The Ketchikan Gateway Borough Assembly on Monday chose Alan Bailey to join their ranks, filling the seat recently vacated by Republican Jeremy Bynum. Bynum was elected to the state legislature in November and will begin serving in Juneau later this month.
Bailey, who served on the assembly for nine years ending in 2020, was one of three local citizens who applied for the seat. Also in the running were Robb Arnold, who works for the Alaska Marine Highway System and serves on the borough Planning Commission, and independent Rep. Dan Ortiz, who has served the region in the State House of Representatives for the last decade.
Each candidate was allowed to speak and answer questions from the assembly. Ortiz highlighted his deep familiarity with the legislature, which he said would help him effectively advocate for more state education funding. But he was questioned on why he chose not to run for reelection and why he would be more effective advocating from the borough than he would have been from within the legislature.
Ortiz acknowledged that he would have more influence serving in Juneau, but said his experience would still be helpful in Ketchikan.
“The fact is, I have 10 years of experience, and six of those — four of those — as Vice Chair of [the House Finance Committee],” Ortiz said. “I know how it works. I know how school funding works and doesn’t work. And I know all the different things that come into play in relationship to decisions that are made for funding for, not just for schools, but obviously for the state overall.”
Ortiz also said that his health is in a good place, and the health concerns he cited in his decision not to run for re-election were “preventative.”
Bailey emphasized his commitment to working hard to understand complex problems during his time on the assembly.
“Throughout that nine year service, I studied harder than probably most could imagine,” Bailey said. “Because, not to be self-deprecating, but I always felt that there were smarter people in the room than I. And as such, I had to listen very carefully to that and study even harder, so I could understand and make sure that I understood the issues before me.”
Bailey also served in the military and had a career in corrections departments throughout Alaska. In a previous interview with KRBD, Bailey said he would bring a “middle-of-the-road conservatism,” which he likened to that of outgoing member Bynum’s.
After hearing from the candidates, the assembly members conducted an informal, confidential poll of their preferences. Bailey received four nods to Ortiz’s two, so the assembly then unanimously voted for Bailey to fill the seat.
Bailey will serve until the municipal election in October, when voters will elect a candidate to finish the remaining year on Bynum’s term.
