No Contest for Unalaska City Races

When Unalaskans go to vote in October’s municipal election, their options will be limited. None of the incumbents running for city council or school board face any competition.

Councilors Zac Schasteen and Tom Enlow are running in uncontested races for Seats F and G, while School Board Member Melanie Magnusen has no opponents for Seat A. The filing deadline to run for public office was Thursday.

The lack of competition makes this an unusual race according to City Clerk Elizabeth Masoni.

“I am looking back through my files, and I have gone back for a number of years and do not see anything that suggests we’ve had a slate like this,” says Masoni.

Schasteen will be running for his second full term on council, while Enlow is seeking election to the seat he was appointed to fill in April, following Councilor Dick Peck’s resignation. Magnusen is running for her third term on the school board.

While a write-in candidate could still launch a campaign, the lack of challengers could make for a sedate election year. Masoni says that the city is still eager for a healthy turnout on October 2.

“We hope that everybody turns out to vote, whether it is an uncontested election or not,” says Masoni.

The last day to register to vote for the municipal election is September 2.

In addition to the October 2 municipal election, Unalaskans will also have the chance to cast ballots in the Alaska State Primary election on August 28. Neither one of the state legislators who represent Unalaska faces a contested primary, but there are two ballot measure that residents can vote on. The first would increase the maximum residential property exemption, while the second would reinstate Alaska’s coastal management program.