S.R. Privett the third, better known as Reme, is making his first run for public office. The business owner has run Rayme’s Bar for about 20 years. He is now one of the four candidates seeking election to two available three-year terms on the borough assembly. The top two vote-getters will win.
Privett says he’s been approached about running in the past, but this is finally the year he gave in. Here he is at his bar on Front Street.
I guess it was just time to throw my hat in the ring.
The Privett family has been in Wrangell for generations; both Reme’s father and grandfather spent time as mayor, among other public seats; and his mother was the school board president for a time.
After graduating high school, Privett says he left Wrangell under the direction of his father to stay away for a minimum of a year. After that year of school in Anchorage, he dropped his classes and headed home.
43 years old.Born and raised here. Probably gonna die here.
Back in Wrangell, he went to work for his family driving gas and diesel trucks. He says an allergy he developed to the chemicals in the fuels forced him out of the industry. Not wanting to leave town again, he started his own business. At 24 years old, he bought a bar, and Rayme’s opened on the opening day of moose season in 2007.
Privett says he isn’t running on any particular platform, but wouldn’t mind seeing another harbor added to the island. For the most part, he says he just wants to get in the door and go from there.
If I win, I’ll go in, fully in. But no, no ads, no gimmicks. Nothing like that. Just if you think I’m the guy to do it, vote for me.
Privett says he’s excited for the future, with more businesses coming to town and more young people sticking around than he’s seen in the past.
Disclosure:
In the interest of transparency, Reme Privett is the brother of Jill Privett, who works at KSTK. Jill is not part of the newsroom and is not involved in producing news.
