August 21st was the last day for candidates to get their names on the October ballot in Petersburg. As of late Tuesday afternoon, there was still one city council seat and many other posts with no takers.
During KFSK’s Council Corner show Monday, Councilor John Jensen said he had decided not to run for another seat. Jensen is a commercial fisherman who also serves on the State Board of Fisheries and owns a boat rental business in town. He’s served as a City Council appointee for the past year.
“I think I’ve done an adequate job but I don’t have enough time to keep up with all the different items we have that should be……It’s a very big job and it needs to be somebody that has enough time to dedicate to it and I don’t think I do. Sometime when I get off the board of Fish, I’ll have more time and I’ll come back and do this because I actually enjoy the process,” Jensen said on Monday.
No on had signed up to run for Jensen’s seat by late Tuesday afternoon. While Councilor’s Sue Flint and Nancy Strand both filed for re-election to their seats, there were still several seats on various boards with no candidates.
Even after today, candidates can still file letters of intent to run as write-ins for most city offices except the City Council. Council hopefuls may not run as write-ins.
It looks like there will be at least one contested race on the ballot. Three candidates are listed for two open spots on the Harbor Advisory Board. They include Peter Schultz as well as incumbents Bob Martin and Kurt Wholhueter.
Candidates had to file with the city by 5 pm today to appear on the ballot.
We’ll have a final ballot rundown by KFSK’s Midday Magazine Wednesday.
