Election season, whether you’re ready or not, is coming up soon. This year, the League of Women Voters and the Kenai Peninsula Borough Clerk’s Office are teaming up to provide some basics on how to become a candidate for local office.
Borough Clerk Johni Blankenship says the idea came from a similar program in Juneau.
"The League of Women Voters actually approached me. It was something they had heard about from the Juneau League of Voters that had put this workshop together in Juneau in collaboration with the clerk down there. This is the first time and we’re very excited.”
The workshop will show the details of how to get your name on the ballot, while Soldotna Mayor Pete Sprague will offer some insight based on his experience in elected office.
“From myself, they’re going to learn the legalities and logistics — the who, what, when, where, whys of running for public office," Blankenship said. "And then from Mayor Sprague, they’re going to learn the candidate's point of view. (And) I think that’s the main thing, is just to make people aware that the opportunity exists. It’s not that difficult at all to participate, and it gives them a voice in local government.”
It’s no small task for the Clerk’s Office. In addition to five assembly seats, the borough mayor’s office and four spots on the school board, there are 10 service area boards with a total of 25 seats up for election, candidates for which all need to be verified.
The How to Run for Local Office workshop is happening July 31 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Borough Building in Soldotna. The filing period for candidates is Aug. 1 to Aug. 15.