The candidate filing period for people interested in running for positions in local government is now open. City councils, the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly and the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education all have seats that will be up for grabs during the Oct. 5 municipal election.
The candidate filing period for Soldotna, Seward and borough elections closes on Aug. 16 at noon. The candidate filing period for Kenai closes on Aug. 16 at 5 p.m.
Soldotna
Three seats are open on the Soldotna City Council. Soldotna City Clerk Shellie Saner said Wednesday that council members Jordan Chilson, Seat C, and Linda Farnsworth-Hutchings, Seat A, have already filed their intent to run in the city’s Oct. 5 municipal election. Seat B, held by Erick Hugarte, will also be open this October.
Chilson has served on the city council since 2018 and confirmed his intent to run for reelection to the Clarion last month. He also works as a programmer/analyst for the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District and has experience on the City of Soldotna’s Planning and Zoning Commission and Parks and Recreation Advisory Board. Chilson holds a Bachelor of Business administration and a Master of Public Administration.
“If elected for another term, I would continue to work hard so that others can benefit from all our city has to offer and find the sense of home here that I have,” Chilson wrote in a candidate statement.
The names of candidates running for vacancies on the Soldotna City Council will be updated at soldotna.org/elections as candidate eligibility is certified.
To be eligible to serve on the Soldotna City Council, individuals must be a U.S. citizen, a qualified voter of the City of Soldotna and have been a resident of the City of Soldotna for at least one year prior to the date the individual declared their candidacy.
Kenai
Kenai City Clerk Jamie Heinz said Wednesday that she had not yet received any candidate filing paperwork.
Two seats on the Kenai City Council will be up for grabs this October: one held by Victoria Askin and one held by Bob Molloy. Askin, who was appointed to the council in December of 2020, said last month that she intends to run for election to her seat this year. In contrast, Molloy, who also serves as the City of Kenai’s vice mayor, said last month he does not intend to run for reelection.
To be eligible to serve on the Kenai City Council, individuals must be at least 21 years old, be qualified voters of the State of Alaska and have been residents of the City of Kenai for at least one year prior to Election Day.
Seward
Seward City Clerk Brenda Ballou said Wednesday that she has not yet received candidate filing paperwork for the two seats up for reelection on the Seward City Council. The two seats, currently held by Sharyl Seese and John Osenga, are three-year terms expiring in October of 2024.
To be eligible to serve on the Seward City Council, interested parties must be a registered voter of the City of Seward and have been a Seward resident for at least one year prior to the date the individual filed their declaration.
Borough Assembly
Kenai Peninsula Borough Clerk Johni Blankenship said Wednesday that only one candidate has filed their intent to run in the Oct. 5 election: Brent Hibbert, who currently serves as assembly president and represents District 1 – Kalifornsky.
Hibbert has served on the assembly since 2017 and also owns and operates Alaska Cab and The Brew coffee shop.
“This past year has been difficult for everyone, the assembly, administration and the entire borough staff has worked hard to keep our borough safe and open for business,” Hibbert wrote in a candidate statement. “We will have many obstacles in front of us this year such as school funding, solid waste and roads. I will continue to support responsible funding for Economic development, Tourism, Education, Roads, Central Peninsula Hospital and to keep the Kenai Peninsula safe and open for business.”
District 6 – East Peninsula and District 9 – South Peninsula seats will also be up for grabs. The assembly’s East Peninsula seat is currently held by Kenn Carpenter and the assembly’s South Peninsula seat is currently held by Willy Dunne. Dunne told the Clarion last month that borough term limits will prevent him from running for reelection.
Candidate filing information for borough elections is updated at https://www.kpb.us/assembly-clerk/elections/election-seats.
Board of Education
Three seats are open on the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education: District 2 – Kenai — currently held by Matt Morse; District 5 – Sterling/Funny River — currently held by Greg Madden; and District 8 – Homer — currently held by Mike Illg.
Morse has already announced his intention to run for reelection, but told the Clarion last month it will be the last time he runs for the seat.
Sept. 5 is the deadline for people to register to vote or to update their voter registration information. More information about the Oct. 5 municipal election can be found on the borough’s election webpage at kpb.us/assembly-clerk/elections.
Reach reporter Ashlyn O’Hara at ashlyn.ohara@peninsulaclarion.com.
