There are 14 seats up for grabs in Petersburg’s municipal election in October. The seats are on eight different decision-making and advisory boards.
Debbie Thompson is Petersburg’s borough clerk. She sat down with KFSK’s Hannah Flor to talk through each of the positions. And she said that while the borough has been accepting paperwork from candidates since July 23, only three had filed as of August 6. Thompson says that’s unusual.
Debbie Thompson: It seems very slow actually. So I’m really hoping people are out there filling out their paperwork, and getting signatures, when needed.
Hannah Flor: So let’s talk about all of these open seats. Can you talk about what seats are open and then a little bit about what they do in each of those positions?
Debbie Thompson: Sure, you bet. I’ll go ahead and start with the assembly members. We have two assembly member seats. They’re three year terms, and the assembly, as a body, sets the rules, sets the property tax rate, the mill rate, basically tries to make decisions for the community based upon what they hear from the community, and also, of course, borough staff.
And then we have two school board member seats, also three year terms. The school board members advise the school administration on operating procedures. And we have two hospital board seats open, also three year terms. Hospital board is like the school board, they basically advise the hospital administration on operating procedures and things like that.
Hannah Flor: And when you say, “advise,” does that imply that the school board members and the hospital board members, as a body, are not making decisions, they’re just advising on those positions?
Debbie Thompson: Well, no, I guess when we talk about school board and hospital board, they are not an advisory board. They do make decisions. They approve, like, the school handbook, and they approve the school calendar, the hospital board approves the hospital budget, things like that. So thank you, I’m glad you brought that up.
And then we have two planning commission seats, also three year terms. The planning commissioners are both a decision making body for some subjects and also an advisory body to the assembly for other subjects. They have a lot of duties.
Hannah Flor: And what are they advising and making decisions about?
Debbie Thompson: On their own they can make decisions about certain things people want to do with their property. At a certain level, instead of making the full decision, they will hold hearings for certain subjects, and they will make a recommendation to the assembly, and then the subject goes to the assembly with the written recommendation from the planning commission, and the assembly will make a final determination.
Hannah Flor: Okay, what’s next?
Debbie Thompson: We have two harbor board seats open. They are three year terms. The harbor board is an advisory board, meaning they advise the harbor master and staff as to what they think are good ideas – you know, they hash things out. They also then will make a recommendation to the Assembly about a subject. There are times when the assembly will request the harbor board weigh in on a subject before they make a decision.
Hannah Flor: And then up next on the list, we have two library board members.
Debbie Thompson: Yes, two library board seats, also three year terms. The library board does actually make some decisions for the library. They are not just an advisory board and – we hardly hear anything. So I think they very much like helping Tara make the decisions on what’s cool for our community and what they can bring forward.
Hannah Flor: And those things almost never come to the borough, they get decided at the library?
Debbie Thompson: Yes.
Hannah Flor: Interesting. What’s next?
Debbie Thompson: We have one Parks and Recreation seat open. They will advise the Parks and Rec director and staff as to what new programs we could try, or, you know, suggestions that have been made that they might like to implement.
And then, last but not least, we have one public safety board seat open. It is a three year term, and it is also an advisory board. The public safety board is an interesting board, because oftentimes the public will bring forward, you know, “Hey, why don’t we have a stop sign at the bottom of, you know, whatever hill?” or “I think that the the speed limit is too fast in my neighborhood, and I’m worried about the kids when they’re playing,” and whatever. So the public safety advisory board just tries to come up with ways to keep our community as safe as possible, and then they will make a recommendation to the assembly on a subject.
Hannah Flor: Is there anything that these positions don’t do?
Debbie Thompson: Well, one thing that is important to state is that all of these boards and the assembly, no one person gets to make a decision. It has to be the majority of the body. Some boards are five member boards, most are seven. And on a five member board, you must have three members vote in the same way. And on a seven member board, there must be four in order for something to pass in the affirmative.
Hannah Flor: Do you ever find that people are sometimes a little surprised when they realize what their position entails after they’re elected?
Debbie Thompson: Yes. Mostly on the decision-making boards, more than the advisory boards. I think the advisory boards are probably a little bit more fun, because, yeah, you don’t make the final decision, so you don’t get as much grumbling from those who don’t agree with the decision. Honestly, being on the decision-making boards – well, any board – it’s a big job, because you are trying to make what you believe is the best decision for your community, and not everyone is always going to agree with you. So yes, definitely, people are sometimes surprised at how difficult it can be at times to make a decision.
Hannah Flor: So you kind of have to have the constitution to take the grumbling from the community if you’re on a decision-making board?
Debbie Thompson: Definitely. You know, I think we all know that we can’t please everybody all the time. So I think that if you go into it just realizing that you’re going to do your best and you’re going to do your homework to look into whatever subject it is that’s before you. And you know, in the end, you’re going to follow your gut, usually, as to what you feel is right, and then just have your reasons and know that there will be people that won’t be happy with the decision. But you know, most of the time – it’s Petersburg – we’re a tight knit community, and these subjects can be talked out.
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The deadline to file for candidacy is Tuesday, August 20. Those interested in filing can find the paperwork upstairs at the municipal building, or at petersburgak.gov. Candidates can drop off completed paperwork at the municipal building. Thompson says if that’s not possible, arrangements can be made to file online by calling (907) 772-5405.
Petersburg’s municipal election is scheduled for Tuesday, October 1. The last day to register to vote in the election is Sunday, September 1.
The following seats are up for grabs:
Assembly:
Bob Lynn (has filed for re-election)
Thomas Fine-Walsh (has filed for re-election)
School Board:
Jay Lister
Carey Case
Hospital Board:
Mika Hasbrouk
Heather Conn
Planning Commission:
Sally Dwyer
John Jensen
Harbor Board:
Daniel Cardenas
Don Spigelmyre
Library Board:
Gina Esposito
Alec McMurren
Parks and Recreation Board:
Adam Caster
Public Safety Board:
*John Havrilek (has filed for re-election)
*Havrilek was appointed to the seat in July of 2024, when board member Mark Testoni left Petersburg.
