The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly at its Tuesday meeting will consider the resignation letter of member Jesse Bjorkman, who was elected in November to represent the northern Kenai Peninsula in the state Senate.
Bjorkman ran concurrently for reelection to the assembly and to represent Senate District D in the Alaska Legislature. He has previously stated his intention to step down from the assembly if elected to the Senate.
Bjorkman has represented Nikiski on the assembly since his election in 2019 as the District 3 representative. Assembly District 3 includes the communities of Nikiski, Gray Cliff and Moose Point, as well Tyonek, Beluga and Kalgin Island, across Cook Inlet. Per a memo from Assembly President Brent Johnson and Vice President Tyson Cox, Bjorkman’s last assembly meeting will be Jan. 3.
Bjorkman’s victory over fellow Republican Tuckerman Babcock and nonpartisan candidate Andy Cizek was made official on Nov. 30 when the Alaska Division of Elections certified the Nov. 8 election results. Official election results show that Bjorkman received nearly 7,000 of the more than 15,000 ballots cast. After ranked choice tabulation, Bjorkman’s share of votes crossed the 50% threshold needed to win.
Bjorkman in a letter of resignation addressed to Johnson celebrated the assembly’s work on public safety, school funding and election security, among other issues, and said it has been his “honor” to represent Nikiski residents on the body.
“I hope that whoever replaces me will be a trusted and respected member of our community,” Bjorkman wrote. “Our new member should be dedicated to honoring the history of our area, while looking for opportunities to promote economic growth in both resource production and recreation.”
Once Bjorkman’s resignation is accepted, Kenai Peninsula Borough Clerk’s Office will begin advertising the District 3 vacancy and assembly members will appoint a candidate. Per the assembly resolution, the application period will be open from Dec. 14 to Jan. 10, 2023.
That timeline, the resolution up for consideration by assembly members Tuesday says, will ensure “there is no gap in representation” for District 3. Whoever the assembly chooses to fill the vacancy left by Bjorkman will serve from the assembly’s Jan. 17 meeting until the next municipal election in Oct. 2023.
“The Assembly extends congratulations and best wishes to State Senator-elect Jesse Bjorkman in his new endeavor,” the assembly resolution says.
People interested in replacing Bjorkman on the assembly must reside in District 3 and must be a registered voter. Tuesday’s meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly can be streamed on the Kenai Peninsula Borough website at kpb.us.
Reach reporter Ashlyn O’Hara at ashlyn.ohara@peninsulaclarion.com.
