3 apply to fill vacant Wasilla City Council seat

WASILLA — A trio of hopefuls have applied to fill the seat vacated by former city councilman Steve Menard.

Voters recalled the two-time councilman Feb. 7. The council will appoint a person to serve in his place until the Oct. 2 municipal election.

The list of applicants includes some familiar to the council. The first to apply by the noon, Friday deadline was John Luberger, a retired business owner who served a five-month stint on the council filling a vacancy when former councilwoman Nancy Hall moved out of the country.

Patrick Johnson has also applied, and has been a city resident since 1967. In a letter submitted with his application, Johnson says he voted for the city’s incorporation and ran for a council seat in 1973.

Glenda Ledford is the third applicant to fill the open seat. In her application letter, Ledford says she’s worked and lived in the city for more than 25 years and is the current chairperson of the Alaska Board of Barbers and Hairdressers and is the Republican chair of the Valley’s new state House District 9E. She ran for city council previously and lost by 39 votes.

See Sunday’s print edition of the Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman for more on the applicants.