The results are final and residents of Whale Pass have approved the incorporation of Alaska’s newest second class city. The small community on Prince of Wales Island voted this winter on forming a new city government. Residents also elected seven people to a new Whale Pass city council.
The state’s division of elections counted 46 ballots and certified the results on January 19th. The final count had nearly three quarters of the ballots in favor of incorporation.
Photo from the Alaska Division of Community and Regional Affairs community photo archive)
That makes Whale Pass the 116th second class city in Alaska. The new city government has the power to levy taxes and provide services for an area that’s 26 square miles on the eastern side of the island. Supporters of the new city said they had no immediate plans for new taxes but wanted to ensure the community continued to receive revenue sharing money from the state. Whale Pass is a former logging camp in the state’s unorganized borough.
Eight candidates ran for the seven seats on the new Whale Pass city council. Lauri DiSarro is only candidate not winning a seat.
