Itta announces intentions to file for re-election as Borough Mayor

THE SOUNDER STAFF

April 18, 2008 at 10:02AM AKST

The race for North Slope Borough Mayor is officially on with two candidates on the start line.

Mayor Edward S. Itta announced on April 11 that he plans to file for a second consecutive term.

On April 1, former mayor George Ahmaogak announced he would be leaving Shell Oil to pursue the mayoral post once again.

Between now and an October election day, the candidates may clash on offshore oil drilling, with Itta opposed and Ahmaogak leaning in favor.

In a statement, Itta said he wants to continue building on the themes of his first three years in office.

His main areas of focus will continue to be the borough’s Healthy Communities Initiative, greater focus on village life and services, and protection of subsistence and the North Slope’s rich cultural heritage.

"I think we’ve made a difference in my first term," Itta said.

"We’ve paid attention to our communities, and people are feeling good about the direction we’re going," he said.

Itta identified Healthy Communities as a good example of success in following up on the theme of his first campaign – "Together we can."

"As we near the end of my first term, I think it’s fair to say, ‘Together we have,’" Itta said.

"Is the job finished? Not by any means. But we have put more investment in our villages, in job creation, in education and training, in cultural and after-school activities.

"We’ve shown that we can accomplish a lot when we come together," he said.

Itta also expressed the view that the Borough’s Healthy Communities Initiative changed people’s ideas about the kind of leadership they can expect from their local government.

"It has created a positive energy that extends throughout the community, and encourages people to participate in activities that make the community stronger," he said.

"Healthy Communities is an effort that invites everyone to take action in the home and in the community to improve our quality of life.

"It’s also a positive framework for how we approach problems. It doesn’t change the issues; it just keeps us focused on what’s most important in our search for solutions," Itta said.

Itta said major issues such as climate change and oil development are putting greater stress on communities in the North Slope.

He pointed to offshore oil and gas activity as a key concern in the next few years, and said the borough needs to have healthy oceans if it’s going to have healthier communities.

"I continue to oppose offshore development because it threatens the bowhead migration and our subsistence whaling," he said.

"We may not be able to stop all the activity out there, but I have shown I’m not afraid to go to court when it’s the right thing to do.

"At the same time, I’m pressing for a larger local role in decision-making on these issues that have such large consequences for the future of our residents," he added.

That role would include local government influence in coastal zone management and building relationships with the industry’s decision-makers as well as federal and state governments, according to Itta’s statement.

"I want a new approach to engagement with industry that insists on the need for comprehensive scientific study before offshore risks are taken. We want to see proof of industry claims about spill cleanup and, more importantly, an admission of what is not currently possible with existing technologies.

"And we believe that development in our waters should require that the best international standards apply, nothing less. That’s the only way to keep our oceans healthy."

Itta cited revenue sharing as a possible method for helping North Slope villages cope with the impacts of the oil and gas "gold rush" that is under way as oil prices skyrocket and the ice pack recedes.

He said those funds would also help villages manage the upcoming changes by opening the door to adequate human resources.

Itta said Jonathan Kunuk Aiken will serve as his campaign chairman, and others on his team will be announced soon.

Tamar Ben-Yosef can be reached at (907) 348-2419 or toll free at (800) 770-9830, ext. 419.