best made by our local service boards for such things as roads and parks. This system works really well, and I will be certain to protect this important community aspect.
If you could do one thing to maintain neighborhoods and make Chugiak-Eagle River a better place to live for everyone, what would it be?
Keep property taxes low and housing affordable. If it becomes too expensive to live in Chugiak- Eagle River, people won't. Our long-term residents will leave and take with them the core value system of community that makes us what we are.
Do you support the development of the proposed Eagle River Town Center? If so, how should it be funded?
I support the concept of coordinated municipal services at one location, and we really do need a bigger and better library. The town center building could work nicely. However, the costs need to be fully identified, understood and fair before we jump into it. Costs for the library should be funded by all the residents of Anchorage, not just Chugiak-Eagle River residents. I agree that local funds can be used, but we might want to utilize a loan repayment plan versus a one-time donation of these tax dollars.
As a member of the Anchorage Assembly, what would be your top three priorities?
1. Accountability on municipal spending and controlling costs which lead to lower property taxes.
2. Expanding public safety services to all areas of Anchorage, especially as we grow in Chugiak-Eagle River.
3. Good road designs and proactive decisions to address the increasing traffic on both the Glenn Highway and downtown core areas of Eagle River.
What is the most pressing issue facing Chugiak-Eagle River and how would you help solve it?
Rapid expansion of poorly-designed homes, buildings and roads in the Chugiak-Eagle River area will be a big issue in coming years. We need to implement our own separate land use regulations and develop appropriate design standards to ensure good quality development. This would also include more strict sign codes and a review of housing density.
