The City of Homer, Kenai Peninsula Votes and The League of Women Voters of the Central Kenai Peninsula are hosting a meeting on how to run for elected office in Alaska in an effort to spur civic engagement.

The event will take place on April 4 at Homer City Hall from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. with a panel of community members currently and previously engaged in various political positions.

The discussion panel is scheduled to include Paul Seaton, who served as a Republican House representative in Juneau from 2003 to 2019; Heath Smith, a former member of the Homer City Council; Francie Roberts, a former member of the Homer City Council; Mike Illg, a former Kenai Peninsula Borough School Board member who currently serves as the city’s community recreation manager; and Melissa Jacobson, city clerk for the City of Homer.

The event will include a presentation on how to run for various public offices and qualifications necessary, how to register to vote and promote public office positions that will be available during this election season. The public offices that will be covered include state office, borough assembly, city council and school board.

Reference materials will be available for meeting attendees to collect and the evening will conclude with a question and answer session.

Events similar to this have been provided in Homer in the past and are offered in other locations in the state.

According to Alex Koplin with the local League of Women Voters, Juneau offers a similar half-day program and the Tanana Valley League of Women Voters, in conjunction with the City of Fairbanks, has also provided a similar information session.