For those of you in the community who do not know me my name is Kenny Bezold. I first moved to Dutch Harbor Unalaska in 1988 where I worked and lived on the Unisea barge. Back then housing was an issue and it remains so today. That is why if elected I will propose a reduction in the current mil rate property tax so that land owners can improve and or develop their properties.
While at Unisea I had several jobs including that of power plant operator and surimi tech. I left in 1999 in order to attend college and obtain an Associate’s Degree in HVAC. As a former member of the military I enlisted in the Army National Guard so that I could better serve my community and pay for college.
Shortly after graduation in 2003 my Brigade was mobilized and sent to Iraq where I was assigned as a squad leader in an armor reconnaissance platoon. After leaving the military I returned home to Dutch Harbor in 2007 and obtained employment with Offshore Systems utilizing my HVAC degree and power plant experience.
Many people in the community that I have talk to think I am running against council Rowland because of the Marijuana Referendum. This is incorrect. As a decorated combat veteran when I hear people say they do not vote I find it a little discouraging but for an elected official to say how your vote does not matter is outrageous and must not go unanswered. This is only one reason I am running for city council seat C.
As I have already mentioned, if elected, I will propose a reduction in property tax which the city can afford as long as we hold our elected officials accountable for spending. Losing revenue from Big Oil and then passing the financial burden onto land owners is not right and for those of you new to our community we are a fishing town not an oil town. I also want to see fish weir’s placed in both Iliuliuk creek and Sumners Bay. I think it is important to get an accurate count of the Sockeye run before we punish subsistence and sport fisherman. For many families here in Unalaska subsistence fishing has been a way of life for generations. I also believe our Tsunami warning system must be upgraded. These are a few things that I wish to see happen in our town as well as bringing high speed internet to the Island, building a hospital, paving Captains Bay road and curbing unnecessary spending. People may argue that the loss of revenue from reduction in property taxes will not allow for the building of the infrastructure. However, these projects can be done with the assistance from the federal government and private business. We must find a way for the city to run more efficiently and cost effective without passing the cost to local residents.
