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, has died at 83. A memorial service is set for 2 pm Oct. 10 at the Soldotna Church of God.

He was born in Anchorage on Aug. 13, 1943, and moved to Soldotna in 1962, at 19. He joined the city council in 1989, served as vice mayor, was elected mayor in 1993 and held the office until he resigned in 2000. The city's own 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. He was elected to the state House in 2000 to represent District 8, sat on the House Finance Committee and chaired finance subcommittees. He also worked with the Soldotna Chamber of Commerce, the Soldotna Senior Center and the Kenai River Special Management Area Advisory Board.

Mayor Paul Whitney introduced a resolution honoring him, which was on the City Council's consent agenda Wednesday and directs that a copy be presented to his family.