The Special Mayoral Election, mandated for the election of a Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor to fill the vacancy generated by the resignation of former Borough Mayor Charlie Pierce, as been affirmed and placed on the calendar for February 14, 2023.
The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly enacted an ordinance Tuesday night at the general assembly meeting setting the election date for Tuesday, February 14h and appropriating the funds for conducting the special election.
The Assembly previously accepted Pierce’s resignation and unanimously declared a vacancy in the office of the mayor on September 6, 2022. Pierce resigned following the Alaska primary election results confirmed Pierce as the fourth-highest, vote-getter advancing the Pierce-Grunwald pairing into the November 8th general election.
The February 14 date aligns with the Assembly’s designated time frame of calling a special election at least 75 days prior to the date of the election. The Assembly appropriated $250,000 from the General Fund to the Assembly Elections Division for the purpose of conducting the Special Mayoral Election and the Special Mayoral Runoff Election, if necessary. A run-off election is necessary if no candidate receives over 50% of the votes cast in the special election.
In a mid-September memo from Borough Clerk Johni Blankenship, “Per borough code 4.10.050, a special election can be called “at any time at least 75 days prior to the date of the election.” Alaska State Statute says that the last date a special election could be held is April 2, 2023. Those dates are if legislation calling for the special election is approved by assembly members on Oct. 25.”
Procedures for candidates for the office of KPB Mayor, including filling deadlines, will be posted after confirmation by the Borough Clerk.