Editorials

"An Informed Voter Is The Best Defense Against Bad Government"

“Shall a manager plan for the Kenai Peninsula Borough be adopted?”

By Vicki Pate.  May 10, 2004

Soldotna – A group of peninsula taxpayers drafted two
initiatives that could change our current borough
government from the mayoral to manager form.  These
initiatives were submitted to the Borough Clerk today
at 4 PM.  Copies of initiative 2004-04 and 2004-05 are 

attached.

With this change the Borough Mayor will still be an
elected position, acting as ceremonial head of the
borough.  A professional manager will replace the
mayor as chief executive of the borough.

“I am convinced that services provided by the Kenai
Peninsula Borough can be delivered more efficiently
and effectively with a manager plan for borough
government”, said Jim Mellott, a committee member.

“There is no doubt in my mind that a professional
manager with appropriate education and municipal
management experience can manage the borough better
than the current mayoral plan”, said Mike McBride, a
committee member.  McBride went on to say, “The
borough manager would be required to work in a
cooperative and professional manner at all times with
the Borough Assembly, which has not always been the
case with elected mayors”.

“I believe that voters should have the opportunity to
give their opinion regarding the performance of the
borough manager through an advisory vote held at each
regular municipal election”, said Fred Sturman,
committee member.  “Results of this non-binding vote
would then be considered by the assembly”, Sturman
said.

In 1971 Mat-Su Borough voters changed from the
chairman to manager plan of government and in 1984 the
City of Soldotna voters changed from the mayoral to
manager plan of government.  In both cases the voters
chose to keep the manager plan after experiencing both
management types of government.

Both initiatives will be given a thorough legal review
by the borough attorney before they can proceed to the
next step.  The borough has two weeks from today to
certify or reject these initiatives.  Once certified
by the Borough Clerk, one thousand, three hundred and
thirty two registered voters within the Kenai
Peninsula Borough must sign the petition to place this
question on the October 2004 ballot.  Anyone 
interested in being part of this process can contact
committee spokesperson Vicki Pate at 776-8926 or Fred
Sturman at 252-0100.

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