Kenai Peninsula Borough

From left, Dave Carey, Linda Farnsworth-Hutchings, Zach Hamilton and Peter Micciche participate in a Kenai Peninsula Borough mayor candidate forum on Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2023 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Cash pours into borough mayoral race

Campaign disclosure reports filed with the Alaska Public Offices Commission show that tens of thousands of dollars have flowed into the race

From left, Dave Carey, Linda Farnsworth-Hutchings, Zach Hamilton and Peter Micciche participate in a Kenai Peninsula Borough mayor candidate forum on Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2023 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
The boundaries of Nikiski’s Advisory Planning Commission, as petitioned by residents. (Map via Kenai Peninsula Borough)

Assemby split on Nikiski land group scope

A tied vote killed efforts to reduce the geographic area of Nikiski’s advisory planning commission

The boundaries of Nikiski’s Advisory Planning Commission, as petitioned by residents. (Map via Kenai Peninsula Borough)
From left, borough mayoral candidates Dave Carey, Peter Micciche, Zachary Hamilton and Linda Farnsworth-Hutchings participate in a candidate forum held at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Candidates make final pitches at Soldotna forum

The election is Tuesday, Feb. 14

From left, borough mayoral candidates Dave Carey, Peter Micciche, Zachary Hamilton and Linda Farnsworth-Hutchings participate in a candidate forum held at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
KPBSD Finance Director Elizabeth Hayes (left) gives a presentation on the school district’s FY23 budget at Soldotna High School on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2021, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

School district budget forums start next week

In Homer, Kenai and Seward district finance staff will provide an overview of district finances

KPBSD Finance Director Elizabeth Hayes (left) gives a presentation on the school district’s FY23 budget at Soldotna High School on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2021, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly members Tyson Cox (right) and Richard Derkevorkian (center) discuss an amendment to legislation that raised the borough mayor’s salary at an assembly meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly hikes borough mayor’s pay

The pay bump does not apply to current Borough Mayor Mike Navarre, or to whoever is elected through the special mayoral election

Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly members Tyson Cox (right) and Richard Derkevorkian (center) discuss an amendment to legislation that raised the borough mayor’s salary at an assembly meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Peninsula Borough mayoral candidate Linda Farnsworth-Hutchings addresses the KPBSD Board of Education on Monday, Feb. 6, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Mayoral candidates reiterate commitment to school funding

Dave Carey, Linda Farnsworth-Hutchings, Zach Hamilton and Peter Micciche spoke to KPBSD Board of Education members

Kenai Peninsula Borough mayoral candidate Linda Farnsworth-Hutchings addresses the KPBSD Board of Education on Monday, Feb. 6, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
A “Vote Here” sign is seen at the City of Kenai building on Monday, Sept. 21, 2020, in Kenai, Alaska. (Peninsula Clarion file)

Voices of the Peninsula: Get out there and Vote!

The League of Women Voters on the Kenai and Kenai Peninsula Votes created this voter guide for the mayoral election

A “Vote Here” sign is seen at the City of Kenai building on Monday, Sept. 21, 2020, in Kenai, Alaska. (Peninsula Clarion file)
From left, Dave Carey, Linda Farnsworth-Hutchings, Zach Hamilton and Peter Micciche participate in a Kenai Peninsula Borough mayor candidate forum on Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Voting for special mayoral race underway

Election day is Feb. 14

From left, Dave Carey, Linda Farnsworth-Hutchings, Zach Hamilton and Peter Micciche participate in a Kenai Peninsula Borough mayor candidate forum on Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
From left, Dave Carey, Linda Farnsworth-Hutchings, Zach Hamilton and Peter Micciche participate in a Kenai Peninsula Borough mayor candidate forum on Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2023 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Borough mayoral candidates participate in Tuesday forum

The forum was hosted by the Peninsula Clarion and KDLL 91.9 FM in partnership with the Central Peninsula League of Women Voters

From left, Dave Carey, Linda Farnsworth-Hutchings, Zach Hamilton and Peter Micciche participate in a Kenai Peninsula Borough mayor candidate forum on Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2023 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna Elementary School Principal Dr. Austin Stevenson walks amid natural gas pipes anchored to the outside of school on Friday, Sept. 30, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Borough to break up $65.5 million school maintenance bond

District leaders have long tried to draw attention to the problem of deferred maintenance within KPBSD

Soldotna Elementary School Principal Dr. Austin Stevenson walks amid natural gas pipes anchored to the outside of school on Friday, Sept. 30, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Map showing the proposed boundary changes for Kenai Peninsula Borough districts 2 and 3. (Map via Kenai Peninsula Borough)

Assembly to consider new district boundaries

Some voters who live in the City of Kenai would elect representatives to the Nikiski seat on borough legislative bodies under proposed redistricting legislation that… Continue reading

Map showing the proposed boundary changes for Kenai Peninsula Borough districts 2 and 3. (Map via Kenai Peninsula Borough)
The Soldotna Landfill is seen on June 27, 2021, in Soldotna, Alaska. The Kenai Peninsula Borough is requesting about $5.5 million in federal funding for the construction of a gas collection system, which would convert landfill methane to energy when completed. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion file)

Borough to send capital project wish list to D.C.

The list includes a methane gas project at the Central Peninsula Landfill

The Soldotna Landfill is seen on June 27, 2021, in Soldotna, Alaska. The Kenai Peninsula Borough is requesting about $5.5 million in federal funding for the construction of a gas collection system, which would convert landfill methane to energy when completed. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion file)
KDLL, Peninsula Clarion and League of Women Voters will host an election forum ahead of the Feb. 14, 2023, special mayoral election.

Clarion, KDLL to hold special mayoral candidate forum Tuesday

The special mayoral election is slated for Feb. 14

KDLL, Peninsula Clarion and League of Women Voters will host an election forum ahead of the Feb. 14, 2023, special mayoral election.
A 2022 voter information pamphlet rests on a desk in the Peninsula Clarion offices on Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2023, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Borough to no longer mail election pamphlets

A pamphlet with information about how to access an online version will be mailed for three years

A 2022 voter information pamphlet rests on a desk in the Peninsula Clarion offices on Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2023, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Acting Kenai Peninsula Borough Clerk Michele Turner helps newly sworn-in assembly member Peter Ribbens set up assembly materials on Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly names Ribbens to fill Bjorkman’s seat

He is a senior environmental professional and a former emergency response coordinator with Tesoro Alaska

Acting Kenai Peninsula Borough Clerk Michele Turner helps newly sworn-in assembly member Peter Ribbens set up assembly materials on Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
The George A. Navarre Kenai Peninsula Borough building. (Peninsula Clarion file photo)

Bump to borough mayor salary proposed

The legislation would increase and inflation-proof the mayor’s salary

The George A. Navarre Kenai Peninsula Borough building. (Peninsula Clarion file photo)
Jesse Bjorkman, right, participates in a candidate forum at the Soldotna Public Library on Monday, Sept. 26, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. Bjorkman, who last month was elected to represent the northern Kenai Peninsula in the Alaska Senate, is vacating his seat on the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly. His last assembly meeting will be Jan. 3. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Applications now being accepted for assembly vacancy

Current assembly member Jesse Bjorkman was elected to represent the northern Kenai Peninsula in the Alaska Senate

Jesse Bjorkman, right, participates in a candidate forum at the Soldotna Public Library on Monday, Sept. 26, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. Bjorkman, who last month was elected to represent the northern Kenai Peninsula in the Alaska Senate, is vacating his seat on the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly. His last assembly meeting will be Jan. 3. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Jesse Bjorkman speaks at a borough work session on Tuesday, March 2, 2021, in Soldotna, Alaska. Bjorkman, who has held the seat since 2019, was elected to the Alaska Senate last year. (Photo by Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly to choose Bjorkman successor Tuesday

Bjorkman was elected to the Alaska Senate last year

Jesse Bjorkman speaks at a borough work session on Tuesday, March 2, 2021, in Soldotna, Alaska. Bjorkman, who has held the seat since 2019, was elected to the Alaska Senate last year. (Photo by Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Sheree Van Natta speaks to a voter at the Kenai Mall, polling place for Precinct 3 voters, on Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Register by Sunday to vote in special mayoral election

The special election was necessitated by the resignation of former Mayor Charlie Pierce

Sheree Van Natta speaks to a voter at the Kenai Mall, polling place for Precinct 3 voters, on Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Peninsula Borough River Center Manager Samantha Lopez presents information at a meeting discussing the potential boundaries of a Nikiski Advisory Planning Commission at the Nikiski Community Recreation Center on Tuesday, July 19, 2022, in Nikiski, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly considers making Nikiski planning group area smaller

Organizers pushed for the boundaries of Nikiski’s advisory planning commission to match other Nikiski area designations

Kenai Peninsula Borough River Center Manager Samantha Lopez presents information at a meeting discussing the potential boundaries of a Nikiski Advisory Planning Commission at the Nikiski Community Recreation Center on Tuesday, July 19, 2022, in Nikiski, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)