Frank Kelty

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Frank Victor Kelty is a former politician from Alaska. He is arguably still the most influential person within both the business and the governmental circles of Dutch Harbor/Unalaska, which is not only the largest municipality of the Aleutian Islands, but also the largest commercial fishing port of the United States.

Born Outside on November 10, 1949, Kelty moved to Alaska in 1971, shortly before the early heyday of the Dutch Harbor fishing boom, working for a small company called East Point Seafood. By 1978, Kelty had risen to the position of superintendent of that company’s local plant, and oversaw the expansion of its capacity during the early 1980s. As Kelty’s prominence in the community grew, friends encouraged him to run for office. Kelty was elected to the first of three terms on the Unalaska city council in 1981. In 1990, Kelty was elected mayor of Unalaska, and was elected to five consecutive terms, serving in that office longer than anyone else in city history.

During this time (as the mayor's position in the small town was part-time) Kelty continued to be employed in the local crabbing industry. In 1987, Kelty accepted a position at a rival firm, Alyeska Seafoods, as that larger company's plant manager. As his influence in the community grew, there were calls for Kelty, a life-long Democrat, to seek state office. However, he resisted all such requests.

In 2000, Kelty accepted a full-time position with the City of Unalaska as Resource Analyst.p.43 In this position, Kelty had responsibility to not only oversee the city's management of vital natural resources, but also to be a liaison with the many local seafood companies with a presence in Dutch Harbor/Unalaska. However, as being an employee of the city would create a conflict of interest with his elected position, Kelty was required to resign as mayor. He did so, receiving accolades from politicians across the state for his service. Though no longer the mayor de jure of the community, Kelty’s commentary is regularly sought by state and national media when writing stories related to Dutch Harbor/Unalaska. [1][2], and the city council sometimes sends him out of town to attend governmental and regulatory events in the mayor's stead, especially on matters dealing with the town's primary economic activity, fishing.[3]

Due to his position of great experience in both the seafood industry and as a local bush politician, Kelty's advice is regularly sought by others. He has accepted multiple invitations to testify in Washington, D.C., before committees of the US House of Representatives[4] and the US Senate[5], as well as state panels investigating the Alaskan seafood industry. Though he no longer holds elected office, he nonetheless retains influence. He is active as a member of the Board of Directors of the Southwest Alaska Municipal Conference[6], and has served two terms as its President. He has been appointed to advisory panels by several governors of Alaska, including the North Pacific Fishery Management Council.[7]

[edit] Personal

In his younger days, Kelty was active in the local softball league, as the star pitcher for the Unalaska City Slickers. Today, the local ballpark bears his name.

Kelty lives in Unalaska with Nancy, his wife since 1983. They have one child, Joanne, and three granddaughters; Kiara, Kayla and Karina.