Politics

Homer City Council Adopts Budget For 2016

By Quinton Chandler • Dec 8, 2015

The Homer City Council adopted the budget for 2016 and added five additional budget items during its regular meeting Monday night.

The additional projects include: a submersible pump requested by the Department of Public Works, safety improvements for a portion of Soundview Avenue bordering West Homer Elementary, Calhoun Trail work, a sidewalk extension project for Soundview Avenue, and an expansion of the Hickerson Memorial Cemetery.

Wythe Sets Sights On Legislature

By Quinton Chandler • Nov 10, 2015

Homer Mayor Beth Wythe plans to try her hand in the State House. Wythe has filed a letter of intent to run for the House District 31 seat to represent the Southern Kenai Peninsula.

Representative Paul Seaton currently holds that seat.

According to Michael Armstrong with the Homer News Wythe is a registered Republican and will challenge Seaton in the Republican Primary next August.

Budget Options, Special Election And Fiscal Future On the Menu For Homer Town Hall

By Quinton Chandler • Nov 9, 2015

The City of Homer is holding its third town hall meeting this evening to address an at least $1 million budget deficit. City Manager Katie Koester will discuss two proposed budgets: one assumes the city will collect an additional million dollars in revenue and the other calls for deep cuts on the assumption the city will receive no additional revenue.

Smith Takes 2nd City Council Seat

By Quinton Chandler • Nov 4, 2015

The unofficial results of a runoff election for a Homer City Council seat are in. Heath Smith won the three year term with 62% of the vote. He defeated the incumbent Beau Burgess who finished at the polls with 38%.

Smith also took the lead in the October Regular Election but in a race between six candidates he failed to take the number of votes required to win the city council seat outright.

Donna Aderhold was the only candidate to win a seat during the Regular Election.

Runoff Election In Homer

By Quinton Chandler • Nov 3, 2015

Today it is Election Day again. The City of Homer is holding a special run-off election to fill one last city council seat for a three year term. The two contenders are incumbent Beau Burgess and his challenger Heath Smith.

Smith won more votes than Burgess during October’s Regular Election. He took 37% of the vote compared to Burgess’ 35%. But, that wasn’t enough.

Grocery Tax Takes Another Blow

By Quinton Chandler • Oct 20, 2015

Alaska Statute only allows general law cities to tax the same items taxed by their borough unless the borough makes an exception. Kenai Peninsula Borough voters repealed an ordinance this year that gave general law cities the power to tax non-prepared foods year round. The voter decision means the cities of Soldotna and Seldovia will see a decrease in tax revenue.

Aderhold Wins City Council

By Quinton Chandler • Oct 19, 2015

Donna Aderhold is one of six people who ran for two Homer City Council seats this year and so far she is the only confirmed winner. Aderhold spoke with KBBI’s Quinton Chandler about her race and her plans as Homer’s newest city council member.

More From Gov. Walker On Alaska LNG

By Quinton Chandler • Oct 15, 2015

KBBI’s Quinton Chandler and Governor Bill Walker discuss an upcoming special session in which lawmakers will debate his plan to buy interest in the Alaska LNG Pipeline. Next you’ll hear the governor talk about the impact his plan could have on local municipalities and the feasibility of a gas reserve tax.

Dunne Wins District 9 Seat

By Quinton Chandler • Oct 14, 2015

Results for the 2015 Regular Elections show Willy Dunne of Fritz Creek is the winner of the District 9 Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly Seat. Dunne defeated Dawson Slaughter of Anchor Point with roughly 58% of the vote. KBBI’s Quinton Chandler sat down with Dunne to discuss the race and his plans for his term on the Borough Assembly.

Gov. Walker On Alaska LNG Pipeline

By Quinton Chandler • Oct 13, 2015

Governor Bill Walker visited Homer Friday to speak at the Southern Peninsula Senior Summit and the Alaska Recreation and Park Association’s 40th Annual Conference. In between the events KBBI’s Quinton Chandler spoke with the governor about his decision to call a special session for legislators to consider buying a share of the Alaska LNG Pipeline.

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