4 Special Coverage

Brad Fluetsch is usually seen around Juneau videotaping or webstreaming presentations and events for his video production company and website. It’s not a huge moneymaker yet. He considers it training for his own financial program someday, and he predicts – hopes — that it’s on the leading edge of the fusion of internet interactivity and television programming.

“We’re about two years away from a complete unification,” says Fluetsch.

That’s his afternoon and evening gig. His early morning job is as financial advisor, keeping track of the East Coast markets for his personal and corporate clients.

Son of a Tlingit mother formerly of Wrangell – a Kiksadi from the Sun house — and a Swiss father, Fluetsch describes being born and raised on a hobby farm near Olympia. He says he graduated from Washington State University in business administration with a major in finance, and then went to work as an accountant for a fish processor. Eventually, he arrived in Juneau working as financial analyst for Sealaska corporation, then as an investment officer for the Alaska Permanent Fund, and now in his own one-person firm.

Fluetsch is running for the Assembly’s District 1 seat because of where the City and Borough of Juneau has been heading.

“This is not a good trend,” says Fluetsch. “Some of our neighbors have been contracting and we’re stagnant.”

Some keys to changing that trajectory, he says, include protecting and enhancing Juneau as a capital city, marketing Juneau to high-technology and light manufacturing industries, developing new electricity and energy sources, and bringing down the high cost of living and cost of housing to prompt modest growth. Fluetsch believes that opening up the land base could spur that growth as well as bring in more property tax revenue and help narrow the expected continued deficit in the CBJ budget.

“Obviously, if we had more property that wasn’t owned by the city, we’d have more property in private hands and subject to property tax,” says Fluetsch. Eventually with more occupied housing, he says there would be more sales tax collected.

Fluetsch supports reauthorizing the temporary three-percent sales tax on the October 4th ballot, but he thinks the community needs to reconsider taxing necessary food items, as well as electricity, heating oil, and water and sewer utility costs. As for taxing plastic bags, he says that’s the wrong approach.

“I can understand why you don’t want it in the enviroment,” says Fleutsch. “As long you’re getting it here, let’s use it in a positive way and generate some energy.”

Fluetsch is not very enthusiastic about an Assembly-backed proposal implementing the CBJ’s own set of financial disclosure rules. He says he wasn’t scared away from running for the Assembly by the current state rules.

“If it’s not broken, don’t fix it,” says Fluetsch. “And don’t incur an expense that you don’t need to.”

Fluetsch sees the AJ Mine as a valuable asset, but he hasn’t made a judgment yet on its reopening; He says he’s waiting for the Assembly to finish with the permit process. But he believes an alternative water source only makes sense, with or without the mine.

“When you have all your eggs in one basket as we do in our water system, that’s never a good place to be.”

This is at least the second time that Fluetsch has made a run for municipal office. The last time was running against incumbent Mayor Bruce Botelho in 2006. Fluetsch has also served various positions with the Alaska Native Brotherhood, such as past Grand Camp president and current Grand Camp treasurer, and Camp 70 past-president and current sergeant-at-arms.

Fluetsch is running for Assembly representing District 1, which includes Douglas Island, downtown Juneau, the Lemon and Switzer Creek neighborhoods. So far, he’s filed for an exemption from state campaign disclosure reporting, meaning he doesn’t intend to raise or spend more than 5-thousand dollars during the campaign. He’s running against Jesse Kiehl for the seat.

Juneau Assembly candidate Carlton Smith has family roots in the Capital City dating back more than 120 years. But his campaign slogan is “For Juneau’s Future.” Lately, Smith has been having a lot of “kitchen table” talks with his sons, 16-year-old Kevin and 21-year-old Alex.

“They’ve been asking me, ‘Well, Dad, I’m thinking about establishing my roots here and looking what my options would be for a career. What is Juneau’s future going to look like?'” says Smith.

To answer that question, he points to his understanding of Juneau’s past. His grandfather worked at the Treadwell Mine until it closed in 1922, when the family moved to Skagway. Smith grew up in Haines, and went to Stanford University, where he graduated with a degree in political science in 1974. He moved Juneau for the first time after college to work in state government. Later he lived in Anchorage, but returned to the Capital City for good in 1998.

“I have a context that is Juneau past, present and hopefully Juneau future. That’s why I’ve chosen for my campaign to be future oriented,” Smith says.

A well-known businessman, Smith has owned a commercial real estate company since 1989. His clients have included Alaska Native corporations; federal agencies like the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development; and multinational corporations, like Exxon Mobil. He’s also been on the board of directors for Sealaska regional Native Corporation; was CEO of Kootznoowoo, the Native Corporation for Angoon; and has served on various non-profit boards over the years.

“I have a keen understanding of what it takes to keep a business afloat, and I think I also have a keen understanding of priorities, and I’m a decision maker. So this is what I hope to bring to the assembly,” he says.

Ask him what his vision for Juneau’s future entails, and Smith rattles off a list of ambitious goals that include making the city a regional leader in health care and solid waste, a statewide center for vocational education, and a national model for energy efficiency and savings.

“We need a creative vision of where this community is going. And that’s what I want to be a part of,” says Smith.

But he says details will be just as important as the big picture. The city predicts a 2012 budget shortfall in the millions of dollars. Since announcing his candidacy, Smith says he’s been meeting with city department heads. He thinks Juneau can find ways to save, but says it will have to be a collaborative process.

“I don’t think anybody wants to see job loss. That certainly wouldn’t be my objective,” he says. “But, the sooner we get to it the better, because in the first year, Rod Swope’s going to take to the assembly a first year deficit reduction of five million dollars. And that’s very admirable. But it’s going to require great focus by the assembly.”

Smith supports a ballot proposition extending Juneau’s temporary three-percent sales tax, which among other things pays for police, fire, and emergency services, as well as some capital projects. He’s against a citizens’ initiative imposing a tax on plastic shopping bags, designed to encourage consumers to bring their own. And he’s in favor of an assembly-backed proposition exempting Juneau from state financial disclosure rules for public officials, and replacing them with local regulations.

“In my opinion they really do have a chilling effect,” Smith say. “The requirements really do discourage quality people from public service.”

Smith says the city should proceed cautiously on the AJ Mine – one of the more controversial issues taken up by the assembly in the last year. But before any mine development takes place, he says Juneau should develop an alternative water supply.

“The drinking water issue is number one and it has to be assessed first,” says Smith.

Smith faces Loren Jones and Geny Del Rosario in the race for an area-wide assembly seat. This is his first run for political office.

Mayor Bruce Botelho explains the different propositions on the October 4th Municipal Election ballot. He also answers questions from members of the Juneau Chamber of Commerce during the September 22nd luncheon.

Measures on the ballot include Proposition 1, an exemption from state financial disclosure rules and adoption of the CBJ’s own disclosure rules.

Proposition 2 would extend the temporary three percent sales tax for another five years. Revenues could be dedicated to basic services or some capital projects.

Proposition 3 would authorize the issuance of a $1.4 million general obligation bond for a ground source heating system at Auke Bay school. Most of that amount could be reimbursed by the state.

Proposition 4 would be another general obligation bond of nearly $1.2 million to replace the artificial turf at Adair-Kennedy field.

Proposition 5 would add a 15-cent tax for all shoppers who use plastic bags from stores that have at least $15 million in annual sales.

A municipal candidate forum is planned for the September 29th Juneau Chamber of Commerce luncheon.

Election information from the City and Borough of Juneau is available on this page published by the City Clerk’s office.

The League of Women Voters-Juneau Municipal Candidate Forum, recorded Wednesday, September 21, 2011.

The Rev. Dr. Walter Soboleff has died. He was 102 years old. He passed away Sunday morning at his home in Juneau with his family around him.

The Tlingit Presbyterian has always described his more than 70 years as a pastor and teacher as a “happy ministry.”

He was the first Alaska Native pastor in Juneau during segregation — but his church was open to all.

While Walter Soboleff has often been called the spiritual and cultural standard bearer of the Tlingit people, his influence went well beyond.

“He spoke to the whole world,” said his youngest son, Ross Soboleff. “He happened to be Tlingit, but he really always spoke to the whole world, as selflessly as you can do that.”

Dr. Soboleff is survived by four children and several grandchildren. Services are pending.

He reflected on his life on his 101st and 102nd birthdays.

In his more than a century of life, the Rev. Dr. Walter Soboleff saw two world wars and numerous other military conflicts.
As a boy he watched young Tlingit men leave their families to go off to World War I. As a pastor he nurtured parents whose sons were fighting in other wars. And now it’s the war on terrorism.

“I wish the fathers and mothers would rise up and say, no more wars. We lose our children,” he said on 102nd birthday.

Walter Soboleff was born Nov. 14, 1908 in Killisnoo, a Tlingit-Russian community on Admiralty Island that no longer exists. His family moved to Tenakee, and when his father passed away, he was sent to the Russian Orthodox Bishop School in Sitka then went on to Sheldon Jackson, the Presbyterian mission school.

It was there that he first heard Christian sermons in English, and became a Presbyterian. Years later, on a full scholarship to the University of Dubuque in Iowa, he earned a bachelor’s degree in education and went on to divinity school.

In 1940, he was ordained and became pastor at Memorial Presbyterian in Juneau, a church created by the National Presbyterian denomination to serve a Tlingit congregation. At the time Juneau was a segregated town.

“And early I said to the leaders in the church, ‘wouldn’t it be a good idea to let the world know that this church was not only for the Tlingit people of Juneau?’ And they said, ‘that’s a good idea,’” he recalled. “The word went out and non-Natives started to come. And the church was just growing.”

Memorial Presbyterian was the first racially mixed congregation in town.

Soboleff also had a radio ministry, both in English and Tlingit.

“We had a half an hour, 11:30 to 12. The choir came on and there was a short sermon, not that long, and then a closing hymn and benediction. I often felt people just don’t like long sermons so I made short ones. I cut the baloney in half,” he said, with a laugh.

After 22 years, Memorial Presbyterian Church was closed. Soboleff boarded the Presbyterian Mission boats, the Princeton Hall and Anna Jackman, to take the gospel to remote Southeast Alaska villages, logging camps and Coast Guard light houses.

“I’d go up the dock with a packsack on my back, Bibles, and I’d visit with the Coast Guardsmen – four or five men, remote. Every boat going by never stopped, (but) we did,” Soboleff said. “The fellas liked it. I visited with them and had short devotions. And I gave a Bible to one fella and he said, ‘Now I have time to read the Bible.’ I’ll never forget that. Such good visits, such good visits.”

When he retired from full-time ministry, he created the first Alaska Native studies program at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. While classes were small in those days, Professor Soboleff always had 50 to 60 students enrolled.

“The biggest classes on the campus. It was what the youth wanted,” he said. “What seems to draw them is to appreciate to learn who they are. It seems to have a stabilizing effect.”

Dr. Soboleff bridged more than a century of change. In Alaska, he saw the development of the Alaska Native Brotherhood and Sisterhood, Alaska statehood, the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act and the creation of Native corporations, as well as the integration of an Alaskan society that once discriminated against his people.

Soboleff said advancements in education were among the most important changes he witnessed in 102 years; he believed aviation and the telephone were the most critical technological changes.

“Part of his legacy comes not from how long he’s been alive, but the different eras he’s lived through,” says the Rev. Dr. David Dobler, pastor of the Presbytery of Alaska. The organization serves Presbyterian churches throughout the Southeast region.

“When I met him in the 1980s, he was due to retire, and was seemingly known and knew everybody in the state and beyond,” Dobler says. “He had this remarkable gift and attitude of holding, I think, every person as though they were in a state of grace. I’ve never heard him be angry with somebody.”

Dr. Soboleff often said his vision for longevity was simple: “Be living and enjoying and sharing, and that’s how God made us to be — sharing the good that he has shared with you.”

His wonderful sense of humor also contributed to that longevity. He never completely retired from the clergy and always described his 70 years in the pastorate as a happy ministry.

He outlived two wives. Genevieve and Walter had four children, who live in Juneau. Genevieve died in 1986. When he was 90, he married Stella, who passed away in 2009.

On his 100th birthday, Dr. Soboleff advised the youth at the convention of the Alaska Federation of Natives.

“I was in the fifth grade and the teacher said, ‘Take care, take care of the old person you’re going to become.’ And I thought what a funny talk to give us. But I never forgot it. It was one of the best messages I’ve ever heard. Take care of the old person you’re going to become. Here I am.”