FIFTH OPENING – The Sitka seine boats Hukilau and Rose Lee pump herring aboard this afternoon at the end of Deep Inlet during the fifth opening in the Sitka Sound sac roe herring fishery. The opening was being held in two locations beginning at 11 a.m. (Sentinel Photo by James Poulson)
By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Staff Writer
The future of management and operations at the Perform [ ... ]
By Sentinel Staff
The Sitka Sound commercial herring sac roe fishery continued today with open [ ... ]
By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Sports Editor
After storming into the state 3A boys basketball brac [ ... ]
By Sentinel Staff
The Queen Bees’ spotless season record ended Tuesday night with a 2-1 loss [ ... ]
By SHIRLEY SNEVE
Indian Country Today
A major renovation at an Alaska museum to attract tourist [ ... ]
By CLAIRE STREMPLE
Alaska Beacon
A presentation about a jump in the number of inmate deaths in [ ... ]
By NATHANIEL HERZ
Northern Journal
Tribal and environmental advocates calling for a crackdown o [ ... ]
Police Blotter
Sitka police received the following calls by 8 a.m. today:
March 26
At 2:10 p.m. a man e [ ... ]
Big Rigs Sought
For April 13
The 3 to 5 Preschool’s spring fundraiser and Big Rig event is happening [ ... ]
By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
The city’s reassessment of taxable real estate, alo [ ... ]
By Sentinel Staff
The third opening in this year’s Sitka Sound sac roe herring fishery was held Mon [ ... ]
By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Sports Editor
Sitka High’s Lady Wolves bounced back from an openi [ ... ]
By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel ports Editor
Competing in the state 3A basketball tournament in Anc [ ... ]
By Sentinel Staff
Playing in a competitive division City League volleyball game Monday evening [ ... ]
By JAMES BROOKS
Alaska Beacon
A bill that passed the Alaska House of Representatives on Monday [ ... ]
By NATHANIEL HERZ
Northern Journal
Gus Schumacher, the Anchorage Olympic cross-country skier, a [ ... ]
By CLAIRE STREMPLE
Alaska Beacon
Alaska’s rural schools are on track to access faster interne [ ... ]
By YERETH ROSEN
Alaska Beacon
In the language of the Gwich’in people of northeastern Alaska, [ ... ]
Police Blotter
Sitka police received the following calls by 8 a.m. today:
March 25
At 7:48 a.m. a calle [ ... ]
Vietnam-Era Vets
Invited to Lunch,
Commemoration
American Legion Post 13 will host a luncheon 1-3 p.m. [ ... ]
By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Staff Writer
The 2024 Sitka Sound sac roe herring fishery got under [ ... ]
By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
The Assembly will start the annual process of determi [ ... ]
By Sentinel Staff
Competing in the 3A state championship title basketball game Saturday, the M [ ... ]
By Sentinel Staff
Playing through the afternoon Sunday, City League volleyball teams faced off [ ... ]
Daily Sitka Sentinel
Wein Seeking Office in GOP House Bid
By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
Dr. Richard Wein filed Monday as a Republican candidate for the state House of Representatives representing Sitka, Petersburg and a number of smaller Southeast communities.
The House District 35 seat is currently held by Democratic Rep. Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins of Sitka.
So far, Wein has one opponent in the Aug. 21 primary for the Republican nomination, former Hoonah Mayor Kenny Skaflestad. The filing period closes June 1.
Wein, 68, was elected to a three-year term on the City and Borough Assembly last October.
He said he is running for state office because he believes it’s important for Kreiss-Tomkins to face a strong challenger in the Nov. 6 general election.
“Debate and discussion are needed in an effort to sharpen your issues and improve them,” Wein said. “I felt I shouldn’t allow an incumbent, who’s been there six years, to run without debate and without discussion. We need discussion in the political process because it improves it.”
He called running for office a “win-win,” whether he wins or loses.
Richard Wein. (Sentinel Photo)
“As an Assemblyman, I can see a nexus between the Assembly and the Legislature. We need a powerful voice in the Legislature; I believe I can supply that powerful voice,” Wein said. “So if I win, I get to represent Sitka and the district in the Legislature. Should I remain on the Assembly, I will have received an education in how the business of the state is done, and I’ll be an even better Assemblyman. It’s going to be an adventure, it’s going to be a learning experience. I’ll do my best for the district, for Sitka and for Alaska, at the end of the day.”
Wein said he has been encouraged to run by Sitkans and others around the district, and from as far away as Anchorage.
“It’s been overwhelming support,” he said. “It’s been very gratifying to hear people support me and how concerned they are about the state of the state, and the state of the district. It’s been very positive.”
Wein moved to Sitka from New Jersey in September 2001 when he was hired as a surgeon at SEARHC Mt. Edgecumbe Hospital. He left SEARHC in 2010 and signed on as a surgeon at Sitka Community Hospital, a position he held until March 2017, when his contract was not renewed. He filed for the Assembly and was elected in last fall’s city election.
Wein said he registered with the Republican Party when he registered to vote in Alaska, but does not believe there is a clear party delineation on issues, and he does not vote down the line for Republicans.
“I’m a Second Amendment guy; I like the Constitution, I like a little less government and a balanced checkbook,” he said. “But I’ve always chosen who was better qualified.”
Wein said he believes he can contribute at the state level, with his experience in the health care system, particularly Medicaid. He said he’s also concerned about funding for education next year, when a greater burden will be placed on local school districts. He said Sitka has seen an uptick in crime as a result of Senate Bill 91 in which the Legislature downgraded certain drug-related offenses from felonies to misdemeanors.
“Why all of a sudden are we seeing MS-13 in places like Sitka?” he said. “... We’re dealing with a lot of local crime issues that aren’t going to be fixed with a stroke of a pen.”
Login Form
20 YEARS AGO
March 2004
Matthew C. Hunter of Sitka recently returned from Cuba as part of a St. Olaf College International and Off-Campus Studies program. Hunter, a junior physics major at St. Olaf College, is the son of Robert and Kim Hunter of Sitka.
50 YEARS AGO
March 1974
Eighth graders have returned from a visit to Juneau to see the Legislature. They had worked for it since Christmas vacation ... Clarice Johnson’s idea of a “White Elephant” sales was chosen as the best money-maker; Joe Roth won the political cartoon assignment; highest government test scorers were Ken Armstrong, Joanna Hearn, Linda Montgomery, Lisa Henry, Calvin Taylor and David Licari .....