Newly-elected Alaska State Senator Jesse Bjorkman’s resignation from the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly will be addressed by the Assembly at its regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, December 13th in the Betty J. Glick Assembly Chambers.
Bjorkman, who won re-election to the Borough Assembly District 3 seat in the October Municipal election by nearly a 2-to-1 margin, has submitted a resignation letter to the Assembly in response to his successful campaign to win election to the Alaska State Senate District D, with over 53% of the vote.
Bjorkman on process of resignation of his Borough Assembly seat;
” I submitted a resignation which the Borough Assembly will take up at the next Brough Assembly meeting. That will be on December 13th and that process on how to fill that seat.”
In his resignation letter, Bjorkman stated it was his honor to represent the people of Nikiski on the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly. I am thankful to have worked with you, other assembly members, and our amazing Borough staff as we push toward a more prosperous future for Kenai Peninsula residents.
As Alaska Senator, Bjorkman has joined the majority coalition in hopes of “getting things done”;
“One of the reasons that I joined the majority and did not hang out in the minority of four people with senators from the Valley as well as North Pole, is because I wanted this job as a state senator so that I could get things done. As a member of the majority I have a chairmanship with Labor & Commerce and excited to look into and really encourage more workforce development in this state. I can do that because I am part of the majority. If I had stayed in the minority, I wouldn’t have power to get anything done. I wouldn’t have power to fight the Democrats inside of that caucus.”
The Assembly will consider Resolution 2022-059 which will make the Bjorkman resignation official effective January 16, 2023.
The Borough Clerk is then directed to advertise the vacancy created in Assembly District 3 and forward copies of all declarations of candidacy received to the Assembly President and members of the Assembly. All applicants for appointment must file with the Borough Clerk a declaration of candidacy. The filing period will open at 8:00 a.m. on December 14, 2022 and end at 4:30 p.m. on January 10, 2023. Applicants must be a registered voter and resident within Assembly District 3.
The assembly will appoint a new representative for Assembly District 3 in a manner that ensures there is no gap in representation for Assembly District 3.
