3 Wasilla council seats on ballot

WASILLA — City voters will have another council seat to fill in the Oct. 1 general election. That’s because Wasilla City Council has approved a recommendation from longtime city clerk Kristie Smithers and city attorney Richard Payne to place the remaining two years of Steve Lovell’s council seat on the ballot.

Lovell, elected to Seat A on the council in October 2012, was killed in a heavy equipment accident June 30. He had a little more than two years left in his term, but because of the timing of his death and the upcoming general election, the council elected to leave Lovell’s seat vacated until the election.

“The code currently does not directly address the passing of a council member,” says a memorandum to city council from Smithers and Payne. “However, in this circumstance, we feel that the council does not need to declare a vacancy for council Seat A.”

Because of the timing of his death, Smithers said she and Payne think appointing someone to fill Lovell’s vacant seat is unnecessary. That’s because the filing period for candidates to begin declaring for the election is Monday, July 15.

Seat A will now be one of three council seats on the ballot. Up for election for regular three-year terms are Seat E, held by Dianne Woodruff, and Seat F, held by Brandon Wall. Woodruff is term-limited from running again.