Victoria Askin and Linda Farnsworth-Hutchings filled vacancies on the Kenai and Soldotna city councils Wednesday night after interviews were conducted by their respective councils.
The Kenai City Council interviewed nine candidates for their seat, which became vacant after former council member Robert Peterkin abruptly resigned last month.
Among the candidates interviewed by the Kenai City Council were Tim Navarre, who ran unsuccessfully for reelection to his seat on the council during the Oct. 6 municipal election, small business owners and others with varying government experience.
According to her application for the vacancy, Askin, who has lived in Kenai for 35 years, has served on the Harbor Commission, the KPB Local Emergency Planning Committee, the Cook Inlet Harbor Safety Committee and on the Planning and Zoning Commission.
“I think I am fair and equitable in making decisions and voting [on] issues on that commission,” Askin said. “I’ve been a resident of Kenai for 35 years and as a mom working with the schools and nonprofits and for-profit companies, I think I can drill down and find the commonality we have — the common ground between two opposing issues.”
On the same night in Soldotna, a similar interview process was underway for its open city council seat, which by the end of the night was filled by Linda Farnsworth-Hutchings. Farnsworth-Hutchings recently ran for Kenai Peninsula Borough mayor, which she ultimately lost to incumbent Charlie Pierce.
The seat Farnsworth-Hutchings filled became vacant after the Oct. 6 municipal election, when Paul Whitney ran successfully for mayor of Soldotna and no one ran to fill the seat he vacated on the council.
“I have worked both state, municipal, non-profit, and private sector budgets – I am aware of the impact that Soldotna has on the residents of the City and those in outlying areas that enjoy our City,” Farnsworth-Hutchings said in her letter of intent to the council. “I work well with many legislators on both sides of the aisle and feel that I can bring additional perspective to the Council.”
Both Askin and Farnsworth-Hutchings will serve partial terms until the next election.
Reach reporter Ashlyn O’Hara at ashlyn.ohara@peninsulaclarion.com.
