Daily Sitka Sentinel

No First-Day Filings For Fall Sitka Election

By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer

Filing opened Monday for candidates to submit paperwork to run for municipal offices in October 5 election.

A few residents already have expressed interest and picked up filing packets for Assembly and School Board seats, City Clerk Sara Peterson said.

The filing deadline is 5 p.m. August 6. 

The terms of Assembly members Kevin Mosher and Valorie Nelson and School Board members Amy Morrison and Eric Van Cise will expire in October.

Mosher, who is in his third year on the Assembly, said this morning he plans to run, and would file his paperwork this afternoon.

Nelson has served eight years on the Assembly, including two as mayor. She said she’s “not thinking about running at all.”

“I have five meetings left and I’m grateful for that,” she said. “The COVID, I think, kicked my butt ... I’m being inundated right now: ‘you need to mandate masks, I need to be a good leader.’ People need to quit relying on the government to do everything for them.”

She thinks she’s added historical perspective and knowledge to the Assembly table.

“Overall I think I’ve done some good things” she said, and added she’s currently working with Thor Christianson on an ordinance to put the sale of the old Sitka Community Hospital buildings and properties to voters this fall as an advisory question.

“I think that’s a good step,” she said today.

Morrison, who currently is serving as School Board president, said she plans on running and will file her paperwork when she returns to town.

“I’m looking forward to continuing service on the School Board,” she said today.

Van Cise said he doesn’t plan to run again this fall, but has no regrets about serving on the School Board.

“It’s been a great experience, (now I’m) handing the baton off to a new person,” he said by text today. He has served two terms for a total of six years.

Both the Assembly and School Board have three-year terms, and candidates for office must collect at least 25 signatures of people registered to vote in Sitka, Peterson said.
Those running for Assembly must be a qualified voter and have resided continuously here for the 12 months before the election. For School Board, candidates must be qualified voters in the municipality to run for office.

Also required are a financial disclosure statement, and other paperwork. Candidates are now also required to complete biographical information of up to 150 words, and an “advocacy statement” of not more than 250 words.

Peterson said there’s been some interest but “not a lot, a handful of people.” She is asking those who plan to file to make an appointment to pick up the documents and receive instructions, by calling her office at 747-1811.