Elections

State attorneys Elizabeth Bakalar, foreground left, and Margaret Paton-Walsh, foreground right, listen to arguments made by attorney Jon Choate on Thursday, Sept. 21, 2017 in Alaska Superior Court in Juneau. At background left is Judge Philip Pallenberg, who is expected to decide the Alaska Democratic Party’s lawsuit against the state next week. (James Brooks | Juneau Empire File)

Alaska Supreme Court allows independents into Dems’ primary

With an order released Wednesday morning, the Alaska Supreme Court has allowed independents to challenge Democrats in the Democratic Party’s primary elections. The decision has… Continue reading

State attorneys Elizabeth Bakalar, foreground left, and Margaret Paton-Walsh, foreground right, listen to arguments made by attorney Jon Choate on Thursday, Sept. 21, 2017 in Alaska Superior Court in Juneau. At background left is Judge Philip Pallenberg, who is expected to decide the Alaska Democratic Party’s lawsuit against the state next week. (James Brooks | Juneau Empire File)
Rep. Sam Kito III, D-Juneau, right, speaks alongside Marc Luiken, Commissioner of the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities during a breakout session on Alaska Marine Highway System Reform at Southeast Conference at the Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall on Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2018. Kito said this week that he will not seek re-election. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Juneau Rep. Sam Kito III will not run for re-election in 2018

Rep. Sam Kito III ended months of speculation in a Monday interview with the Juneau Empire by declaring he will not run for re-election this… Continue reading

Rep. Sam Kito III, D-Juneau, right, speaks alongside Marc Luiken, Commissioner of the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities during a breakout session on Alaska Marine Highway System Reform at Southeast Conference at the Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall on Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2018. Kito said this week that he will not seek re-election. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Dunleavy makes rounds on peninsula in bid for governor

Former state Senator Mike Dunleavy is out touring the state, rounding up support for his gubernatorial bid. Dunleavy, who represented the Matanuska-Susitna Valley in the… Continue reading

Borough Clerk Johni Blankenship (left) administers the oath of office to Borough Mayor Charlie Pierce during a swearing-in ceremony at the George A. Navarre Borough Administration Building on Monday, Nov. 6, 2017 in Soldotna, Alaska. Pierce won the mayor’s seat in a runoff election held Oct. 24, narrowly defeating opponent Linda Hutchings with a margin of 45 votes. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Pierce hits the ground running as mayor

It’s been a busy few months for the Kenai Peninsula Borough’s new mayor. Charlie Pierce took over the borough mayor’s office Nov. 5 after a… Continue reading

Borough Clerk Johni Blankenship (left) administers the oath of office to Borough Mayor Charlie Pierce during a swearing-in ceremony at the George A. Navarre Borough Administration Building on Monday, Nov. 6, 2017 in Soldotna, Alaska. Pierce won the mayor’s seat in a runoff election held Oct. 24, narrowly defeating opponent Linda Hutchings with a margin of 45 votes. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)
Voter turnout drops by 30 percent between regular election, runoff election

Voter turnout drops by 30 percent between regular election, runoff election

The scenes at Kenai Peninsula polling sites were very different on Oct. 3 and three weeks later on Oct. 24. On Oct. 3, lines stretched… Continue reading

Voter turnout drops by 30 percent between regular election, runoff election
Charlie Pierce speaks during a forum for borough mayoral candidates in September. Pierce is headed for a runoff election against Linda Hutchings on Oct. 24. (Photo by Will Morrow/Peninsula Clarion)

Pierce wins borough mayor’s seat

Charlie Pierce will take over as mayor of the Kenai Peninsula Borough. The final vote tally Tuesday showed Pierce leading opponent Linda Hutchings by a… Continue reading

Charlie Pierce speaks during a forum for borough mayoral candidates in September. Pierce is headed for a runoff election against Linda Hutchings on Oct. 24. (Photo by Will Morrow/Peninsula Clarion)
A car passes supporters waving signs for borough mayoral candidate Charlie Pierce at the intersection of the Sterling Highway and the Kenai Spur Highway on Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2017 in Soldotna, Alaska. Kenai Peninsula voters chose between Pierce and candidate Linda Hutchings for the office of borough mayor on Tuesday. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Absentee ballots narrow gap in mayor’s race; some ballots yet to be counted

The first batch of absentee and questioned ballots brought the runoff race for Kenai Peninsula Borough mayor much closer — candidate Charlie Pierce’s lead over… Continue reading

A car passes supporters waving signs for borough mayoral candidate Charlie Pierce at the intersection of the Sterling Highway and the Kenai Spur Highway on Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2017 in Soldotna, Alaska. Kenai Peninsula voters chose between Pierce and candidate Linda Hutchings for the office of borough mayor on Tuesday. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)
A car passes supporters waving signs for borough mayoral candidate Charlie Pierce at the intersection of the Sterling Highway and the Kenai Spur Highway on Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2017 in Soldotna, Alaska. Kenai Peninsula voters chose between Pierce and candidate Linda Hutchings for the office of borough mayor on Tuesday. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Pierce leads in mayoral runoff

Charlie Pierce is poised take the helm at the Kenai Peninsula Borough for the next three years, according to unofficial mayoral runoff election results. Pierce… Continue reading

A car passes supporters waving signs for borough mayoral candidate Charlie Pierce at the intersection of the Sterling Highway and the Kenai Spur Highway on Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2017 in Soldotna, Alaska. Kenai Peninsula voters chose between Pierce and candidate Linda Hutchings for the office of borough mayor on Tuesday. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)
Charlie Pierce speaks during a forum for borough mayoral candidates Wednesday at a joint meeting of the Kenai and Soldotna Chambers of Commerce at the Kenai Visitors Center. (Photo by Will Morrow/Peninsula Clarion)

Personal attacks muddy mayoral runoff race

A candidate for borough mayor has threatened legal action over comments regarding a 2000 court case, while his opponent says the comments did not come… Continue reading

Charlie Pierce speaks during a forum for borough mayoral candidates Wednesday at a joint meeting of the Kenai and Soldotna Chambers of Commerce at the Kenai Visitors Center. (Photo by Will Morrow/Peninsula Clarion)
Linda Hutchings (standing), a candidate for Kenai Peninsula Borough mayor, answers a question during a forum with fellow candidates Dale Bagley (center) and Charlie Pierce (right) at the Funny River Community Center on Aug. 16, 2017 in Funny River, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion, file)

Absentee ballots counted; results unchanged

None of the Oct. 3 Kenai Peninsula Borough election results have changed after all the absentee ballots have been counted. Kenai Peninsula Borough mayoral candidates… Continue reading

Linda Hutchings (standing), a candidate for Kenai Peninsula Borough mayor, answers a question during a forum with fellow candidates Dale Bagley (center) and Charlie Pierce (right) at the Funny River Community Center on Aug. 16, 2017 in Funny River, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion, file)

With defeat of Prop 1, cannabis industry breathes sigh of relief

Cannabis business owners and employees in the borough outside city limits have a weight off their shoulders on working and expanding their businesses with Kenai… Continue reading

Ann Fraser (left) and Steve Waldron (right), both of Kasilof) wave signs opposing Kenai Peninsula Borough Proposition 1 on the corner of Pollard Loop and the Sterling Highway on Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2017 in Kasilof, Alaska. Voters in Kasilof and the other unincorporated communities of the borough voted Tuesday on Proposition 1, which asked whether commercial cannabis operations should be legal in the borough ouside the city limits. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Borough ballot props fail

Cannabis businesses in the borough outside the cities can continue operations as usual with the failure of Kenai Peninsula Borough Proposition 1, according to Tuesday’s… Continue reading

Ann Fraser (left) and Steve Waldron (right), both of Kasilof) wave signs opposing Kenai Peninsula Borough Proposition 1 on the corner of Pollard Loop and the Sterling Highway on Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2017 in Kasilof, Alaska. Voters in Kasilof and the other unincorporated communities of the borough voted Tuesday on Proposition 1, which asked whether commercial cannabis operations should be legal in the borough ouside the city limits. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Knackstedt, Navarre retain council seats

Kenai city council incumbents Henry Knackstedt and Tim Navarre will retain their seats for a further three year term, while challenger Bob McIntosh said he… Continue reading

Tauriainen beats Arness for Nikiski school board seat

A new face will be representing Nikiski and Tyonek on the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s Board of Education. Jason Tauriainen has beat long-time board… Continue reading

Anderson, Cox, Baxter elected in Soldotna

There were no surprises in Soldotna on Tuesday night, with three candidates running unopposed for three open seats on the city council ballot. Nels Anderson… Continue reading

Hibbert, Smalley, Blakeley poised to join assembly

Hibbert, Smalley, Blakeley poised to join assembly

Norm Blakeley, Brent Hibbert, Hal Smalley, Kelly Cooper and Kenn Carpenter will fill five of the nine seats on the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly, according… Continue reading

Hibbert, Smalley, Blakeley poised to join assembly
Charlie Pierce speaks during a forum for borough mayoral candidates last month. (Photo by Will Morrow/Peninsula Clarion)

Pierce, Hutchings headed to runoff

Charlie Pierce and Linda Hutchings are headed to a runoff election in the race for Kenai Peninsula Borough mayor, according to unofficial results of Tuesday’s… Continue reading

Charlie Pierce speaks during a forum for borough mayoral candidates last month. (Photo by Will Morrow/Peninsula Clarion)

Ballot prop asks to raise sales tax cap to $1,000

Kenai Peninsula residents who voted last year may have a moment of déjà vu when they look at their ballots again this year — one… Continue reading

Duane Bannock (right), a candidate for the District 2 seat on the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly, answers a question during a forum hosted by the Central Peninsula League of Women Voters as fellow candidate Hal Smalley listens Sept. 13, 2017 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Smalley, Bannock face off in District 2

Two familiar political characters are facing off again to represent District 2 to the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly. Voters in the city of Kenai have… Continue reading

Duane Bannock (right), a candidate for the District 2 seat on the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly, answers a question during a forum hosted by the Central Peninsula League of Women Voters as fellow candidate Hal Smalley listens Sept. 13, 2017 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)
This year’s three Kenai city council candidates — incumbents Tim Navarre (left) and Henry Knackstedt, and newcomer Bob McIntosh — respond to questions during a discussion on Wednesday in the Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center. After the municipal elections on Oct. 3, the two top vote-getters will take the two open seats on the seven-person Kenai city council.

3 Kenai council candidates talk business

Members of the Kenai Chamber of Commerce invited the three candidates to a forum on Wednesday, at which they answered questions chamber members had submitted… Continue reading

This year’s three Kenai city council candidates — incumbents Tim Navarre (left) and Henry Knackstedt, and newcomer Bob McIntosh — respond to questions during a discussion on Wednesday in the Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center. After the municipal elections on Oct. 3, the two top vote-getters will take the two open seats on the seven-person Kenai city council.