Published on October 15th, 2009

McClure is picture perfect for Assembly

By CINTHIA RITCHIE

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Longtime Seward resident Sue McClure was elected to the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly during the Oct. 6 municipal elections. She'll fill the slot of Ron Long, who was required to leave after nine years due to term limits. McClure has served on the Seward Planning and Zoning Commission since 2007, the Kenai Peninsula Borough Planning Commission since 2008 and has one year of experience on the borough Assembly flood plain task force.

She's also heavily involved in the community, playing community functions and volunteering at everything from AVTEC activities to the Seward Salmon Derby and the Ocean Sciences Bowl.

The Log talked with McClure soon after her victory. Responses have been edited for length and clarity.

Q: Why did you decide to run for Assembly?

A: I thought long and hard about it. Ron Long had termed out and I talked to him and he thought I would be a good person for the position. I hemmed and hawed, because I was really happy at the planning board. My biggest obstacle, and I'm embarrassed to admit this, was that I didn't want my picture taken because I usually don't take good pictures. But finally I went over to One Shot Photography and they took this great photo, and that was the last stumbling block. I had my picture and I was ready to file.

Q: What came next?

A: Well, I didn't do a real campaign. I had a lot of people who wanted to donate money and I told them to save it and give it to the food bank, and get the word out instead. I did pretty much what I usually do - I got out and talked to people. I heard their concerns. The coolest was having breakfast at the Cooper Landing Senior Housing. I picked up garbage with the Sexy Seniors Dumpster Cleaners.

I didn't get to Hope, though. I went for a lunch but I was a little shy of walking in and saying, "I'm Sue McClure, I'm running for Assembly."

Q: What do you hope to accomplish?

A: I think my biggest hope is to help facilitate things to get done in a reasonable manner. Any new face changes the working process, and I plan to go in with a quiet and positive attitude and do the best I can. Several of the Assembly members mentioned that the learning curve is steep, but they said that about the planning commission too.

Q: Will you miss the planning and zoning commission?

A: It's a fun group, and I love it. It's all about plating and maps and it just intrigues me. I like listening to people. The responsibility of making decisions that involve other people is overwhelming at times, but I like hearing people out and talking with others and coming to a decision.

Q: Why do you think you won?

A: My ego would like to say it was because of who I am, that people like me. But I don't know if that's always the case. My mom just ran into someone who said that she voted for the person running against Edgar (Blatchford), and my mom said, 'Oh my gosh, that's Sue.' But Edgar ran a good race. I would have been happy to have gotten the number of votes he received.

Q: Has it all sunk in yet?

A: No (laughs). I got together with a few good friends (election night) and we waited for the call, and I didn't even know I had won until I heard from the Kenai Peninsula Clarion. I was flabbergasted. I was just hoping to make a good show so that I wouldn't be embarrassed. I kept thinking that they must be wrong. It was one of those nights where it was hard to get to sleep.

Q: What's up next?

A: There's so much. I got a congratulatory call from Mayor Carey (Kenai Peninsula Borough mayor) and was asked to be on the navigability taskforce, so I'm excited about that. And I know I'll be involved with the local advisory boards also. I'll still volunteer pretty much whatever comes up, and I'll continue playing the piano around town. Instead of driving over to Soldotna every other Monday, I'll be heading over every other Tuesday.

Cinthia Ritchie can be reached at critchie@alaskanewspapers.com, or by phone at 907-348-2428 or 800-770-9830, ext. 428

 

Copyright 2010

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