Ketchikan Indian Community tribal council elections are on January 19. There are 3 open seats with 8 people running. Three of those candidates are incumbents.
KIC president Gloria Burns says for the last 8 years or so, tribal leadership has been laser-focused on implementing and budgeting around their strategic plan. She wants to maintain that with any new leadership.
“We don’t vary from it much,” Burns said. “We update it, and you can kind of see that is really the manifestation in the community, or the things that we are doing are because of really being clear about our expectations.”
Registered members of the Ketchikan Indian Community can vote in the upcoming election. Judy Leask Guthrie, Lloyd Ruaro and Gianna Willard’s seats are open. All three of them are running for reelection.
The five challengers are Carrie Dodson, Frederick Williams, Darryl Simons, Ginger McCormick and Ali Ginter.
Each term is three years. There are no ballot measures in the upcoming election.
Burns says being able to vote in the election and participate in the democratic process is a right the community had to fight for. She urges people to get involved.
“I always say that when I cast my vote I am honoring my grandmother and my great grandmother because I’m able to do something that wasn’t always given,” Burns said.
Election Day is January 19. KIC members can vote at the Ted Ferry Civic Center from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
