Whale Pass vote certified; voters OK new city on Prince of Wales Island

The results are final and residents of Whale Pass have approved the incorporation of Alaska’s newest second class city.

The small community on Prince of Wales Island voted this winter on forming a new city government.

Residents also elected seven people to a new Whale Pass City Council.

The state’s division of elections counted 46 ballots and certified the results Jan. 19. The final count had nearly three-quarters of the ballots in favor of incorporation.

That makes Whale Pass the 116th second-class city in Alaska.

The new city government has the power to levy taxes and provide services for an area that’s 26 square miles on the eastern side of the island.

Supporters of the new city said they had no immediate plans for new taxes but wanted to ensure the community continued to receive revenue sharing money from the state.

Whale Pass is a former logging camp in the state’s unorganized borough.

Eight candidates ran for the seven seats on the new Whale Pass city council. Lauri DiSarro was the only candidate not winning a seat.

Sign up for The Signal

Top Alaska stories delivered to your inbox every week

Site notifications
Update notification options
Subscribe to notifications