The Soldotna City Council confirmed three recently-elected members and a student representative Wednesday night, along with saying goodbye to long-standing Council Member and Vice Mayor Linda Murphy.
The meeting began by confirming three city council seats: Jordan Chilson, Justin Ruffridge and Paul Whitney all ran uncontested races for their spots on council. Chilson was the only new councillor that had not previously served, the young councillor will take over seat C for Murphy.
City Manager Stephanie Queen spoke shortly about Murphy’s time with the City…
City Mngr. Queen: “I wanted to share some thanks and gratitude, and run through her list of public service, and it’s only going to take about 15 minutes. (laughter)”
Murphy has been with the City Council since she was appointed to a seat in 2013 and prior to that she served from 2010 to 2013 on the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly, holding the Assembly President position the last year of that term.
She also worked as the Seward City Clerk for 16 years and the Borough clerk for 8 years. During her time as Borough Clerk, Murphy won the Alaska Association of Municipal Clerks award for Clerk of the Year in 2002.
During her career on the Kenai Peninsula, she also held various community chairs including a seat on the Soldotna Representative on Kenai Peninsula Borough Planning Commission and was a board member on the Soldotna Chamber of Commerce board, all while owning and operating a local small business with her husband.
Mayor Nels Anderson described Murphy as “an incredible asset” during her time on the council.
Murphy’s last meeting was October 10 and 29-year-old Chilson will take over at the October 24 meeting.
