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Joule in running for mayor's seat

June 15th 5:43 pm | Carey Restino Print this article   Email this article   Create a Shortlink for this article

Reggie Joule may be leaving Juneau, but he's not leaving politics. The eight-term Alaska Representative broke the news recently that he would not seek re-election to his post but this week announced he had filed to run for mayor of the Northwest Arctic Borough.

Joule confirmed Tuesday that he had filed for the post after much deliberation.

"I appreciate the support given me while I was in the State Legislature, by my family and the district," Joule said. "I feel the time is right to come back home and put the things I have learned to work here in this Borough."

Current Northwest Arctic Borough Mayor, Siikauraq Martha Whiting's term has expired. The only other candidate to file paperwork with the Alaska Public Offices Commission to date is Patrick Savok, a Northwest Arctic Borough assemblyman who ran against Whiting in the last election. Savok has filed his intent to run, but has not yet officially entered the race.

In recent years, Joule has been on the front lines of the effort to get Arctic needs recognized in a time of rapidly expanding development. He recently was instrumental in working on the Northern Waters Task Force, which resulted in the creation of the Arctic Policy Commission.

Joule, who was born in Nome, has lived in Kotzebue since 1959. He has worked a variety of jobs, from janitor to Camp Sivuniigvik. He has also served on the Kotzebue City Council, NANA, the Northwest Arctic School District board and is a Native Village of Kotzebue tribal member.

"Kotzebue is home," he said. "This is where we raised our children."

The candidate filing period for the mayor's seat, as well as other elected posts, is still open until Aug. 17 for the Oct. 2 election. The filing period for Joule's post on the Legislature is up, however, with four candidates. Adeline Hopson and Benjamin "Bennie" Nageak, both of Barrow, Robert Nelson of Kotzebue, and Greta Schuerch of Kiana have all filed.

 

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