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

Annette Kreitzer, the last Haines Borough manager candidate still in the running, will visit town Monday through Wednesday to meet borough staff and community members, attend an assembly meeting and sit for a third interview.

The other finalist for the job, deputy director of public works for the city of Pasco, Washington John Millan, withdrew his application last weekend.

In an email to Mayor Douglas Olerud and interim borough manager Alekka Fullerton, Millan cited “circumstances I cannot overcome in a timely manner to remain a viable candidate” but offered no specifics.

Although Kreitzer is the only candidate left, the assembly has not offered her the position. At the second Zoom interview on Monday evening, members stressed the importance of meeting Kreitzer in person and showing her around town.

“There might be a few lingering questions that people have (for Kreitzer),” assembly member Catie Kirby said, adding that she wouldn’t have supported inviting Kreitzer to Haines if she didn’t think Kreitzer had potential.

“I’m not doing this because we’re desperate,” Kirby said.

Kreitzer retired from the state in 2012 and currently lives in Juneau. She and her husband have owned property in the borough at Glacier Point for more than 20 years. During interviews, Kreitzer spoke of a desire to serve Haines.

“I have been concerned for Haines about stability and about being able to move forward,” Kreitzer told assembly members during her first interview on July 15.

She has been looking for a “challenge” not just a “job,” she said. “I think this is a place where I can help. And it is a challenge.”

While Kreitzer does not have experience in municipal government, in both interviews with the assembly, she highlighted her background in state politics and experience working on legislative projects.

Kreitzer served as commissioner for the Alaska Department of Administration beginning in 2007 under Gov. Sarah Palin. Prior to that, she was chief of staff for Frank Murkowski’s Lt. Gov. Loren Leman. Professional references listed in Kreitzer’s application include Haines locals Lori Lapeyri Smith and Bill Thomas.

The borough has been without a permanent manager since May 2020 when the assembly at the time fired then-manager Debra Schnabel. Fullerton, the borough clerk, has been filling in as interim manager. An attempt to fill the vacant manager position in March failed when the applicant turned down the offer.

A community meet-and-greet with Kreitzer will be at 5:00 p.m. on Monday at the library. Her third interview with the assembly will follow at 6:30 p.m.

Public questions for Kreitzer can be submitted to Alekka Fullerton at afullerton@haines.ak.us before Friday at 5:00 p.m.