Bethel City Council to certify Oct. 6 election and swear in new members

The Bethel City Council certifying the results of the Oct. 6 city election when it meets Tuesday, Oct. 13, at 6:30 pm at City Hall. Newly elected council members are scheduled to take the oath of office the same night, according to the meeting agenda.

Certification makes official the winners of four council seats on the Oct. 6 ballot. Those terms run to October 2028, according to the city's election notices.

Unofficial results posted by the city show Mayor Rose "Sugar" Henderson with 181 votes, Pamela Conrad with 167, Alicia Miner with 160, Joseph Klejka with 149, Lillian Okpaleke with 126 and Greg Schiedler with 67. Klejka holds fourth place, 23 votes ahead of Okpaleke. Those totals leave out 30 early and absentee ballots and six questioned, absentee and special-needs ballots, which the Canvass Board is set to count Thursday, Oct. 8. The council will take up a certifying resolution after reviewing the board's certificate of election.

The sitting council includes Henderson, Vice Mayor Teresa Keller, Mark Springer, Miner, Conrad, Kelsi Kime and Schiedler.

Under city code, the new council meets the first Monday after certification to elect a mayor and vice mayor from among its members. That Monday falls on Oct. 19, the city's observed Alaska Day holiday. An ordinance introduced Sept. 8 would move the meeting to the Tuesday instead. It was scheduled for a hearing Sept. 22; minutes from that meeting have not been posted.