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Two file for vacant Soldotna council seat

The Soldotna city council will vote for one of two candidatesto fill a recently-vacated council seat when it meets Wednesday.

Keith Baxter resigned from the council last month, leaving a partial term to fill in Seat F. Two applicants have filed; Jordan Chilson and Justin Ruffridge.

 

Ruffridge is a pharmacist in Soldotna and holds a doctorate in that field. He was recently appointed to the city’s planning and zoning commission. In his filing with the city, he says his top priorities are dealing with annexation and, and increasing retail opportunities in the city, while preserving natural resources and placing more emphasis on the Kenai river.

 

Jordan Chilson is also a local. He works in the Borough school district information department as a programmer and analyst and holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and is pursuing a master’s in public administration. In his filing, Chilson also lists annexation as a top priority. Citing a dip in visitors and, by extension, sales tax revenue, he is also looking to diversify the city’s revenue base. And he’s interested in Soldotna and Kenai getting together on water and sewer infrastructure projects in the future.

 

The council will interview both candidates Wednesday before voting. A simple majority will take the seat and a new council member will be sworn in immediately. The partial term for seat F is over in October.

 

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