The City of Kenai swore in two council members and certified the results of the Oct. 3 election during Thursday night’s city council meeting.

Council members opened the meeting by certifying the results of the election. Kenai City Clerk Shellie Saner then administered oaths of office to the two successful city council candidates. Henry Knackstedt, who has served on the council since 2014, was reelected for a three-year term and received the most votes of the four candidates running.

Phillip Daniel was also elected after edging narrowly ahead of incumbent candidate Teea Winger. Though Winger was leading on election night, Daniel pulled ahead by five votes after the city counted absentee and other outstanding ballots. Glenese Pettey, a former city council member, also ran for a seat on the council.

The Kenai City Clerk’s office reported that 819 ballots were cast during the Oct. 3 election of the 6,375 registered voters in the City of Kenai, resulting in a voter turnout of about 12.6%.

Multiple council members during Thursday’s meeting thanked those who ran for a seat and for giving city voters more than one choice on this year’s ballot.

“I, as co-chair of one of the precincts … was looking at the ballots all day long,” said council member Deborah Sounart. “Again, I will say it was heartwarming to see that the Kenai ballot had choices, and awesome choices. I mean, we really couldn’t have gone wrong with any of the four and I still say that that speaks volumes for our city.”

Knackstedt and Daniel’s city council terms officially begin on Monday. Complete results from Kenai’s Oct. 3 election can be found on the city’s website at kenai.city.

Reach reporter Ashlyn O’Hara at ashlyn.ohara@peninsulaclarion.com.

CORRECTION: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated the day of the week on which the Kenai City Council meeting was held. The meeting was held on Thursday, Oct. 19. Additionally, council member Henry Knackstedt was first elected to the council in 2014.

Kenai City Clerk Shellie Saner (right) administers an oath of office to Henry Knackstedt during a Kenai City Council meeting on Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023 in Kenai, Alaska. Knackstedt was elected to the council during the Oct. 3 election. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)