A proposition to change a city law governing special elections was rejected by voters Tuesday night. Under Sitka’s charter, if a citizen-led referendum gets enough signatures, it triggers a mandatory special election. That’s how a local advocacy group’s initiative to limit cruise visitation went to a special election last year [link].
Proposition 1, which was approved for the ballot by the Sitka Assembly in May, sought to change that rule, pushing any future citizen initiatives to the next regular municipal election, unless the Sitka Assembly decides to hold a special election sooner.
981 Sitkans, roughly 55% of voters, rejected the proposition, so the charter will remain unchanged.
In the mayor’s race, current Assembly Member Kevin Mosher secured the seat with 1062 votes. Assembly Member Thor Christianson came in second with 495 votes, and political newcomer Lisa Lane came in third with 263 votes.
For Sitka Assembly, incumbent JJ Carlson and Sherri Blankenship were neck and neck with 1117 and 1111 votes respectively, each earning one of two available assembly seats. Darrell Windsor trailed close behind with 1022 votes, and 55 votes were cast for write-in candidates.
New assembly members will join a group in the middle of tackling issues like childcare, housing, and affordability for Sitkans. The assembly is considering putting a question about funding a public/private childcare program out to voters in a special election next spring. It will also be working with a new administrator — John Leach steps down in December and an offer to a finalist is in the works.
For Sitka School Board, Kat Richards took the lead with 1445 votes, followed by Phil Burdick with 1441 votes, and Matt Potter with 1308 votes. The top two vote earners will be elected to three-year terms, while Potter will serve a one-year term.
While over 60 votes remain uncounted, that number is too low to change any of the preliminary results. The Municipal Clerk’s office will tally the votes on Friday, cementing the election results, which will be certified by the Sitka Assembly on October 13.
Editor’s note: This is a developing story and will be updated.
