Kenai City Clerk Shellie Saner administered oaths of office to incoming Kenai City Council members Alex Douthit and Victoria Askin, as well as to Mayor Brian Gabriel. All three won seats on the council during the Oct. 4 municipal election, during which about 18.2% of eligible city voters cast ballots.
Alex Douthit emerged as the top vote-getter among the three candidates running for the two open seats on city council, clenching about 38.5% of all votes cast. The second highest vote-getter was Victoria Askin, who received about 32.4% of all votes cast, followed by Glenese Pettey with about 28.2% of votes cast.
Both Douthit and Askin currently serve on the Kenai Planning and Zoning Commission. Their move to the council will open two spots on the commission.
Voters also overwhelmingly supported Kenai Mayor Brian Gabriel’s bid for reelection on Oct. 4. Gabriel, who was challenged for the seat by council member Teea Winger for the position, secured about 70.1% of votes cast. That’s compared to Winger, who received about 29.7% of votes cast.
Wednesday’s council meeting was the last for Kenai Vice Mayor Jim Glendening and council member Glenese Pettey, both of whom were presented with plaques by Gabriel thanking them for their service on the council.
“It has been a great honor to be able to serve our community,” Pettey said. “I want to express my congratulations to Ms. Askin and Mr. Douthit and I wish you the best as the newest council members here at the city.”
Glendening, who did not run for reelection to the council, also took time Wednesday to congratulate new council members.
“It’s been a pleasure working with all of you for the past few years,” Glendening said.
The new council members sworn in during Wednesday’s Kenai City Council meeting will officially begin their duties on Monday and will take their seats on dais for the council’s Nov. 2 meeting.
Wednesday’s full council meeting can be streamed on the City of Kenai’s YouTube channel.
Reach reporter Ashlyn O’Hara at ashlyn.ohara@peninsulaclarion.com.
Kenai City Clerk Shellie Saner, right, swears in Victoria Askin during a Kenai City Council meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Mayor Brian Gabriel, center, presents Kenai City Council member Glenese Pettey, left, and Kenai Vice Mayor Jim Glendening with plaques at a council meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai City Clerk Shellie Saner, right, swears in Kenai Mayor Brian Gabriel during a Kenai City Council meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2022 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
