Local municipal candidates finalized

The filing period for local government seats closed Friday and the Kenai Peninsula Borough and cities of Kenai and Soldotna have finalized its list of candidates.

For Borough Mayor, a three-year term, Tom Bearup and Carrol Martin join incumbent Mike Navarre on the ballot.

Borough Assembly has three candidates for District 2-Kenai and District 5-Sterling and one for District 8-Homer, all three-year terms. The currently assembly members for those districts have reached their term limits.

Blaine Gilman, Grayling Bassett and Jake Thompson filed for the Kenai seat held by Hal Smalley. For the Sterling seat, Stan Welles, LaDawn Druce and Marty Anderson are candidates to replace Charlie Pierce. Kelly Cooper filed for the Homer seat held by Bill Smith.

For the Kenai Peninsula Borough School Board, also a three-year term, current president Joe Arness has filed for District 3-Nikiski. Incumbent Penny Vadla is the only candidate for District 4-Soldotna. In District 7-Central, board member Bill Holt and Damon Yerly have filed for the seat.

The City of Soldotna has unopposed incumbents for the mayor and the four open city council spots. Mayor Nels Anderson and council members Paul Whitney, Megan Bos, Linda Murphy and Pete Sprague all filed for their current seats.

The City of Kenai has four candidates to fill two open city council seats. Incumbents Tim Navarre and Mike Boyle have filed while Henry Knackstedt, who is on the city planning and zoning and airport commissions and Holly Spann, who is on the city beautification committee join them on the ballot.

Reach Dan Balmer at daniel.balmer@peninsulaclarion.com.