Elections

A special election to recall three Homer City Council members who sponsored an “inclusivity” or “sanctuary city” resolution appears to have failed, but still is too close to call.

Homer Special Election

To paraphrase the 1982 punk rock song by the Clash, “Should they stay or should they go?”

Yet another judge, Anchorage Superior Court Judge Erin Marston, has been appointed in a lawsuit by three Homer City Council members seeking to stop a June 13 recall election against them.

Despite an expedited court schedule in a lawsuit by three Homer City Council members seeking to stop a June 13 recall election, public notice of the election will proceed. The city has to issue a notice 30 days in advance, or by May 18. It also has to print election ballots soon. The deadline to register to vote in that election is May 14.

Though there are still nearly 10 months before Kenai Peninsula Borough residents will pick a new borough mayor, two people have already announced they are running.

Sterling resident Charlie Pierce filed a letter of intent with the Alaska Public Offices Commission in mid-October, approximately a year ahead of the election. A little less than a month later, Soldotna resident Linda Hutchings submitted her own letter of intent for the office. The position will be up for grabs when current Mayor Mike Navarre is termed out in October.

Eight years ago at Alice’s Champagne Palace when President Barack Obama became the first African-American elected president, a crowd of about 100 whooped when the national television networks declared him the winner.

Tuesday night, many in the crowd at the historic Pioneer Avenue bar hoped for another first: the first woman elected president. History happened, but not the way many expected, when Donald Trump, a New York businessman with no electoral experience, overcame a career politician to win the presidency.

Some Homer voters celebrated a milestone this week: voting in their first U.S. Presidential election.

At the other age of the spectrum, pioneer Alaskans looked back at a lifetime of voting for presidents — or at least after Alaska became a state.

Ballot Measure 1
would allow residents
to register to vote when they apply for PFD

Ballot Measure 1 is the sole voter intiative on this fall’s general-election ballot. If approved by voters Nov. 8, Ballot Measure 1 would allow Alaskans to register to vote when they apply for their PFD each year. Formally, the measure allows the Alaska Division of Elections and the Permanent Fund Dividend Division to share information.

State Sen. Anna MacKinnon of Eagle River has tried for more than four years to make student loans cheaper. That effort will now be decided by voters on Tuesday.

If enacted, Ballot Measure 2 would amend Alaska’s Constitution so the state could borrow money on behalf of the Alaska Student Loan Corporation.

Alaska has a better credit rating than the corporation, and at present scores, according to figures provided to the Alaska Legislature earlier this year, that strategy could lower the interest on student loans by 0.97 percent.

In the presidential election on Nov. 8, if voting Democrat, Alaskans will choose June Degnan, D’Arcy Hutchings and Victor Fischer. If voting Republican, they will choose Sean Parnell, Jacqueline Tupou or Carolyn Leman. Or maybe they will choose a slate from the Constitution Party, the Green Party or the Libertarian Party.

Vic Fischer? Sean Parnell? You might ask. Aren’t we voting for Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump or the other candidates?

On the first day of early voting on Monday, 3,300 Alaskans statewide cast their ballots, including 142 in Homer — a sign of high interest in the presidential election. As we count down to election day on Nov. 8, Alaskans have become caught up in one of the most intense presidential campaigns ever. Like a superquake rocking Alaska, the political landscape has been rattled.

Homer voters in Tuesday’s election selected candidates with strong business backgrounds. In the Homer mayoral race, they chose Homer City Council member Bryan Zak, assistant state director for the Small Business Development Center. In unofficial results Zak is the likely winner for Homer mayor, defeating fellow council member David Lewis.

Zak won with 594 votes to Lewis with 520 votes. About 300 absentee, special needs and questioned ballots remain to be counted, and with a 74-vote margin in the mayoral race, it’s possible the election could go to Lewis.

Editor's note: On Oct. 7 the canvass board counted absentee and other ballots. There is no change in the unofficial election results. Bryan Zak kept his lead and is elected mayor. Shelly Erickson and Tom Stroozas were elected to Homer City Council. Proposition 1 failed.

U.S. Senate candidate Margaret Stock visited Homer on Thursday, Sept. 22, meeting with local businesses owners and community members as part of her campaign to overtake incumbent Sen. Lisa Murkowski in the November election. Stock is running as an independent candidate.

Stock is a former officer in the U.S. Army, starting with a commission in the Army Reserve during her time at Boston University and Harvard College, according to the biography on her campaign website, margaretforalaska.com. After graduating from Harvard, she volunteered for active military service in Alaska.

I came to Alaska in 1976 and moved to Homer in 1989. Lyn and I raised our two sons, Aaron and Robert, here. In 1993 I began a long association with Homer Hockey and served on the board for 10 years. During my tenure on the Homer Hockey board, the Kevin Bell Arena was built, which was a great accomplishment for many of us.

The State of the City and why we need to advocate against State budget cost shifting and for agreeing on a revenue plan:

In Alaska we are faced with both a low value of oil as well as a low amount of oil coming through the line. The constitutional budget reserve will be completely depleted in FY 18. After that, Alaska’s current revenue structure will produce approximately $1.5 billion in unrestricted general funds (UGF), assuming oil price returns to $55 per barrel.

There are many reasons why we live in Homer but a common denominator exists for each of us who reside “at the end of the road” — the majestic and breathtaking beauty that provides a heartfelt appreciation for the wonders of nature and the cordiality of our community.

Homer’s future is up to us; each and every one, young or old, rich or poor. We each have a role and varied opinions regarding our economic and social issues. I have a vision for our community that I will work diligently toward over the next three years as a member of the City Council.

I enjoy taking phone polls. I enjoy answering the questions, and not answering the boxes the poll tries to fit me in. For example, when I am asked for my race I have to answer “American,” because that is what I am. I am an Alaskan. I am a Homerite, a resident of 99603.

I am unsure which topic I wanted to address in this column because I am passionate about many topics.

I am concerned about our community. I want to see more togetherness, especially concerning real life issues that directly affect the people. Issues such as financial problems and drug addiction, both of which cause some major problems within families and their homes.