NOTE: Melonie Boord filed today as an official write-in candidate for School Board, the city clerk’s office said.
By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
The deadline to file as an official write-in candidate in the October 4 city election is September 29, the city is reminding Sitkans.
All that’s needed is a letter of intent and financial disclosure information filed with the city by September 29, and qualification as a Sitka voter, City Clerk Sara Peterson said.
City Administrator John Leach picks up a pen to cast an early ballot at the Centennial Hall polling station Thursday. (Sentinel Photo)
In an interview Thursday, the clerk reviewed the process for running as an official write-in candidate, and discussed the procedure for filling vacancies on the Assembly and School Board after an election.
On the city ballot this year are races for mayor, Assembly and School Board, and two ballot propositions. One proposes a special marijuana sales tax to fund school activities, and the other proposes funding a boat haulout with the $8.18 million the city received from sale of the Sitka Community Hospital property.
In-person absentee voting is open weekdays 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. through October 3 at Harrigan Centennial Hall. Peterson said as of Thursday 204 voters had cast in-person absentee ballots, and 51 mail-in and faxed absentee ballots had been received.
The Sentinel asked about the write-in process, since only two candidates have filed for the School Board, leaving the way open for a write-in candidate to win the third seat to be filled. The mayor and Assembly races are also open to write-ins, but the odds are longer in view of the full slate of candidates on the ballot in both contests.
In order to win as a write-in, a candidate must already have a letter of intent on file with the city clerk and submitted the required financial disclosure information by the deadline, Peterson said.
The letter of intent must include the candidate’s name, mailing address, residence address, and years of residency, and the candidate must be qualified to vote in Sitka.
To cast a ballot for a write-in candidate, a voter must write the name at the designated place on the ballot, and also fill in the bubble next to it. The vote will not be counted if the bubble is not filled in.
Peterson said election officials at the polling place can provide a list of official write-in candidates to those who ask.
The last time a candidate filed as an official write-in was in 2017, when Kitty Sopow submitted a letter of intent to run for Assembly.
Filling Vacancies
Peterson also reviewed the process for appointing people to vacancies on the Assembly and School Board, a process that may come into play as a result of this fall’s city and state elections.
Kevin Mosher, who has two years remaining in his Assembly term, is running for mayor, and if elected his Assembly seat would be vacated.
Rebecca Himschoot, who has one year remaining in her Assembly term, is running for the state House, and if elected her Assembly seat likewise would be vacated.
In either of those situations the remaining members of the Assembly would appoint someone to serve until the next regular election.
“At a special meeting or the next Assembly meeting, the Assembly would be asked to accept the resignation, and discuss how to fill the vacant seat,” Peterson said.
In the past the Assembly has appointed the highest vote-getter among the losers in the most recent election for Assembly, or has opened the process by asking members of the public to submit their names for consideration.
