The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday certified this month’s election results and welcomed two new members.
Borough Clerk Michele Turner administered oaths of office to Theo Noomah, who will represent Homer; Lisa McDonald, who will represent Kalifornsky; and four other members will retain their seats. Peter Micciche will remain borough mayor, Ryan Tunseth will continue to represent Kenai, Nate Berga will continue to represent the central district, and Dale Eicher will continue to represent Sterling and Funny River.
In the final tally of votes, the borough saw roughly 40% turnout. Micciche, Tunseth, Berga and Eicher all ran unopposed. Noomah won his election with roughly 1,200 of 2,000 votes cast. McDonald won election by a margin of around 300 votes, with 1,500 total cast in the race.
Borough voters also elected Todd Brigham, Jon Watson and Charlie Redfern to the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education and approved 11 people running unopposed to a slew of service area boards. Nearly 90% of borough voters approved a ballot measure establishing term limits for school board members — who now will be held to the same limit as assembly members, two consecutive terms before requiring a year out of office.
As new members are incoming, two members of the assembly are departing.
Kelly Cooper has represented Homer on the assembly from 2014-2020 and again from 2023 until this month. She chose not to run again.
“I’m extremely grateful for the time with all of you,” she said during Tuesday’s meeting. “Congratulations to all of the new members of the assembly and to the mayor. Much gratitude to everyone that ran, even if they didn’t win, this election. Keep doing it. Keep getting involved.”
Also departing is Brent Hibbert, who was appointed to fill a vacancy in the Kalifornsky seat in August but didn’t run for election. He previously held the seat from 2017 until 2024.
“It’s been an honor to serve with you these last few meetings,” he said. “I want to congratulate the new assembly members. Welcome, I’m sure you’ll do a great job.”
The final meeting for the departing members featured a sparse agenda, with all items approved via the consent agenda and almost no public testimony. The group approved an appropriation of funds towards the planned purchase of a tire shredder for Central Peninsula Landfill, accepted some grant and insurance funds, and confirmed appointments to boards and staff positions.
Noomah and McDonald will join the assembly for their first meeting on Dec. 1.
A full recording of the meeting and the text of all legislation are online.
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