Soldotna City Council now accepting applications

Applications to serve on Soldotna City Council are being accepted until April 17.

With the resignation of Keith Baxter in March, the city is looking to fill City Council Seat F.

At the council’s March 28 meeting, Baxter’s resignation was formally accepted. According to a memo from City Clerk Shellie Saner, the remaining council members must appoint a qualified person to fill the vacancy within 30 days. The appointed person will serve on the council until the next scheduled election on Oct. 2, 2018. Then, the council seat will be placed on the ballot with a term ending in October of 2020.

To be qualified, an individual must be a citizen of the United States, a qualified voter in Alaska and must be a resident of Soldotna for at least one year before applying.

Applicants have to complete an application signed under oath, a employment eligibility verification form and a completed financial disclosure statement. All the documents are due to the city clerk by April 17 at 4 p.m.

Applicants will be interviewed during the council’s regularly scheduled April 25 meeting at 6 p.m. The council will select the newest member by secret ballot.

Baxter had to resign from his position after accepting a job offer and relocating to Anchorage.

“I really hope that there is a good turnout of applications to fill the vacant seat,” Baxter said in a March interview. “Soldotna does struggle, sometimes, with finding willing, capable applicants because there are only 4,500 residents.”

Reach Kat Sorensen at ksorensen@peninsulaclarion.com

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