Video Clips

Quoted moments from Alaska public meetings, hearings, and press conferences.

Clips from Kodiak Island BoroughClear

Aimee Williams “even in the paper yesterday, the headline was Borough Assembly to, you know, adjust code for this one person. And I think that that's not the best way to look at things. I think we need to make a decision for something that can last.”

Kodiak Borough: Assembly Special Meeting of November 12, 2026 · Nov 12, 2026

Scott Arndt “it goes back to what the original problem was. And the original intent. The original problem at the borough was with professional service contracts.”

Kodiak Borough: Assembly Special Meeting of November 12, 2026 · Nov 12, 2026

Scott Arndt “This changes— so basically addresses what the problem was and speaks to the professional service contracts that are negotiated. And the intent is to give this two public hearings, not one and be as transparent as we can be with everyone.”

Kodiak Borough: Assembly Special Meeting of November 12, 2026 · Nov 12, 2026

Jared Griffin “Are we comfortable with a code that could theoretically permit several members of the governing body to be borough contractors at the same time, provided that their services don't meet this definition of professional services, right?”

Kodiak Borough: Assembly Special Meeting of November 12, 2026 · Nov 12, 2026

Jeremiah Gardner “If I had to vote on this becoming code today, I would vote no because it needs to be discussed more further. But I think the language needs to be cleaned up”

Kodiak Borough: Assembly Special Meeting of November 12, 2026 · Nov 12, 2026

Jared Griffin “That issue is being administered under the existing code with guidance from our legal counsel. Tonight's ordinance does not decide that question and does not retroactively change the rules that governed that election.”

Kodiak Borough: Assembly Special Meeting of November 12, 2026 · Nov 12, 2026

Jeremiah Gardner “what fixes it for me then is, or the completion of a professional services task.”

Kodiak Borough: Assembly Special Meeting of November 12, 2026 · Nov 12, 2026

Jared Griffin “The current code broadly prohibits mayor and assembly members from holding personal services contracts with the borough. The proposed ordinance would substantially narrow that prohibition to personal services contracts.”

Kodiak Borough: Assembly Special Meeting of November 12, 2026 · Nov 12, 2026

Scott Arndt “I think this falls in line more with what we used to do and what the intent was from talking with Mr. Jamie Fagan on there.”

Kodiak Borough: Assembly Special Meeting of November 12, 2026 · Nov 12, 2026

Jared Griffin “the fundamental conflict arises when an elected official gets a borough contract without a transparent competitive bidding process. So If competitive procurement is the principle behind the ordinance, where is that in the operative— where is it in the operative language”

Kodiak Borough: Assembly Special Meeting of November 12, 2026 · Nov 12, 2026

Scott Arndt “Professional service contracts are negotiated and not put out to bid, and that was where the abuse took place with, um, previous assembly member, multiple $25,000 purchase orders were issued by the manager, which was Rick Gifford, and then also Bud Cassidy's signature was on some of them.”

Kodiak Borough: Assembly Special Meeting of November 12, 2026 · Nov 12, 2026

Scott Smiley “the verbiage that's in blue here doesn't really address the critical question. It kind of skirts the issue.”

Kodiak Borough: Assembly Special Meeting of November 12, 2026 · Nov 12, 2026

Jeremiah Gardner “the completion of a task. Um, I would argue that plowing roads is the completion of a task, and somebody could bring this whole thing back up and start the conversation again”

Kodiak Borough: Assembly Special Meeting of November 12, 2026 · Nov 12, 2026

Aimee Williams “if I understand Mr. Arndt's intention here, and a sitting assembly member or someone who's going to run for the assembly would not be qualified as assembly member if they held a contract that was not competitively bid.”

Kodiak Borough: Assembly Special Meeting of November 12, 2026 · Nov 12, 2026

Nova Javier “we can add it to another meeting if you don't want to move on it right away, but if you do want to move it forward, we can add it to the next regular meeting on Thursday.”

Kodiak Borough: Assembly Work Session of November 12, 2026 · Nov 12, 2026

Ryan Sharratt “I'm standing before you because 408 days ago my son took his own life.”

Kodiak Borough: Assembly Work Session of November 12, 2026 · Nov 12, 2026

Tuck Barney

“The first choice would be to respect the choice of the voters and change the code. And when changing the code, deal with any perceived conflicts.”

Kodiak Borough: Assembly Work Session of November 12, 2026 · Nov 12, 2026

Tuck Barney

“I would hope I would see 100% consensus on this vote, because anything else would send a clear message to this community that you're not here for us and our votes don't count.”

Kodiak Borough: Assembly Work Session of November 12, 2026 · Nov 12, 2026

Michael Bach

“I was here a couple of days ago encouraging the assembly to reach out and get legal counsel related to Mr. Williamson's appointment or seating on the assembly. I see through the meeting scheduled later this evening and through the articles to the KDM that you've done that, and according to code, he's been deemed unqualified to be seated at this time.”

Kodiak Borough: Assembly Work Session of November 12, 2026 · Nov 12, 2026

Ryan Sharratt “We must become comfortable being uncomfortable, saying the word suicide, listening without judgment, asking difficult questions. We must challenge the stigma that keeps people silent. Seeking help must feel safe and recovery must feel possible. I recently launched whathappentomorrow.org. It's an online platform for free, no advertisement, no tracking, to connect young people, families, veterans, and other with mental health education, encouragement, and pathways to qualified help.”

Kodiak Borough: Assembly Work Session of November 12, 2026 · Nov 12, 2026

Ryan Sharratt “In 2026, I have sat with 9 children who have contemplated suicide. Those conversations stay with me, and they're why I am here tonight asking for sustained leadership support. Alaska's Health Department reports that our youth suicide rate is nearly 6 times the national average among children ages 10 through 18. The suicide death rate reached a 10-year high in 2025. My son, is a statistic.”

Kodiak Borough: Assembly Work Session of November 12, 2026 · Nov 12, 2026

Ryan Sharratt “Invite regular reports from CANA, Providence, and other providers.”

Kodiak Borough: Assembly Work Session of November 12, 2026 · Nov 12, 2026

Ryan Sharratt “In February 2027, I'm working towards Enough is Enough Alaska Live, a free 3-hour community forum in Kodiak with a proposed statewide livestream. I'm gathering an impressive speaker list. Speaking nationally recognized mental health experts, public figures, veteran advocates, and people with lived experiences whose voices will encourage people to attend, listen, engage. I have commitments from Ketchikan, Wasilla, and 5 rural villages, and I expect this forum to reach far and wide. This effort begins in Kodiak, but its message must connect communities.”

Kodiak Borough: Assembly Work Session of November 12, 2026 · Nov 12, 2026

Nova Javier “the 30 days period for the elected assembly member to Or it— the 30 days expire on November 14th, which is this upcoming Saturday. If I don't hear from the elected official, I think we need to add to our agenda for next week, if you would like, the vacation of that seat so that we can start advertising for it.”

Kodiak Borough: Assembly Work Session of November 12, 2026 · Nov 12, 2026

Michael Bach

“His name should not have appeared on the ballot to begin with. If we address the root cause, we wouldn't be stuck in this position. I sincerely feel bad for Mr. Williamson and for the voters who voted for him because they thought that the borough had done their due diligence to vet this individual to see if they were qualified to serve in that seat.”

Kodiak Borough: Assembly Work Session of November 12, 2026 · Nov 12, 2026

Ryan Sharratt “I'm asking this assembly to help bring together providers, schools, businesses, and community organizations and make this conversation part of ongoing work. Our borough code already recognizes a mental health role. Please establish mental health and suicide prevention as a standing agenda item with substantial monthly discussions.”

Kodiak Borough: Assembly Work Session of November 12, 2026 · Nov 12, 2026

Michael Bach

“I do not support the changes to the code. I think they're too narrow, and I think that we're changing code for a singular person. I'm frustrated, just as everybody else is, that we have a qualified candidate who got to the election process. I would argue we need to address the root cause.”

Kodiak Borough: Assembly Work Session of November 12, 2026 · Nov 12, 2026

Tuck Barney

“Mr. Williamson won an assembly seat with the third highest vote count of 602 registered voters, and I believe the— and I believe the assembly has a duty to honor the will of the people. The second choice is to do nothing and use code and procedure to override the election. This would allow the assembly to pick a person that they want that aligns with their personal political agenda, not the community's.”

Kodiak Borough: Assembly Work Session of November 12, 2026 · Nov 12, 2026

Michael Bach

“The code changes that I see proposed for the special meeting don't align with my intentions. And if this isn't going before voters, this is my chance to say I disagree with the code as proposed. I like the code as it stands today and as over 950, almost 1,000 people in our community voted in favor of. We want clean government.”

Kodiak Borough: Assembly Work Session of November 12, 2026 · Nov 12, 2026

Ryan Sharratt “Youth services and unmet needs. Include young people and families. Ask where people are falling through the gaps, what providers are needed, and what the borough can do.”

Kodiak Borough: Assembly Work Session of November 12, 2026 · Nov 12, 2026

Ryan Sharratt “the 2025 Community Health Survey found that 1 in 4 respondents said that they or a family member needed mental health services. Nearly half of those reported could not obtain care. Among those able— unable to get care, 45% cited privacy concerns. Small town, big problems.”

Kodiak Borough: Assembly Work Session of November 12, 2026 · Nov 12, 2026

Michael Bach

“the people at a greater majority also voted in favor of Proposition 2, which established this code 13 years ago.”

Kodiak Borough: Assembly Work Session of November 12, 2026 · Nov 12, 2026

Tuck Barney

“You as an assembly need to follow the will of the people. That is why you were elected, and it would do well for you to remember that. I figure that you can seat Mr. Williamson on the assembly within 4 weeks with a couple extra work sessions and do what the majority of the voters have told you to do. Changing code is not rocket science. It simply takes 4 votes from 4 assembly members.”

Kodiak Borough: Assembly Work Session of November 12, 2026 · Nov 12, 2026

Tuck Barney

“in my view, there is only 2 possible choices on the issue of the election of Sam, of Mr. Williamson.”

Kodiak Borough: Assembly Work Session of November 12, 2026 · Nov 12, 2026

Nova Javier “this is for the assembly to consider whether to waive attorney-client privilege to publicly release a confidential written legal opinion from outside counsel Lande Bennett Bloomstein.”

Kodiak Borough: Assembly Regular Meeting of November 5, 2026 · Nov 6, 2026

Jared Griffin “consideration of waiving attorney-client privilege for legal opinion regarding assembly eligibility and personal services contract. All right. Move to waive the confidentiality of the attorney-client privilege legal opinion relating to assembly eligibility and personal services contract.”

Kodiak Borough: Assembly Regular Meeting of November 5, 2026 · Nov 6, 2026

Aimee Williams “The current solid waste, uh, collection contract is scheduled to expire on June 30th, 2027, and if you've been following along, you know that we've put in a lot of work to get ready for this.”

Kodiak Borough: Assembly Regular Meeting of November 5, 2026 · Nov 6, 2026

Jared Griffin “we need to go by the rules that have been established. And I think by releasing our findings, that will be a healthy relationship continued with our voting constituents. And transparency is so, so important.”

Kodiak Borough: Assembly Regular Meeting of November 5, 2026 · Nov 6, 2026

Jeff Woods “our deliberations here are absolutely subject to public scrutiny. What we do behind closed doors, especially for something that is as likely to get litigated as this, is really just weakening our position if something does get litigated. Uh, it can serve no benefit aside from a modicum of transparency, which I really don't feel like that juice is worth to squeeze in this particular instance when it comes to the high likelihood of litigation in this case. We're basically doing opposing counsel's work for them by releasing information.”

Kodiak Borough: Assembly Regular Meeting of November 5, 2026 · Nov 6, 2026

Nova Javier “The legal opinion addresses the election eligibility of candidate Jeremy Jerry Williamson in relation to active municipal service contracts held by AIM Maintenance under Kodiak Island Borough Code 2.35015. Because attorney-client privilege materials cannot be released without assembly authorization, a majority vote of the assembly is required should the body choose to release the legal opinion to the public.”

Kodiak Borough: Assembly Regular Meeting of November 5, 2026 · Nov 6, 2026

Scott Smiley “We have to live by the code, and that's what the lawyers say.”

Kodiak Borough: Assembly Regular Meeting of November 5, 2026 · Nov 6, 2026

Aimee Williams “Businesses have the option depending on their waste stream. So if you're creating 4 yards of trash, you can't have a 2 yard dumpster. If you're creating 2 yards of trash, you can't have 2 roll carts. So you have to have containers that are equivalent to your waste stream.”

Kodiak Borough: Assembly Regular Meeting of November 5, 2026 · Nov 6, 2026

Jared Griffin “Motion passes, 5 yes, 1 no.”

Kodiak Borough: Assembly Regular Meeting of November 5, 2026 · Nov 6, 2026

Nova Javier “Would anyone like to change their vote? Motion passes unanimously.”

Kodiak Borough: Assembly Regular Meeting of November 5, 2026 · Nov 6, 2026

Jeremiah Gardner “In order to get Mr. Williamson on the assembly in his rightful place, we need to do some housekeeping on the code. And that needs to be transparent and before the public, and we need to make sure that we do this right if Mr. Williamson does get up here.”

Kodiak Borough: Assembly Regular Meeting of November 5, 2026 · Nov 6, 2026

Scott Smiley “Well, I was on the Solid Waste Contract Committee and it was an interesting sequence of events. I think there's a great deal of collaboration on that right from the beginning.”

Kodiak Borough: Assembly Regular Meeting of November 5, 2026 · Nov 6, 2026

Jared Griffin “I'm asking you, I put this on the agenda because I'm asking you whether the public, right, should have access to the legal reasoning that informed that decision. I believe transparency is particularly important when the application of our laws affects our democratic representation. But I also recognize that waiving privilege can have its consequences, too. And so I think members should also consider the Bureau's legal interests, as well.”

Kodiak Borough: Assembly Regular Meeting of November 5, 2026 · Nov 6, 2026

Jared Griffin “we're not being asked tonight to determine eligibility or to reconsider the election or to substitute our judgment for that of the clerks and the legal counsel.”

Kodiak Borough: Assembly Regular Meeting of November 5, 2026 · Nov 6, 2026