KMXT 100.1 FM Public Radio in Kodiak, Alaska
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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