Last-Minute Filings Create Races for Mayor, Assembly, Schools

Jay Barrett/KMXT

It looks like there will be some contests for most of the Kodiak Island Borough’s elective offices this year. About an hour before the filing deadline Monday, the Kodiak Island Borough Clerk’s Office sent out an updated list of candidates for the 13 open seats, and what was a rather barren field is now mostly filled with contenders. It was not a final list, which will be released later Tuesday.

Perhaps most significant is the entry into the Kodiak Island Borough mayor’s race of former Assemblyman Tom Abell (able). He’ll be facing off against long-time incumbent Jerome Selby.

There are now three candidates for the two assembly seats: incumbent Louise Stutes and challengers Carol Austerman and Scott Arndt.

Former school board member Betty Odell is running again for the board of education, challenging incumbent Melissa Borton.

James Pickett is so far the only candidate for the Fire Protection Number One board seat open, while Dennis Symmons and Greg Spalinger are each seeking one of the two open seats on the Service Area Number One Board. Amanda Henderson and Jessica Horn are the only two candidates for the Women’s Bay Road Service Area. The four open Bay View and Monashka Bay road service area seats still have no candidates.

All terms in all races are for three years. The clerk’s office announced it would send out the final list of candidates around 9 Tuesday morning, so tune into the KMXT Midday Report for the final slate of candidates.