Financial disclosures exemption passes

Four hundred and seven Petersburg voters cast their ballots Oct. 6 for this year’s borough election, which included one ballot measure along with uncontested candidates who will continue to serve on various seats across the borough’s assembly, boards and commissions.

Voters elected newcomer Eric Castro who will serve on a three-year seat on the Petersburg Borough Assembly along with incumbent Nancy Strand.

Incumbent’s Cheryl File and Jay Lister will serve three-year terms on the Petersburg School Board. Mara Lutomski will serve a one-year term on the School Board.

Voters elected incumbent Bob Martin to serve on the Harbor Board along with newcomer John Murgas who narrowly beat Jim Stromdahl for the seat with 217 votes compared to Stromdahl’s 195. The two Harbor Board seats were the only contested race in this year’s election.

Marlene Cushing will serve another three-year term on the Hospital Board and Kris Thynes was elected to a two-year term.

Gina Meucci will sit on the Public Safety board for a one-year term.

David Kensinger and Otis Marsh will serve a three-year term on the Planning and Zoning Commission and Richard Burke and Tom Stearns will serve a two-year term.

Voters elected Chelsea Tremblay for a three-year term on the Library Board and candidates chose Mary Koppes as a write-in candidate.

Petersburg residents also overwhelmingly supported Proposition #1—306-93—which removes a financial disclosure requirement for elected officials.

The question of financial exemption was on the ballot in 2014 as well with 518 voting for the proposition and 489 voting against it.

The Petersburg Borough Assembly meets at 9 a.m. Oct. 8 to canvass the election where several additional absentee ballots will be counted.

Voter turnout was low this year compared to last with just more than 15 percent of registered voters turning out for this year’s election compared to 39 percent in 2014.

This is the second election since borough incorporation.

There are 2,631 registered voters in the Petersburg Borough, according to data from the State of Alaska.