Empire Archives is a series printed every Saturday featuring a short compilation of headline stories in the Juneau Empire from archived editions in 1984, 1994 and 2004.
This week in 1984, voters ousted two incumbents from the Juneau City-Borough Assembly, but returned the third, Peter Freer, in Tuesday’s municipal election. Incumbents Ed Kalwara, an Alaska State Trooper, and businessman Hugh “Noel” Grant suffered defeats at the polls — Kalwara after a year on the panel and Grant after three years. About 465 questioned ballots to be counted next Tuesday will determine the victor in a tight race for Kalwara’s District 2 seat. Currently, city-borough Planning Commissioner George Davidson holds a 96-vote lead over businessman Jon Carter. While not yet claiming victory, Davidson said he expects the voting pattern to continue through the questioned ballots. Perhaps the biggest surprise of the evening was the strength shown by North Douglas resident Rosalee Walker who, in a five-way race, easily walked away with the areawide seat, outpolling Grant, her nearest competitor, by 577 votes. For the 55-year-old Walker, the success of her first bid for elective officer was proof that the “small people” can still find a place in government.
Davidson would go on to serve nine years on the Assembly, including two as deputy mayor. Walker served on the Assembly from 1984-1992 and was credited in a proclamation as “an integral force behind the establishment of the city bus system.”
Original Story: “Two incumbents out, one re-elected to assembly,” by Christopher Jarvis. 10/3/1984.
This week in 1994, state officials will soon try to put the brakes on a Juneau roadside election tradition. Working with city police, state highway officials will attempt to drive candidates and campaign volunteers off sidewalks, traffic islands and median strips along Egan Drive. Candidates in Tuesday’s municipal election appear safe for now, since officials don’t expect to start their effort until after the election. State Transportation Department right-of-way agent David Hunt said so many candidates and supporters are waving signs at passing motorists that it’s become dangerous. “The tradition has grown and the population is such there isn’t room to allow this anymore,” Hunt said. “We don’t want to harass any politician or the political process. We’re just concerned about safety.” Such concerns may be valid, but government officials should think twice before running candidates off the road, said political activist Joe Sonneman. “Political speech is supposed to be the most highest protected form of speech,” said Sonneman who has campaigned at 10th Street and Egan Drive for 10 years.
Today local candidates and supporters continue to wave signs at election time at Juneau’s busiest intersections.
Original Story: “Sign off, authorities say,” by Ed Schoenfeld. 10/3/1994.
This week in 2004, Juneau Mayor Bruce Botelho and the Capitol Planning Commission are about to move past 45 years of talk and draw a plan for a new capitol. For the past nine months, Botelho and the Capitol Planning Commission – made up of Juneau Assembly members, state legislators and volunteers – have discussed how Alaska’s new capitol should look. The commission has developed a vision of the new building and is ready to solicit designers to execute that vision. “Alaska’s new capitol is our symbol of democracy,” the vision statement says. “It should be prominent, enduring, memorable and dignified, yet convey democratic values. It should instill in all Alaskans a sense of civic pride and inspire confidence and respect for the democratic institutions housed within it.” The commission will announce a nationwide design competition in early November. The commission and the consulting firm it hires will select a nine-member jury to choose the design team. Seven of the nine jurors must be Alaskans, two of whom must work in the landscaping or architecture fields.
Today the original Alaska State Capitol remains, although some surrounding buildings have been converted for legislative purposes.
Original Story: “Capitol-design competition near,” by I-Chun Chee. 10/4/2004.
• Contact Mark Sabbatini at mark.sabbatini@juneauempire.com or (907) 957-2306.
