Ketchikan's Assembly has fewer candidates than seats, with four days to file

Four days remain to file for Ketchikan Gateway Borough's October election, and the Assembly has fewer candidates than seats.

Two people have filed for three Assembly seats: Sharli Arntzen and Dan Ortiz, both on Aug. 3. Filing closes at 5 pm Tuesday.

The School Board race is contested. Four candidates are running for two seats — Rob Holston, who filed Aug. 18, and Vicki O'Brien, Frances Klein and Marissa Medford, who all filed Thursday.

Every seat carries a three-year term, and all of them are on the Oct. 6 ballot. Candidates file a declaration of candidacy with the borough clerk, with signatures from at least 10 qualified borough voters.

O'Brien reported full-time work with the Alaska Department of Health's Division of Public Assistance, earning $50,000 to $100,000, and registered a candidate committee with the Alaska Public Offices Commission. Medford reported the same income range as human resources manager for Ketchikan Tribal Business Corporation Enterprises.

The School Board seats come up less than a year after voters rejected a recall of three sitting members. Judy Leask Guthrie, Jordan Tabb and Katherine Tatsuda kept their seats by roughly two to one at a Nov. 18 special election, on 11 percent turnout.