This week’s Susitna Community Council board of director elections drew four candidates running for four open full seats and three candidates for two alternate seats. KTNA asked each candidate the same three questions and here are the answers in their own words.
Candidates running for full board of director seats:
( The order of appearance is sorted alphabetically)
Susitna Community Council candidate: Wade Bartel
What is your motivation to run for office and what qualifies you to be part of the Susitna Community Council?
Wade Bartel: In order to fully appreciate why anybody runs for a seat on the Community Council, one must understand that it is not a position that comes with an exceptional amount of power or clout. It is a position that requires that the participant accept their civic responsibility to get involved. I have made the decision to do just that, get involved. As for my qualifications, I have lived in the council area for the past fifteen years and I care about the direction that our community is taking. I am a local business owner, property owner, parent and I’m motivated. Beyond that, however, I have been approached by many local residents who have genuine concerns for the area. They are not all in a position to get directly involved with shaping the future of our community but their views do deserve adequate and accurate representation.
In your opinion, what are the council area’s greatest challenges and issues and how do you propose to meet them?
Wade Bartel: There are two main challenges and issues that the Susitna Community Council is facing at this time. The first is community involvement. There seems to be a general misconception that the Community Council is an inert organization that accomplishes very little. That is simply not the case. The Susitna Community Council is made up of a group of dedicated individuals who have committed their time and efforts for the improvement of our area. However, as of late, they have not been experiencing a great deal of community support. Support does not mean agreement, it means involvement. It is very difficult to represent the wishes of the community if very few speak up. I would like to encourage concerned residents to come to the council meetings and lets us know what we can do to help them. I would also like to see the Community Council take a more visible role in the community.
The second important issue that the Community Council is immediately facing is the upcoming SPUD (Special Use District) hearings. These SPUDs will produce new regulations for our area that can include issues such as zoning, restrictions on business, public access and general private property rights. As a community, we are faced with three different avenues that we can take: We can do nothing; in which case the Mat-Su Borough will decide what they think is best for our community and pass these regulations as they see fit. We can allow the Susitna Community Council to go into the process without community support. We can get involved and make our wishes and opinions known so that the Susitna Community Council can direct the SPUDs in the direction that is best suited for our community.
It is my intention to encourage this third option. We as a community must let our representatives know what we think so that they can responsibly direct the SPUDs in a direction that allows a balance between inevitable growth and the preservation of our community.
In your opinion, what are the council area’s strengths and how do you propose to take advantage on them for the benefit of the residents?
Wade Bartel: The Susitna Community Council area is very large and diverse. Although this does present a certain set of challenges in its own right; it also gives us a wide community base to draw from. With a wide community base comes a great deal of experience that can help the Community Council maintain a responsible direction. Our area is also a very good representation of rural Alaska. We have beautiful landscapes and creeks. These features will always draw visitors and new residents to our area. If responsibly managed, this will always be a great place to live and do business.
Susitna Community Council candidate: Robert Coleman (incumbent)
What is your motivation to run for office and what qualifies you to be part of the Susitna Community Council?
Robert Coleman: My family homesteaded near Sheep Creek in 1960 prior to any roads coming into the area. I have seen many changes during that time and feel I need to have a voice in our future. I have served as a board member and President of the former Y Community Council and current Susitna Community Council, learning all the way.
In your opinion, what are the council area’s greatest challenges and issues and how do you propose to meet them?
Robert Coleman: Among the council areas greatest challenges is prior developments that did not provide the infrastructure they now need to support them-too small lots not allowing for even wells, septic systems, or in some cases legal road access. Current property owners are now being strapped with trying to correct and pay for these issues. We must make sure the Mat-Su Borough is aware of our wants and needs and factors these into any future code revisions.
In your opinion, what are the council area’s strengths and how do you propose to take advantage on them for the benefit of the residents?
Robert Coleman: Our areas strength comes from a resident population that all in all cares about where they live, likes the quality of life they have and want to work to channel the inevitable growth in the area in a positive direction without negatively restricting development. AS I stated above, we will work to make sure our voices are heard.
Susitna Community Council candidate: Phenie Miller
What is your motivation to run for office and what qualifies you to be part of the Susitna Community Council?
Phenie Miller: I live in and am a business owner in this community, so therefore I have a vested interest both personally and professionally in how our community evolves over the years. I feel that we are in the beginning stages of defining what our community will be like in 25 years and I think it is important to have a variety of perspectives when making decisions that will impact the future of our community and our families. As far as my qualifications, I suppose one of my greatest strengths is my ability to listen and interpret the essence of what is being said and restate it so others might be able to understand. I have held many leadership positions and have been successful in achieving objectives through healthy debate, good humor, and striving to find commonality rather than focusing on differences; thereby finding resolutions with win, win, win outcomes.
In your opinion, what are the council area’s greatest challenges and issues and how do you propose to meet them?
Phenie Miller: Apathy and lack of information are the greatest challenges. We do not have a highly involved community, most do not vote and don’t participate in community decision-making, though many have very strong opinions; they are not in a position where they have ready access to information that may impact their lifestyles. Even I have found it difficult on occasion to know what is happening in our community that may impact my family or my business and I do attempt to seek out that information as time permits. I would like to work with the community council to find ways to bring together the disparate communities that we represent and find ways to increase the level of communication to all those who live in our council area. This will be more important as it becomes necessary for us to debate issues that involve area-wide growth, public access and private property owner rights.
In your opinion, what are the council area’s strengths and how do you propose to take advantage on them for the benefit of the residents?
Phenie Miller: The qualities that brought most of us to the area is it’s greatest strength; the remote feeling, access to the outdoors, fishing, hunting, wildlife viewing, dog mushing, snow machining, cross country skiing, hiking, berry picking, growth potential and the sheer beauty of our lakes, rivers, streams, meadows and mountains. Growth is coming our way, we must accept that and find a way to be able to maintain the overall look and feel of our area while preparing for that growth. It is important to ensure as much as possible that we can all maintain our chosen lifestyle and provide for areas that allow recreation for those who come here to play.
Susitna Community Council candidate: Bronn Salmon
What is your motivation to run for office and what qualifies you to be part of the Susitna Community Council?
Bronn Salmon: My motivation for running is simple, to do what I can to try and contribute and improve my community. My qualifications include some 20+ years in and working for the Department of Defense (DOD) so I am familiar with protocol and politics. I have served on several non-profit boards and have over 10 years of management experience as well as running my own business for more than 15 years.
In your opinion, what are the council area’s greatest challenges and issues and how do you propose to meet them?
Bronn Salmon: I feel that currently the council’s greatest challenge is community involvement or rather the lack thereof. I don’t see how we can be successful without getting people plugged in and involved. In order to resolve this issue first I believe that we need perform some self-promotion and marketing. We need to get the word out to residents as to what our issues are and how they can get involved and help.
In your opinion, what are the council area’s strengths and how do you propose to take advantage on them for the benefit of the residents?
Bronn Salmon: Our greatest strength is the people within this community, their willingness to help others, their drive and passion for what they believe in and their love of the nature and freedom that surrounds us. From this strength we gain power. The power to question. The power to change. The power to remain resolute.
Candidate answers running for alternate seats:
Candidate Scott Holcomb
What is your motivation to run for office and what qualifies you to be part of the Susitna Community Council?
Scott Holcomb: My motivation running for this office is simple. My wife and I are raising two children, have lived in this area, in the same spot for 26 years. We are committed residents of this area and care about what happens here. My qualifications, beyond basic residency, include past service on the council, then known as Y Community Council. I was elected to two terms as a full board member. I also, from 2002 to 2005 served on the YCC comprehensive plan planning team. I helped to get the comprehensive plan passed and most recently I served as an alternate board member.
In your opinion, what are the council area’s greatest challenges and issues and how do you propose to meet them?
Scott Holcomb: Our area’s greatest challenge is population increase and therefore increased development. How we as a community respond to this is critical if we are also to maintain all the qualities of this area that make it a great place to live, work, raise a family, recreate etc. To meet those challenges, I feel, we, the community, need to strengthen our comprehensive plan through the SPUD process (or its replacement) in order to make sure, for example, our watersheds are protected. Another example would be shielding our residential areas from incompatible development. The comprehensive plan gives area residents some control over our destiny. A stronger comp plan gives are residents more power to decide our area’s future as opposed to others deciding for us – whether they be the Borough, state or commercial interests from outside the area.
In your opinion, what are the council area’s strengths and how do you propose to take advantage on them for the benefit of the residents?
Scott Holcomb: Our greatest strengths are our local residents – many of whom are very talented and self-sufficient. Our large area is rich in natural beauty and natural resources. We do not have the problems other areas have for the most part – yet. Such as pollution, lack of open land, heavy traffic, urban sprawl and rampant crime. We have a chance to do it right. We should make use of this opportunity.
(Editor’s note: by Wednesday, October 28, we have not received Eric Runstrom’s or Davis Miller’s response)
Photos by Diana Haecker
