Filing Period Open Locally, Primary Voting Begins

Jay Barrett/KMXT – Joaqlin Estus/KNBA
The registration period opened on the first for candidates running for local office.
As of Friday, only incumbent Dave Kaplan has filed for another three-year term on the Kodiak Island Borough Assembly. He, along with assemblymen Tuck Bonney and Mel Stevens all have terms expiring this year.
There is a pair of seats on the Kodiak City Council for three-year terms that will come available. They belong to Randy Bishop and Terry Haines.
On the Kodiak Island Borough School Board, two terms will expire, those of President Katie Oliver and the seat previously held by Todd Hailey.
There are also 10 service area board seats available for three-year terms.
The deadline to toss your hat into the ring for local elections is August 15th, and the Kodiak Municipal Election is on October 7th.
Meanwhile, even though the August 19th primary is 15 days away, voting opens today [Monday] for early absentee, special needs and electronic transmission voting.
State Elections Director Gail Fenumiai says the state has already set up polling places across Alaska.
“They can go to a variety of locations throughout the state and in front of an absentee voting official and cast their ballot.”
People have until Saturday to apply for a mail-in ballot, and until August 18th to apply for an electronic ballot.
“Voting will continue through election day and then polls will be open on August 19th from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. for all voters to go vote in person at their polling place on election day,” she said. “Early voting and absentee voting is designed for those voters who know they will not be able to make it to their polling place on election day.”
In the primary election, voters will decide whether to accept or reject an oil and gas production tax bill, Senate Bill 21, the legislature adopted last session, and they’ll pick the candidates for U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives, Governor and Lt. Governor, and the state Legislature that will move forward into the general election.