Lapham seeks assembly seat
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TweetA week after Haines Borough Assembly candidate Rob Miller bowed out of the race, resident Diana Lapham is stepping in, bringing the total number of candidates back to three.
Lapham, who registered as a write-in Wednesday, will vie against official candidate George Campbell and write-in Mario Benassi for one of two available seats.
After going through what she referred to as a “self-imposed exile” after her husband Pete died in 2011, Lapham said she is ready to re-enter the public sphere and give back to the community that helped her regroup after that difficult time.
Though she lacks direct experience in politics, Lapham said she learned from her husband, who served on the assembly for three years. And while she hasn’t been involved politically, she has stayed informed by regularly reading the assembly packets.
“I’m coming into this election with absolutely no agenda whatsoever. I want to learn how to work with state entities, with people and with companies. I just want to learn and grow, and I think I can do a good job,” she said.
When asked what she thinks are the most important issues facing the borough today, Lapham couldn’t decide. “I think they are all important. They all have a definite importance in the priority of Haines, and I think they all run in conjunction with each other.”
Lapham was adamant that she has no biases and would not identify any areas of particular interest to her, though she did say her own personal beliefs would come after the will of the people.
“I’m fair and I can listen to both sides with an open mind. I would be working for the community; not for what I think the community should have, but what the people tell me they want,” she said.
Lapham organized the Alcan 200 international snow machine race for 18 years, and has worked for L.A.B. Flying Service and the bank. She has lived in Haines for nearly 26 years.
