From left, Dave Carey, Linda Farnsworth-Hutchings, Zach Hamilton and Peter Micciche participate in a Kenai Peninsula Borough mayor candidate forum on Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

From left, Dave Carey, Linda Farnsworth-Hutchings, Zach Hamilton and Peter Micciche participate in a Kenai Peninsula Borough mayor candidate forum on Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Voting for special mayoral race underway

Election day is Feb. 14

Absentee in-person voting for the special Kenai Peninsula Borough mayoral race started Monday.

Vying for the seat are former Alaska Sen. Peter Micciche, Soldotna City Council members Linda Farnsworth-Hutchings and Dave Carey, and Brothers Cafe Co-Owner Zachary Hamilton. Whoever is elected will take over for interim Mayor Mike Navarre, who the assembly appointed last fall to take over after the resignation of Charlie Pierce.

The deadline to apply for an absentee by mail ballot is Feb. 7 and the deadline to apply for an absentee by fax ballot is Feb. 13. Election day is Feb. 14, with certification of results by the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly scheduled for Feb. 21.

Polls on election day will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Borough code requires borough mayors to be elected with a majority of votes cast. If no candidate receives the majority of votes, the top two vote-getters advance to a runoff election. Per the special election schedule, election certification is scheduled for Feb. 21, followed by a runoff election, if needed, on March 7.

Absentee in-person voting for the special runoff election, if needed, will begin on Monday, Feb. 27.

More information about the 2023 special mayoral election, including an absentee ballot application, can be found on the Kenai Peninsula Borough elections website at kpb.us/vote.

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

Location Address Hours of operation

Borough Clerk’s Office 144 N. Binkley St., Soldotna M-F: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Homer Annex Office 638 E. Pioneer Ave., Homer M-F: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Kenai City Clerk’s Office 210 Fidalgo Ave., Kenai M-F: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Seldovia City Clerk’s Office 235 Dock St., Seldovia M-F: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Seward City Clerk’s Office 410 Adams St., Seward M-F: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

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