Voters in the city of Kenai could have a few questionsto settle on the fall ballot. Three questions dealing with local elections are up for discussion and possible inclusion on the ballot at this week’s city council meeting.
The first proposed ballot question would make it a little easier for potential candidates in the city of Kenai by changing the part of city code that requires candidates running for mayor and city council gather at least twenty signatures from registered voters in order to get themselves on the ballot. That requriement would be removed entirely.
Another proposal for the ballot would change term limits, but not by much. Currently, the council certifies election results the second meeting after the election. This means that for one full meeting and for a part of a second, there are typically some lame ducks behind the dais. The ballot question asks voters if they’d like to change the start of a new term to the Monday after elections are certified, so that a new council and mayor wouldn’t have to play musical chairs during the second meeting following the election.
And the third proposed ballot measure create designated seats for each council member. Right now, all council members are elected at-large. Voters choose two and the top vote getters win a seat. Under the ballot measure, those at-large council positions would be designated as A through F. In a memo, council member Henry Knackstedt and Vice-Mayor Tim Navarre said this would allow someone to run for a particular seat or against a particular candidate. Navarre and Knackstedt are co-sponsors for all three ballot measures and they’ll all receive a public hearing when the council meets Wednesday at 6 p.m.
