Sun Sep 15 14:05:00 UTC 2024: ## Fairbanks Candidates Face Off in League of Women Voters Forum

**Fairbanks, AK** – Local candidates for Fairbanks City Council, Borough Assembly, Borough Mayor, Fairbanks North Star Borough School District Board of Education and North Pole Mayor took the stage on Friday night for a forum hosted by the League of Women Voters of Tanana Valley.

The forum, held at the Fairbanks North Star Borough Assembly Chambers, focused on issues like education funding, economic development, and addressing the borough’s demographic shift. Candidates for each office were given the opportunity to answer questions from the audience, with responses limited to one minute or less.

**School Board Candidates Focus on Funding and Enrollment**

Candidates for the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District Board of Education, Loa Carroll-Hubbard, Tamara Kruse Roselius, April Smith, and Morgan Dulian, focused on the challenges of funding and maintaining student enrollment. Kruse Roselius emphasized the need for targeted funding, while Carroll-Hubbard advocated for focusing on student outcomes. Smith emphasized the importance of safe and trustworthy schools, while Dulian highlighted her skills in negotiating donations and her belief that the district needs to consolidate schools to stabilize the budget.

**Mayoral Candidates Tackle Population Decline and Economic Diversification**

Borough Mayor candidates, John Coghill Jr., Robert Shields, and Grier Hopkins, addressed issues like population decline, diversifying the borough’s revenue, and recruiting and retaining borough employees. Coghill focused on the need for economic development and attracting people to the area. Shields emphasized the importance of supporting aerospace, health care, and tourism industries. Hopkins stressed the need to lessen the impact on taxpayers and incentivize development.

**Assembly Candidates Debate Budget Priorities and Services**

Borough Assembly candidates, Miguel Ramirez, David Guttenberg, Garrett Armstrong, Tammie Wilson, Jimi Cash, and Kristan Kelly, discussed their views on budget priorities, services the borough provides, and the borough’s demographic change. Candidates agreed on the importance of funding education, but varied in their views on specific services and budget cuts. Several candidates, including Cash, Wilson, and Ramirez, raised concerns about the cost of replacing the borough animal shelter.

**City Council Candidates Address Employee Retention and Downtown Revitalization**

Fairbanks City Council candidates, Jerry Cleworth, Sean MacDonald, Aaron Crook, Valerie Therrien, and Olivia Rodriguez, tackled topics like employee recruitment and retention, addressing homelessness, strengthening the relationship between the city and borough, and the Downtown Plan. MacDonald focused on making Fairbanks more pedestrian-friendly, while Crook emphasized fiscal responsibility. Rodriguez highlighted the need for downtown revitalization, and Therrien expressed excitement about the potential for the Polaris site. Cleworth prioritized employee recruitment and retention and addressing deferred maintenance.

**North Pole Mayor Candidate Faces Questions on Housing and Air Quality**

North Pole Mayor candidate and councilmember Anton Keller addressed concerns about housing shortages and winter air quality. He acknowledged the need for more homes and lower energy costs to improve air quality.

The forum provided a platform for candidates to highlight their priorities and vision for the future of Fairbanks and the borough. With the election fast approaching, residents have a chance to learn more about the candidates and their positions on key issues.

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