Assemblywoman Carol Austerman Resigns

Picture of Carol Austerman. Via the Kodiak Island Borough website.

Kayla Desroches/KMXT

Assemblywoman Carol Austerman resigned last night at the Kodiak Island Borough Assembly regular meeting. She announced her decision during Assembly Members’ Comments.

“My husband has been offered a job overseas and we will be moving,” says Austerman. “So, since my family will be preparing for this move, that has to be my priority and I’m no longer gonna be able to give the amount of time necessary to be successful in this volunteer position with the Borough Assembly, so I definitely want to thank my constituency for giving me the opportunity to serve our community over the past few years. Thank you.”

Austerman says the resignation is effective at the end of this month.

There was a brief silence after she finished, and Assemblyman Dan Rohrer was up next for Assembly Members’ Comments.

“I’m not really sure what to say. We’re sorry to see you leave. Although, it’s probably going to be really fun to live overseas,” says Rohrer. “Thank you for your service.”

Assemblyman Aaron Griffin also offered some words of parting to Austerman, who he says guided him when he first joined the Assembly.

“I cannot say with words what a pleasure it has been to serve with Carol,” says Griffin. “From day one, [she] was the first assemblymember who called me and drug me out to coffee when she heard I was gonna take the seat and helped me understand this beast that we’re part of.”

Griffin also commented on Austerman’s time as an assemblywoman.

“To have a moderate voice is a hard place to be, to be able to weigh things on both sides and not always come out as that harsh conservative line or on that ‘I’m gonna spend everything’ line and find that middle balance that is responsible, that maintains our services, but doesn’t break the bank and I’ve been very proud to have served with Carol, and I thank you so much for your service.”

Other items on the agenda were the adoption of the Borough’s fiscal year 2016 budget, which comes at the end of a series of long meetings and late nights. The Borough Assembly’s next work session is scheduled for June 11 and its next regular meeting for June 18.