Politics

The special session of the Alaska State Legislature is split between two cities. Most legislators are in session at the capitol in Juneau, but about a third of Alaska senators and representatives followed Governor Dunleavy to Wasilla, making an override of the governor’s budget cuts an impossibility. District P Senator Gary Stevens of Kodiak spoke with KBBI’s Kathleen Gustafson by phone from Juneau about the failure to override and about what comes next in the special session for this week’s Legislative Update.

Even on a slow day, the Homer Boat Harbor is a busy place. But if you are captaining one of the many 100-plus-foot vessels berthed there, navigating in water that is barely deep enough while avoiding dozens of small skiffs as you turn around, it’s far from ideal. Bryan Hawkins, port director and harbormaster for the City of Homer, addressed the Homer City Council Committee on the Whole meeting on Monday night.

Senator Gary Stevens spoke with KBBI's Kathleen Gustafson about the possibility of a special session in Wasilla and about his work as chair of the legislative council and education committee for this week's Legislative Update.

Republican nominee Sarah Vance and non-partisan incumbent Paul Seaton squared off Saturday in the Friends of the Homer Library's forum.   

Click on the audio file below to hear the  Homer City Council & Mayoral Candidates Forum sponsored by The Homer Chamberof Commerce, recorded at Alices's Champagne Palace in Homer on Tuesday, September 11, 2018.

Clink below to hear the Democratic party primary debate recorded on Tuesday, July 10 2018. Candidates Alyse Galvin and Dimitri Shein participated. The debate was moderated by Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly Member Kelly Cooper.

Alaska State Representative Paul Seaton spoke with KBBI's Kathleen Gustafson about bills concerning school funding and about the current version of the state operating budget for this week's update.

Alaska State Representative Paul Seaton of Homer spoke with KBBI's Kathleen Gustafson on Feb. 16 for an update from the 30th legislative session.

Kenai Peninsula Borough ballot propositions are the topic on this week's Coffee Table. The guests are Borough Mayor Mike Navarre and Borough President Kelly Cooper.

Homer City Council candidates met at Kachemak Bay Campus to answer questions from the public and from reporters representing KBBI and Homer News.
The forum was broadcast live and recorded on September 21, 2017. Candidates participating: Kim Ketter, Andy Kita, Rachel Lord, Dwane Nustvold, Sarah Vance and Caroline Venuti. Candidate Stephen Meuller was unable to attend. The KBBI Candidates Forum will be rebroadcast on AM 890 on Sunday, October 1, 2017 at 10 a.m. Stream it here at kbbi.org.

Two Homer City Council seats are up for election on October 3. This week, KBBI's Jesse Rabinowitz hosted candidates on The Coffee Table, KBBI's live , call-in public affairs program.
Wednesday, September 13
Guests:  Kim Ketter, Rachel Lord,
Caroline Venuti and Dwane Nustvold

Thursday, September 14
Guests: Andy Kita, Stephen Meuller, Sarah Vance

What are the responsibilities of a Homer City Council member?  What is the difference between a resolution and a memorandum?  Encouraging citizen participation in municipal government is the goal of this week's Coffee Table. Guests: Former Homer City Council Member Barbara Howard, City Manager Katie Koester and Mayor Bryan Zac lead the discussion on the structure of the City of Homer and its various departments and commissions.

Senator Lisa Murkowski met with the citizens of Homer, and a few folks from Anchorage, on Friday, July 7th.  Over 100 people attended. Most questions and comments were about health care and almost every person who spoke about health care in Alaska advocated for a single payer system.  Click on the link for audio of the complete meeting.

Senator Lisa Murkowski made the rounds in Homer on Friday to address her constituents and take a few questions. KBBI's Kathleen Gustafson attended the meetings at Homer City Hall and at The Kachemak Bay Rotary Club Luncheon and filed this report.

Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski was the guest speaker at The Homer Kachemak Bay Rotary Club at The Best Western Bidarka Hotel on Friday, July 7th.

Click on the link to hear Rotary President Beth Trowbridge introduce the senator, followed by  Senator Murkowski's address and a brief question and answer session.