Juneau, Alaska

The Danner family has called Juneau home for five generations now and I am so proud to be a link in this chain.  George Danner, Sr came here as a young man near the turn of the last century in search of gold.  He struck pay-dirt up near Circle and then returned to Germany to marry his bride.  They settled in Juneau in 1914, started Mendenhall Dairy where Fred Meyer and Valley Lumber are today and raised their two children. 

Their son George was studying architecture at University of Washington when the war in Europe changed his focus.  Health issues kept him out of the service, so he went to California to work for Consolidated Aircraft where he helped build PBYs and B24s (aka “Liberators”).  There he met and married a co-worker from New Mexico and after the war they returned to Juneau where he helped with his father’s dairy and worked for the US Forest Service where he drew maps and designed Forest Service buildings.  George was active in the Lyon’s Club and was instrumental in starting and facilitating the Gold Medal Tournament for years.

My mother-in-law, Mabes, told me she hated Juneau and cried for months when they first arrived.  She had never seen so much rain.  But they had great friends.  She worked in the old Behrends department store for Bill Flint and joined a bowling league and grew to love Juneau deeply.  She knew everyone and everyone knew her and she liked knowing she could speak her mind to anyone and be heard. 

Mabes and George had two children, Linnus and George III.  Linnus settled in Haines and teaches Art to students K-12.  George III worked for NOAA and later became an engineer with Alaska Marine Highways.

I grew up in Washington State and met George through a friend who had moved to Juneau the year before.  In the 80s I idealized women who stepped outside of the traditional role, and my friend said Juneau had a WOMAN for Mayor who also sang in her church choir!  Plus Juneau had a nice local theater company and a University and maybe I could take a class or two.  I moved to Juneau and married George 1988.  I worked in accounting and computer support for Klukwan, Inc, an ANCSA Native Corporation, they provided many opportunities for growth and encouraged everyone to consider the value of continued education.  While working there, I became a part-time student and earned my Bachelor’s degree at UAS with a focus on Cross-Cultural Communications in 1992.  I left Klukwan to pursue my MBA full-time which I earned in 1998.  Since 2001, I have worked at the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation and am now Sr. Accountant responsible for Alternative Investments.

George and I raised our three children here in Juneau.  All three are married now and are thrilled that two have settled in Juneau and are raising our three grandchildren here. 

Juneau is a great place to raise a family.  That’s important to me.  And that’s why I am running for Assembly.  Juneau has attracted an eclectic mix of individuals who have managed to carve an amazing little city out of the mountainside.  Sure we have our issues, everyone does … but we have so much potential!  The pioneer spirit of my husband’s family inspires me.  My educational focus on communications has empowered me to strive for clearer understanding of other peoples’ points of view.  My MBA taught me to look beyond a single solution, to think outside the box and search for creative solutions that will address the concerns of others. My 30 plus years of accounting gives me a perspective -- one that focuses on the bottom line and also understands the details behind the balance sheet.  I believe that this mix of back ground and skills will help me to help Juneau move toward a prosperous future where incremental improvements will continue to make Juneau a world class capital city, an awe inspiring visitor destination, and a great place to raise a family.