Three candidates seeking to become Alaska’s next governor say they plan to make Juneau their home base if elected in next month’s general election.
Those candidates are Democrat Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins and Republicans Bernadette Wilson and Dave Bronson. The trio spoke to an audience largely made up of government officials and business stakeholders in downtown Juneau on Wednesday at a gubernatorial forum hosted by the Juneau Chamber of Commerce. The fourth candidate on the ticket, former Attorney General and Republican Treg Taylor, did not attend.
“Starting in December, Juneau is going to get a new registered voter, and it’s going to be a Republican, not a Democrat,” Wilson said when asked about making Juneau home.
The idea of capital creep — the slow trickle of state jobs moving away from Juneau to Anchorage — has long been a worry among Juneau residents and businesses.
Despite Juneau being the state’s capital, outgoing Gov. Mike Dunleavy has notoriously spent little time at the historic governor’s mansion throughout his eight-year tenure. The mansion has 26 rooms, 10 bathrooms, eight fireplaces, and is located just a brisk walk from the State Capitol in downtown Juneau.
Last year, a Fairbanks Republican lawmaker even introduced a tongue-in-cheek bill to list it as a short-term rental, arguing it was underutilized and expensive. According to budget documents, staff salaries and upkeep on the mansion currently cost about $800,000 a year.
At the forum, Kreiss-Tomkins, a former Sitka state lawmaker, said he wants to revive the mansion as a venue for community receptions and events if elected.
“That mansion, instead of being dark 12 months of the year, or pretty darn close to it, will be full of light and life, and a key part of Juneau,” he said.
Bronson, Anchorage’s former mayor, agreed and said he thinks Juneau should continue to be the seat of government in Alaska. He said he intends to live in the capital city for at least the legislative session and wants his commissioners to live here, too. But he thinks it’s OK if some of them live in other parts of the state if it means having someone competent.
“You got to have the talent and you just pay for airline tickets for them to come down when they need to come down and do their job,” Bronson said.
The forum also covered several other topics that impact Juneau’s businesses, the Southeast region and state government. Polls for the general election close at 8 p.m. Alaska Time on Nov. 3.
