Eleven candidates are running for five seats on the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly in this year’s election, set for Oct. 7. Two seats, those representing Nikiski and the area that includes Ninilchik and Anchor Point, are uncontested — only one candidate each filed before Friday’s deadline. The remaining three races each have three candidates.
Normally, only three seats on the assembly are up for election each year. This year, however, elections will be held for partial terms for both the Kalifornsky and Sterling seats because one assembly member is resigning and another received only a temporary appointment to their seat earlier this year.
Kalifornsky
The borough’s District 1 seat represents Kalifornsky — the area between Kenai and Soldotna on the western Kenai Peninsula. James Baisden, who won an unopposed election to the seat last year, is resigning and three candidates are vying for the seat. The winner of this year’s election will serve until October 2027.
Scott Griebel has lived on the Kenai Peninsula for 50 years, per his candidate statement, including 25 spent as a borough employee and several years spent as the borough’s director of maintenance and director of the Road Service Area. He writes that, though he recently left the borough to work in the private sector, “I still wish to be involved and believe that I can utilize my historical knowledge and experiences to aid in a quality path forward.”
Teresa Mullican previously served for 16 years as the mayor of a small town in southwestern Oklahoma, where she was also involved with the Chamber of Commerce, Rotary, and Oklahoma Municipal League. She moved to the Kenai Peninsula in 2014 and has lived in the Kalifornsky district for around three years. She writes, “I believe I have the skills and experience to bring to the Borough and the people of our Borough that could be used for a positive outcome.”
Joan Corr is president of the Republican Women of the Kenai and secretary for the local chapter of Moms for Liberty. She writes that “encouraged by community members who want their conservative values represented at the borough,” she’ll work for education reforms, restrained taxes, more private ownership of land and food security.
Nikiski
Only one candidate is running for the District 3 seat that represents Nikiski, for a term running until October 2028.
Len Niesen is a member of the Nikiski Advisory Planning Commission, the Nikiski Senior Center Board of Directors, the Nikiski Community Council and the North Road Pioneers. Before retiring in 2008, she owned and managed Frontier Business Systems. She writes that she understands the importance of industry to her community, that she values Nikiski’s schools and that “wise fiscal management” can meet borough needs with quality services and low taxes.
“I am a problem solver, getting to the root of issues to find more effective ways of operating,” Niesen writes. “I look beyond the status quo for new approaches. I’d like to bring these attributes to my Assembly seat.”
Peter Ribbens, who currently holds the seat and serves as assembly president, is not running for reelection.
Soldotna
Three candidates are vying for the assembly’s Soldotna seat. Incumbent Tyson Cox has reached his term limit and cannot run for reelection. The winner of this year’s election will serve until October 2028.
Sargeant Truesdell is the former principal of Soldotna High School and Skyview Middle School, and has worked for the school district for 26 years.
“I am a moderate independent who believes that local government should rise above partisan politics,” Truesdell writes in his candidate statement. “Our focus must be on working together to find practical solutions that benefit the people who live here. I support the current borough administration’s efforts to explore creative ways to reduce property taxes while continuing to provide high-quality services.”
Mitch Michaud has many years of experience in forestry and community health, including with the U.S. Forest Service, the National Resources Conservation Service, and Peninsula Community Health Services — the latter of which he currently serves as board president. He writes that the borough will face challenges from declining federal and state funding, workforce changes and outmigration that will need to be met with innovation and “prudent management.”
“My leadership philosophy is rooted in caring for the land and serving people,” he writes. “I approach decisions with a simple ethic: ‘The greatest good for the greatest number for the longest time.’ The key to good civic leadership is in knowing who you represent and for what purpose.”
Nick Conner identifies himself as a business owner and public activist. He says that, “for years,” he has worked to “expose waste, misuse of power, and violations of Alaska’s public records laws at every level — state, borough, and city.”
He writes that he will “fight to ensure every resident has equal access to information, fair treatment by public agencies, and a genuine voice in decisions that affect our communities.”
Sterling
Leslie Morton was appointed in February to the Sterling seat on the assembly, and is running for reelection for the remaining year of her term — until October 2026 — against two challengers.
Morton has served on the executive boards of Tsalteshi Trails Association, the Kenai Art Center, and the Kenai Watershed Forum. She has worked as a natural resources manager with the Department of Defense and also spent six years as a member of the service area board for Central Emergency Services. In her candidate statement, she cites her support for the passage of a borough budget that lowered taxes for property-owning borough residents while maintaining support for schools and emergency services.
“I want the Kenai Peninsula Borough to be a place where families choose to live,” she writes.
Dale Eicher was a candidate for the Sterling appointment earlier this year alongside Morton. He’s worked in construction for many years, most recently as owner and CEO of Northwood Buildings, and also has volunteered for many years in public safety, including at Central Emergency Services and with the Civil Air Patrol. He identifies himself as “a conservative, long-time resident, small business owner, and someone who believes in practical, responsible local government.”
“We all want safe neighborhoods, good roads, quality schools, and a local government that actually serves the people who elected them,” he writes. “That means focusing on essential services, cutting waste, and making sure your tax dollars are used wisely. I support strong schools and believe local government must ensure tax dollars deliver real results for students, families, and the community.”
Sadie Friedman says that she’s attended the Putney School in Vermont, volunteered with the Kenai Watershed Forum, and worked in the mail room of the U.S. Embassy in Georgia. She writes that strong communities begin with their schools and says she’s concerned about the plight of Sterling Elementary School, which was nearly closed this year.
“I want to make sure these places are protected and funded not just for my term but far into the future, backed by policy that will keep them running through to the next generation – no short-term policies,” she writes.
Central
Only one candidate is running for the District 7 “Central” seat that represents a swath of the peninsula that includes Ninilchik and Clam Gulch, for a term running until October 2028.
Michael W. Hicks has served in the military and as a programmer for the borough. Since 1998, he’s been the senior pastor of the New Life Christian Fellowship in Kasilof.
“I am a fiscal and social conservative who believes that Government is better when as small and local as possible,” he writes. “I love our Alaskan way of life, as well as our independence and commitment to individual rights.”
Incumbent Brent Johnson has reached his term limit and was unable to run for reelection.
In addition to assembly seats, the Oct. 7 election will also poll residents for seats on the board of education for the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District and for seats on service area boards. More information about all races and candidates can be found at kpb.us under the “Local Governance & Permitting” drop-down menu, then “Current Election Information” under the “Voting & Elections” sub-menu.
Reach reporter Jake Dye at jacob.dye@peninsulaclarion.com.
