Incumbents Shun Posts In Upcoming Election

Casey Kelly/KMXT

A lot of familiar names will be missing from the local election ballot when Kodiak voters go to the polls this October. Four incumbents for prominent local government seats have decided not to seek re-election. KMXT’s Casey Kelly has more.

Longtime Kodiak City Councilman Charlie Davidson announced last week that he wasn’t going to seek a sixth consecutive three-year term on the city’s ruling body. Before last week’s regular council meeting, Davidson said it’s just time for him to move on.

(Davidson 1 :15s “…maybe it’s time for a change.”)

Davidson says he has few regrets from his time on the council, although he admits to being disappointed that he’ll leave with the new Kodiak city jail and police station project still unfinished.

(Davidson 2 :30s “…you see in the local council.”)

In 2006, Davidson ran for State Senate as a Democrat against Kodiak Senator Gary Stevens. But he says he doesn’t have any plans to seek elected office in the future.

(Davidson 3 :11s “…those who have like opinions.”)

Kodiak Island Borough Assembly members Tom Abell and Reed Oswalt have also decided not to seek re-election. Oswalt couldn’t be reached for comment. But Abell, like Davidson, says he feels that it’s just time for a change in local government.

(Abell 1 :26s “…those people are not involved.”)

Also like Davidson, Abell says he’s proud that the borough assembly has kept taxes in check during his four terms of service.

(Abell 2 :33s “…don’t need to raise it, lower it.”)

Unlike Davidson, Abell says he plans to run for office again in a few years.

(Abell 3 :23s “…then we’ll see from there.”)

School Board President Betty Odell has also decided not to seek office again. She also could not be reached for comment.

The lack of candidates means that at least one open seat on the borough assembly and one on the school board will have no one vying for them. The assembly seat is for a full three-year term, while the school board seat is a one-year vacancy.

The other incumbent facing reelection on the city council this year, Tom Walters, filed Tuesday. So far he and former administrative assistant to Police Chief T.C. Kamai, Paul Smith, are the only candidates for two vacancies on the council. The deadline to submit nominating forms for those seats is Friday at 5 p.m. The municipal election is October 7^th.

I’m Casey Kelly.

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