Assembly selects Schaefer to represent Kenai

Jill Schaefer is taking over the job representing District 2 on the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly after being elected by secret ballot.

The assembly selected Schaefer at the general assembly meeting Tuesday to represent District 2, which includes most of the city of Kenai. Because the seat was already vacant, she assumed the duties and began voting on issues immediately Tuesday night. She will serve until the October election, when she will either be re-elected or the winner of the election will assume the post.

After former assembly member Blaine Gilman resigned effective Jan. 18, four people applied for the seat — Thomas Randell Daly, Schaefer, Hal Smalley and Shauna Thornton. Other than Smalley, all three were new to public office.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

Candidates needed to receive at least five votes to win. On the first round of voting, Smalley and Thornton were eliminated, with Daly receiving three votes and Schaefer receiving four. In the second round, Schaefer received five votes and Daly three.

The assembly interviewed all four Tuesday afternoon. Daly, who owns HiSpeed Gear in Soldotna, said he applied because he felt it was time to give back to the community.

“I have a need to serve the community,” he said. “… Through the years, I have been involved and invested in the community I serve in.”

A longtime resident, he said he had been a member of various chambers of commerce, community clubs and involved in the school district. The borough will be facing a number of issues in the upcoming year, most notably the challenge of the budget crisis facing the state. Daly said the borough should live within its budgetary means and he would like to see more money be spent locally, supporting local businesses.

Schaefer, who works with the Alaska Support Industry Alliance, a nonprofit advocating for oil and gas support companies, has lived in Kenai for approximately three years. She said she would bring a fresh perspective to the assembly — one of people raising young families on the Kenai. As the president of the local Republican Women’s Club and having worked on a number of political campaigns, she said she was familiar with the issues facing the borough, most notably the budget. She said one of the most important aspects of the budget is the importance of funding education responsibly and making sure the budget is not “bloated.”

She said she had experience resolving conflict and understanding opposing points of view through her work with the Alliance, community involvement and working on political campaigns.

“You have to have an end goal (in resolving conflict),” she said. “… I think compromise is huge.”

Smalley said he applied after multiple people had asked him during his mayoral campaign in 2016 to apply for the seat. He served on the assembly from 2008–2014, reaching the term limit in 2014. He said he would approach the budget thoughtfully as the borough assembly considered expenses.

“We’ve heard stuff about cost analysis — well, we’re going to have to look at that. We’ve heard stuff about cuts, well, we’re going to have to look at that,” Smalley said during his interview.

Thornton, who attended the committee interview by phone from Juneau, said she applied because she wanted to make sure young people felt connected to the government process. She has been involved in a number of boards over the years and ran for the Alaska House of Representatives in 2016, and said she regularly has conversations with members of the community about issues. On the budget, she said the assembly “could not compromise” on education funding but had to be thoughtful about expenses.

“It’s going to be interesting,” she said. “… A lot is going to depend on what happens nationally and at the state level.”

Daly and Schaefer said they were planning to run in the fall, and Smalley and Thornton said they were not sure if they would run yet.

Reach Elizabeth Earl at elizabeth.earl@peninsulaclarion.com.

More in News

The Alaska Dive Search Rescue and Recovery Team conducts a training mission in Seward, Alaska in 2024. Photo courtesy of the Alaska Dive Search Rescue and Recovery Team
Anchor Point fundraiser to benefit Alaska rescue and recovery group

Alaska Dive Search Rescue and Recovery Team is an all-volunteer nonprofit organization established in 2016.

Kachemak Bay Family Planning Clinic staff (left to right) Angie Holland, RN; Jane Rohr, Sonja Martin Young, CNM; Robin Holmes, MD; and Cherie Bole, CMA provide an array of reproductive and sexual health services. (Photo provided by KBFPC)
Kachemak Bay Family Planning Clinic releases report on STI trends on the Kenai Peninsula

The report pulls from data gathered from 2024 to early 2025.

Pool manager and swim coach Will Hubler leads a treading water exercise at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, June 17, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Swimmers, parents call on Kenai to support Kenai Central pool

The KPBSD Board of Education last week said communities will need to step up and take over administration of pools within the next year.

Traffic passes by South Spruce Street in Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai drops effort to rename South Spruce Street

The resolution would have changed the name to make it clear which road led to North Kenai Beach

Gov. Mike Dunleavy compares Alaska to Mississippi data on poverty, per-pupil education spending, and the 2024 National Assessment of Education Progress fourth grade reading scores during a press conference on Jan. 31, 2025. Alaska is highlighted in yellow, while Mississippi is in red. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Dunleavy calls special session for August

Lawmakers on Wednesday said they were surprised by the move.

A makeshift coffin decrying the risks of Medicaid funding cuts is seen on Thursday, June 26, in front of the Blazy Mall in Soldotna. The cuts were included in legislation passed by the U.S. Senate early Tuesday morning. (Photo by Jonas Oyoumick/Peninsula Clarion)
Ahead of Senate vote, Soldotna protesters defend Medicaid funding

Cuts to the program were included in legislation passed by the U.S. Senate early Tuesday morning.

Board President Zen Kelly speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s Board of Education in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, Dec. 2, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Peninsula Borough school board to finalize budget

The new budget designed by the committee will be considered at a public hearing during the full board meeting on Monday evening.

The Russian River Sanctuary Area is seen in the area labeled B in this map provided by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. (courtesy)
Strong sockeye run prompts early open of Russian River Sanctuary

In regulation, the confluence is expected to be open from July 15 to Aug. 20.

The Swan Lake Fire can be seen from above on Monday, Aug. 26 on the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Alaska Wildland Fire Information)
Burn suspension lifted for Kenai Peninsula and Kodiak

The public is asked to remain vigilant while burning due to minimal available resources.

Most Read