In the middle of a year with a hotly contested state legislature election, congressional election, and presidential election, it can be easy to forget about municipal elections. But the Kenai Peninsula has those this year, too, with some major seats up for grabs.
The Kenai Peninsula Borough’s municipal candidate filing period opened today and runs through noon on August 17. The borough mayor’s office and three assembly seats, including the ones from Kenai, Sterling/Funny River, and Homer are up for election. The Board of Education has four seats up for election, including those representing Nikiski, Soldotna, East Peninsula, and Central. All of those are three-year terms.
There are also a number of service area board seats up for election, including Bear Creek Fire Service Area, Central Emergency Services, Nikiski Fire Service Area, North Peninsula Recreation Service Area, Seward-Bear Creek Flood Service Area, and the South Kenai Peninsula Hospital Service Area. Most of those are three-year terms as well.
The applications for candidacy are available on the borough clerk’s website, as is more information about registering to vote. The election is scheduled for October 6.
The cities have their own elections, too, though they’re held on the same day. The City of Kenai has two city council positions open, each with a three-year term. The application period for candidacy opened Saturday and closes at 5 p.m. on August 17. Candidates have to be at least 21, be registered to vote in Alaska, and have lived in the city of Kenai for at least a year prior to election day.
In Soldotna, there are two council seats and the mayor’s office up for election. All are three-year terms. The candidate filing period started Saturday and closes at noon on August 17. To qualify in Soldotna, a candidate has to be a registered voter in Alaska, a U.S. citizen, and have lived in the city for at least a year prior to filing their candidacy. Candidate packets are available on the Soldotna city clerk’s website or at City Hall.
Early voting for the municipal elections opens September 21, with absentee-by-mail applications due by September 29.
Reach Elizabeth Earl at eearl@kdll.org.
