Politics

On Tuesday August 9th The Homer Chamber of Commerce held a candidate forum for the Alaska House District 31 race.

Welcome to the Homer Chamber of Commerce's District 31 Candidate Forum. The participants are Representative Paul Seaton of Homer, Homer Mayor Beth Wythe, and John Cox of Anchor Point. The forum took place on Tuesday August 9th and the Homer Elk's Lodge and was moderated by Chris Story.

Shauna Thornton is the lone Democrat running for House District 30, covering the central Kenai Peninsula. Primary voters registered as Democrat, Libertarian or Independent will see her name when they go to the polls Aug. 16, as well as undeclared voters who choose the Democrat ballot. Since she’s unopposed, Thornton will move on to the general election Nov. 8. The Alaska primary election is scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 16.

A House District 30 candidate wants a chance to return to the Legislature for the same reason he served the first time — to protect the permanent fund. Kelly Wolf is facing three other Republican candidates in the primary to represent the central Kenai Peninsula. The Alaska primary election is scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 16.

A potential new face in the Alaska House of Representatives is a very familiar face in Kenai. Rick Koch recently retired as Kenai’s city manager and now is seeking the House District 30 seat, along with three other Republicans. The Alaska primary election is scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 16.

Welcome to the Friends of the Homer Public Library District 31 Candidate Forum. The participants are Representative Paul Seaton of Homer; Homer Mayor Beth Wythe; and John Cox of Anchor Point. The Forum took place on Friday August 6th at the Homer Public Library, and was moderated by Andy Haas.

Kenai Peninsula Borough Assemblyman Gary Knopp wants to bring his local experience to the Legislature. He’s running for House District 30 against three other Republicans in the primary. The Alaska primary election is scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 16.

Legislators are more than a week past their deadline to end the regular legislative session and the most important issue, the budget deficit, is still unresolved. This session lawmakers heard multiple bills that, if passed, could increase costs for cities and boroughs around the state. 

This week on the Coffee Table we discussed session’s proposed legislation and the impacts it could have on the city of Homer and the Kenai Peninsula Borough. 

A Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly Member, Stan Welles, infuriated borough residents after he wrote a letter to a local newspaper arguing the irrelevance of marijuana revenue in the face of its social costs. Residents turned out at Tuesday’s Assembly meeting to tell Welles their thoughts on the letter’s closing, which they say, compares people involved in the marijuana industry to Islamic State terrorists.