Ken Lancaster, Soldotna's mayor through the 1990s and later a state representative, has died at 83

Ken Lancaster, who led Soldotna as mayor through most of the 1990s and then represented the Kenai Peninsula in the Alaska House, died at 83. A memorial service is scheduled for Oct. 10 at 2 p.m. at the Soldotna Church of God.

Resolution 2026-029, an in memoriam introduced by Mayor Paul Whitney, was on the City Council's consent agenda for its regular meeting Wednesday, Sept. 23. The city's meeting record did not yet show the outcome.

The resolution records that Lancaster was born in Anchorage on Aug. 13, 1943, and moved to Soldotna in 1962. It says he served on the city council from 1989 to 1993, including as vice mayor, was elected mayor in 1993 and served until his resignation in 2000. The city's mayoral history dates his term 1993 to 2001 and names David Carey, who now holds Seat D on the council, as his successor.

Lancaster served as president of the Alaska Municipal League. Elected in 2000 to represent District 8, he sat on the House Finance Committee during the 22nd Legislature and chaired finance subcommittees. The resolution also credits his work with the Soldotna Chamber of Commerce, the Soldotna Senior Center and the Kenai River Special Management Area Advisory Board, and directs that a copy be presented to his family.