Photo by Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion Kenai Mayor Pat Porter, who is finishing her 12 years as mayor and flying to her new home in Texas Thursday morning, speaks to attendees at her farewell party Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2016 in the Kenai City Council Chambers in Kenai, Alaska. Prior to her speech, council members Tim Navarre and Brian Gabriel presented Porter with an appreciation tropy, (pictured closest to Porter) created by Scott Hamman of Kenai's Metal Magic welding and blacksmith shop, and a blown-glass "Spirit of Industry" trophy awarded during Kenai's Industry Appreciation Days in August but given Wednesday. Porter told listeners she began public life in Kenai as a Girl Scout leader, later serving as Director of the Kenai Senior Center, a city council member, and mayor since 2004. She told the crowd politics had never been an ambition of hers - in high school, she wanted to be a flight attendent. Along with Kenai employees and members of the public, the party was attended by Kenai council member Henry Knackstedt and Alaska Governor Bill Walker, who was in town for a State Chamber of Commerce meeting on Wednesday.

Photo by Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion Kenai Mayor Pat Porter, who is finishing her 12 years as mayor and flying to her new home in Texas Thursday morning, speaks to attendees at her farewell party Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2016 in the Kenai City Council Chambers in Kenai, Alaska. Prior to her speech, council members Tim Navarre and Brian Gabriel presented Porter with an appreciation tropy, (pictured closest to Porter) created by Scott Hamman of Kenai's Metal Magic welding and blacksmith shop, and a blown-glass "Spirit of Industry" trophy awarded during Kenai's Industry Appreciation Days in August but given Wednesday. Porter told listeners she began public life in Kenai as a Girl Scout leader, later serving as Director of the Kenai Senior Center, a city council member, and mayor since 2004. She told the crowd politics had never been an ambition of hers - in high school, she wanted to be a flight attendent. Along with Kenai employees and members of the public, the party was attended by Kenai council member Henry Knackstedt and Alaska Governor Bill Walker, who was in town for a State Chamber of Commerce meeting on Wednesday.

Photo: Stepping down

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