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Alaska Cruise Reviews: Inside Passage

Ketchikan 2006
Joe Williams, Storyteller and Mayor

If you've ever been on one of our small-ships that called on Ketchikan, then you probably know Joe Williams. Joe has been captivating our guests for years with his wonderful and enlightening stories about the Tlingit culture. Through his stories we learn about his people and their traditions. Joe's commitment to keeping his culture alive not only for visitors, but for his own people is inspiring.

This fall, Joe was elected Mayor of Ketchikan and Mayor of Saxman. Here is the press release from the Central Council Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska. From all of us here at Cruise West, Congratulations! You will serve your communities well.

JOSEPH C. WILLIAMS, JR. IS FIRST ALASKA NATIVE TO SERVE AS KETCHIKAN GATEWAY BOROUGH MAYOR

Central Council Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska tribal citizen Joseph C. Williams, II made history in October 2005 by becoming the first Alaska Native (Tlingit) to be elected in Ketchikan as the Ketchikan Gateway Borough Mayor.

Williams entered the race late in the game, registering to run at 4:00pm on the last day of registration. With only 3 weeks of campaigning left Williams said a prayer asking that the election be decisive; he didn't want a landslide win or landslide loss. When the call came letting Williams know he was the new mayor, he was told there were 106 absentee ballots and if all absentee ballots were given to his opponent he would still win.

After being elected to Ketchikan Gateway Borough Mayor, Williams was selected by the City of Saxman to serve as their Mayor. Since no one has held both of these positions concurrently the borough attorney was consulted to see if there would be a conflict. No conflicts were found, Williams is now the Ketchikan Gateway Borough Mayor and the Saxman City Mayor.

There have been a few bumps in the road for Williams as Borough Mayor, one being a tie breaking vote for a Sea Urchin factory on Shoreline Drive. Williams voted no. A yes vote would have converted a residential area into a heavy industrial area and also increased the population of sea gulls. This increase in population concerned Williams; he knew that residents living on Shoreline Drive get their water supply from the rainfall off their roofs. Sea Gulls roost on roofs so Williams voted against the factory in favor of protecting the water supply.

Williams was born in Ketchikan, Alaska in 1944. His parents raised him with three siblings in the Tlingit village of Saxman. He attended public school and graduated from Ketchikan High School. He attended Sheldon Jackson Junior College, Ft. Lewis College in Durango, Colorado, the University of New Mexico, and Alaska Pacific University, Anchorage, Alaska. Joe graduated in 1979 with a bachelor's degree in business management.

For the past 13 years Williams has owned and operated a tour company in Ketchikan/Saxman. He and his family introduce the Tlingit culture to visitors who come to Ketchikan.

Williams has been married to Suzi for 32 years and they have six children and one grand child. In 1997 they were selected as Parents of the Year by the Alaska Federation of Natives. Williams has been a Christian for 28 years and he resides in Saxman with his family.