Chilkat Valley News - Serving Haines and Klukwan, Alaska since 1966

I’ve owned land and paid taxes here for 35 years. Haines can be fractious, but it’s shocking that in the midst of a global pandemic and an economic crisis that we didn’t create, we’re firing the manager for reasons which should be addressed in an annual evaluation. This demonstrates failed leadership on the part of our elected leaders.

Debra Schnabel has been doing a good job under challenging circumstances. She’ll be the fourth manager fired in ten years. Is this simply an ongoing local feud? Is it misogyny? Is this a managerial problem or an assembly problem? Who’s responsible for the lack of annual evaluations led by the Mayor with input from the assembly and staff? Debra’s requests for performance reviews went unanswered for months.

Debra took the results of a strategic planning session held this winter with the Mayor, the assembly and the public and created a budget with funding for the library, the museum, the Chilkat Center which houses KHNS, HEDC, the Fair, and the pool. COVID-19 turned our economy upside down, but the timing of this firing looks suspiciously like the Mayor and four assembly members used a public health crisis to forward personal agendas.

We must work together, respect our differences, and using our Cares Act windfall, prioritize local jobs across sectors. We need thoughtful, forward-thinking leadership without partisanship. Four assembly seats and the mayor’s position will be on the ballot this fall. We desperately need competent leaders who have the community’s interest at heart.

Deborah Marshall