Ketchikan Borough Mayor Demanding Planning Commissioner Resign After Remark About Tribe’s Excessive Code Variances

Ketchikan Gateway Borough Mayor Austin Otos is calling on a borough planning commissioner to resign after she questioned at a public meeting how much more “white people” should have to pay for the Ketchikan Indian Community.

Planning Commissioner Darlene Dollimont-Svenson made the remark during a Planning Commission meeting last Tuesday. Video of her comments circulated afterward. “How much more do white people have to pay for KIC in this community?” she asked, referring to the federally recognized tribe, not to Natives themselves.

She later said she misspoke, was just concerned that the community keeps having to pony up for the KIC, that KIC gets variances others don’t get, and she just wanted to bring up a conversation that Ketchikan residents had asked her to inquire about. She is married to an Aleut and has many Alaska Natives in her family. She adopted and raised a Native daughter. She categorically denies that her remark was intended to be racist; she just is concerned that KIC gets special treatment.

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The Borough Assembly is scheduled to consider a motion Monday, Sept. 21, condemning Dollimont-Svenson’s statement, according to the mayor’s letter.

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The controversy started after KIC received substantial government Covid funds and started buying up properties around town. KIC opened up a homeless shelter in the middle of the business district, which has cost local business owners greatly.

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