During his first year on the job, Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Mike Navarre has sought to walk a middle road as the borough’s chief administrator by relying on communications and negotiations, playing politics close to the chest and promoting his desire to be seen as a brainstormer and collector of expert opinions.

Navarre has navigated several borough controversies and mitigated disasters including damaging wind storms, record snowfalls, one of the poorest returns of king salmon in recent memory and major flooding of Seward, the Kenai River and other portions of the Peninsula.

Kenai Peninsula voters will cast a ballot for three, uncontested local seats in the Alaska Legislature during Tuesday’s general election.

Incumbent Republican House candidates Kurt Olson and Mike Chenault will join Republican Senate candidate and current Soldotna Mayor Peter Micciche in the contest for seats in a legislative session likely to be dominated by discussions of oil taxes, gas pipelines and annual budget wrestling.

Olson and Micciche won close races during August’s Republican primary to advance to the general election, while Chenault faced no challengers.

Recently, several locals shared their thoughts on animal control issues on the Peninsula with us, advocating for some sort of effort to address a spreading problem.

As the human population of the area grows and spreads into the rural areas, so does the population of animals and pets like horses, goats, dogs, cats and others, increasing the likelihood of animal abuse or neglect.

Central Peninsula Hospital will soon survey area residents on what health services they feel are needed in the area to help shape how the hospital grows and works in the community, officials said.

The University of New England’s Center for Health Policy, Planning and Research will be polling 600 randomly-selected area households for the survey, according to information provided by the hospital. Mail surveys started hitting mailboxes Friday and phone surveys will begin on Nov. 2.