Ketchikan Borough Election
OCTOBER 01, 2019

Spencer Strassburg

Candidate for Ketchikan City Council
3 Year Term - 2 Seats To fill

Filed for Office: August 26, 2019
Statement Received September 15, 2019
Published September 16, 2019 AM
Last Updated: September 16, 2019

Ketchikan local population is experiencing some difficult economic times while cruise ship industry leaders are posting record breaking profits.  This is a clear indication we must learn better business practices and fiscal responsibilities, or risk drowning our local population in the rising cost of  big business on a small island.

Some of my initial focus (if elected), would be management and departmental operations. My goal would be to eliminate oversights such as not increasing port fees since ‘91, and not collecting a sales tax for purchases made onboard while in city limits. This is an exemption afforded exclusively to the cruise industry by our borough leaders.  The industry has tried to remit their taxes, we’ve returned them on a couple of occasions when their accountant got confused and payed us like other cities in SE Alaska.   

I’d also like to focus on the current power crisis and try make a profit from KPU. I don’t have all the answers to the crisis, but I’d like to lead in operating more like we are in crisis mode.  More transparency on amount of gallons used, cost of operations, and strategic planning.  I also believe we could form some committees to investigate and research options for our future.   

Another focus of mine, is to be the leadership that balances the need of the locals and visitors alike. I’ve been the person to lead in this balance at the Fox hole, a downtown “locals” store. It’s a difficult balancing act, but one that allows me to keep the doors open and people employed year round, when many others don’t. I’ve had to pay particular attention to the dynamics of a small town Ketchikan market place, as well as the big game of the cruise ship industry.  Our city leaders need more direction on achieving this balance. For the comfort of both locals and visitors, it’s my goal to be that leader.   I will have an overall focus on the health of the marketplace.  I’ll explore areas such as city ordinance, bid practices, and accounting in an effort to “open Ketchikan for business” and effect an economic increase for the local resident and worker by way of cold hard cash!!  We must value Ketchikan and ourselves higher.  

I have no interest in political games and consider myself so transparent “you can see what I ate for breakfast!”  My only interest is applying the business skills, I have learned on the streets of Ketchikan, to make the residents as wealthy as others in the cruise industry. Please consider me with a vote for city council. 

For more information on my opinion and previous run material, please visit my Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/spencerforhigher/.   

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