The Chief of Staff for Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Charlie Pierce, James Baisden announced his intention to step down and retire on June 1st.
Baisden told KSRM, “The mayor and I have been discussing this and I gave him three month’s notice to help him get through the process of the budget and everything that’s going on this time of year. My goal has been to retire after I get more than 30 years into the retirement system. I’m almost at 32 years. I’m going to retire and take this summer off and spend time with my children. I’ve got three kids and one of them is getting ready to go to college. The timing was right. My wife and I have worked pretty hard to get to this point and it’s just a good time for us. We’re looking forward to our next chapter.”
Baisden mentioned that Pierce is going to be looking for his next Chief of Staff soon, “He’ll have that ahead of him, of course. I’ll help him with his leadership transition as much as possible. If he needs me for anything, I’m going to help with that. He’s got, of course, a lot going on. I’ve enjoyed my 13 plus years here with the Borough. I’ve enjoyed the people that I work with. They’re pretty much what it’s been about for me. I hope we can find somebody to come in and help him. It’s an important position. He’ll have some time to try and figure that out. I’m here if he needs me.”
Baisden’s last day is scheduled for June 1st.
