The Soldotna City Council reviewed two applications for the City Council, Seat B vacancy. Under the ‘Procedures for Selecting and Appointing a Qualified Person to Fill a Vacancy in the Soldotna City Council’, council is to interview the candidates and proceed to vote. The two people interviewed include Gloria Sweeney and Erick Hugarte.
Sweeney told council:
“I have been a part of this community for many years and have witnessed first hand the positive direction Soldotna has and is experiencing as it grows and would love to see that enhanced and supported as much as possible in the next few months. I have no particular agenda at this time realizing that we have great citizens that are highly active throughout this community such as yourselves. My goal is to work alongside you and engage in furthering the position, the positive direction of our community.”
Hugarte told council:
“I wanted to do something for our city. This is the palace where I found true happiness. This is the place where I found how to live. For 26 years all I did was survive. In this beautiful town, I have learned how to love. I have learned what true friends are. I have learned how to have a community that loves me and accepts me, accepts me for who I used to be and who I am right now. I am young. I want to learn. I want to give back to this city. When I was younger, in my gang days, I created an ocean of evil. I feel that I have to clear that ocean up by doing good.”
Hugarte was voted in by a 4 – 1 vote and was formally sworn in by Mayor Paul Whitney. The partial term for Council Seat B ends on October 17, 2021. Hugarte replaces Pamela Parker, who resigned from council on May 27th due to her moving outside of city limits, according to a resignation letter sent to Council on May 3rd.