KMXT 100.1 FM Public Radio in Kodiak, Alaska
Election season officially kicked off yesterday (Monday) here in Kodiak, with the availability of nominating forms at both the city and borough clerks’ offices for Kodiak Island Borough Assembly, School Board, Kodiak City Council and several service area districts. Jay Barrett has more.
Municipal Election Day in Kodiak is Tuesday, October 7.
There are elections at all levels of government this year, from President of the United States, to Alaska’s U.S. Senator and Congressman, Kodiak’s State House Representative, borough assembly, school board, city council and service areas.
Nominating packets became available yesterday for both borough and city candidates. The process is similar: Prospective candidates need to fill out various forms and collect 10 signatures from registered voters to qualify for the ballot. They will also have to provided financial disclosure information, though it’s different in and out of the city
— (Election 1 10 sec “… financial disclosure statement.”)
That’s Borough Clerk Nova Javier describing the forms that have gotten so much attention from the borough assembly this year. Some feel they are so intrusive that the assembly is putting on the ballot a measure asking voters to exempt borough officials from filling them out, in favor of the older, less intrusive forms.
City of Kodiak candidates don’t have to worry about the newer, more detailed forms, but still have to provide some financial information, according to City Clerk Debbie Marlar:
— (Election 2 30 sec “… meet all the criteria, they will be a candidate.”)
On the Kodiak City Council, the terms of the two longest-serving members are open: Charlie Davidson and Tom Walters have both been on the council for 15 years. Likewise, the term of long-serving Kodiak Island Borough Assemblyman Tom Abell, who’s been in office for 12 years, is up for grabs, as well as the seats held for the last three years by Reed Oswalt and Sue Jeffrey. All of those terms are for three years, as are two seats on the School Board currently held by Betty Odell and Jeff Stephan (steven). The seat Peggy Rauwolf was appointed to earlier this year after the resignation of Peggy Tuttle is also available for a one-year term.
Javier says there are also a number of seats available for the many service area boards:
— (Election 3 41 sec “… Spencer Schaefer resigned July 17th.”)
The first day to return the nominating packets is next Monday, August 11th. The last day to throw your hat into the ring is Friday, August 29th for assembly, school board or service area seats, and September 5th for city council. The minimum age to run in the borough is 18, though for the city council, it’s 21.
I’m Jay Barrett.
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