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It's going
to be a quiet primary season in the newly re-platted Senate District R, but
there will be a challenger to incumbent Republican Gary Stevens come the
general election. Sixty-nine-year-old Robert Henrich, a life-long Cordova
fisherman, has filed to run as a Democrat.
Henrich was
between fishing periods when KMXT caught up to him at his home in Cordova. He's
gillnetted and seined for salmon for about 50 years, and he longlines for
halibut.
-- (Henrich 1 23 sec "My reason for running is ... perspective, and a
fisherman.")
As a
senator, Henrich says he would work to bring reform to Fish and Game management:
-- (Henrich 2 15 sec "I'd like to see some accountability ... field, doing
some work.")
Like many
long-time Alaskan fishermen, Henrich is concerned about the graying of the
fleet and the difficulty of breaking into the industry by the next generation
of fishermen:
-- (Henrich 3 30 sec "You know the permits are so high ... in the hands of
Alaskans.")
Henrich is
Alaska Native, and has been active in many corporation and tribal pursuits over
the years, as well as serving on the Cordova City Council:
-- (Henrich 4 22 sec "I am president of my tribe ... involved in a lot of
stuff.")
He says
when he took over as president of the Eyak (ee-ack) tribe, its budget was
$24,000 per year and had no employees. Now its budget is $7-million, and
employs 50 people in Cordova - mostly in the health clinic the tribe built.
As soon as
he's done with fishing around the beginning of September, Henrich says he plans
to hit the campaign trail and visit as many communities in Senate District R as
he can. Under reapportionment, the district now stretches from Yakutat through
Kodiak, Dillingham and out to Nelson Island west of Bethel.
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