KMXT 100.1 FM Public Radio in Kodiak, Alaska
“Well, that was a bombshell.”
That is Borough Assembly Member Kyle Crowe who spoke Thursday evening’s regular borough assembly meeting, during assembly member comments.
The bombshell? Assembly member Matt Van Daele announced that he and his wife, Mary Ruskovich, are leaving Kodiak.
“And so it’s very bittersweet for me to announce that last week Mary accepted a job in a beautiful mountain town in Idaho as a patrol officer. And we’re going to be moving down there the end of October. And I’m sad to be leaving Kodiak, but I’m very proud of Mary, and excited for her to begin pursuing her career again.”
Van Daele made his announcement during assembly members’ comments. He told the story of how he and his wife met while she was studying to be an Idaho wildlife conservation officer. She put those plans on hold to move to Kodiak. But the dream was recently reignited.
“Then fast forward a couple of years, when I was working for the city, Mary and I got to know the women and men at the Kodiak Police Department very well. And we were truly impressed with their courage and their integrity and their empathy and this definitely reignited Mary’s passion to pursue a career in law enforcement and then when Matilda was born she definitely wanted to get more actively involved in making the community a safer and better place for all the kids out there and for all the families as well.”
Borough assembly member Matt Van Daele.
His last Assembly meeting will be Oct. 18, Alaska Day
