Fifteen people have filed for candidacy so far in the Petersburg Borough’s upcoming local election. The filing deadline is next Tuesday.
There are 20 open seats among several boards slated for the October 7 ballot, including a mayoral race. As of Wednesday night, only the races for Borough Assembly and the Public Safety Advisory Board are contested, and other boards could have vacancies.
Assembly members Scott Newman and Donna Marsh’s terms expire this year.
Although Newman isn’t running to retain his assembly seat, he is currently the only person who has filed to run for mayor. Mayor Mark Jensen announced in June that he will not run for reelection after nearly two decades serving in elected local office.
Marsh, who currently serves as vice mayor, will run for reelection to the Petersburg Borough Assembly this fall. Raliegh Cook and Bob Martin have also filed to run for assembly.
Three hospital board seats will be open for election. The seats are currently filled by Joe Stratman, Cindi Lagoudakis, and Kimberley Simbahon. Lagoudakis is currently the only person who has filed for a hospital board seat.
The school board has two seats opening up as Sarah Holmgrain and Niccole Olsen’s terms expire this year. At the school board meeting on Tuesday, Olsen announced she will not run for reelection because she has “too much on [her] plate right now.” Holmgrain, who is the longtime school board president, says she plans to run again; however, she has not yet filed the candidacy paperwork with the borough.
Also on the ballot will be two seats on the Harbor and Ports Advisory Board. Wally McDonald and incumbent Casey Knight are running for them. John Murgas’ term expires this fall.
Two Public Safety Advisory Board seats are up for election. Stan Hjort filed for candidacy. Both incumbents, John Lichtenberger and Devren Bennett, have filed to run again.
Incumbents Barb Fish and Debra Dzijuksuk O’Gara are running for the two Library Advisory Board seats.
Incumbents Chrystine Lynn and Michelle Pfundt are running for the Parks and Rec Advisory Board. The third open seat on that board is held by Sarah Fine-Walsh, but she has filed to run for one of three open seats on the Planning Commission instead this year. Jim Floyd, Phillip Meeks, and Donald Sperl’s terms on the commission are up this year, but none of them have filed for candidacy yet.
Candidates can only run for one elected position at a time, per Borough code. If no more people file for them, there could be vacant seats on the Parks and Rec Advisory Board, Planning Commission, Hospital Board and School Board.
The candidacy filing window closes in less than a week. Borough residents can submit paperwork to the borough clerk until 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, August 26.
You can find more election information linked on the KFSK online community calendar, and here: Run for Office | Petersburg Alaska.
