Three candidates have filed for the City of Homer regular election, taking place on Oct. 1.
The positions up for election are two city council seats currently belonging to council members Donna Aderhold and Shelly Erickson, and the mayor’s position, currently held by Ken Castner.
Incumbents Aderhold and Erickson are both running to keep their seats on the council.
Aderhold was first elected to the city council in 2015. She also served on the City of Homer Americans with Disabilities Act Advisory Board from 2016 to 2024.
Aderhold’s candidate statement was noted as “pending” on the City of Homer website as of press time.
Erickson has served on the council since 2018. She was previously served on the Economic Development Advisory Commission and Planning Commission.
A lifelong Homer resident and longtime local business owner, Erickson wrote in her candidate statement, “I have watched the community change over my lifetime. I want to continue to be a voice for positive change that continues Homer moving forward for the generations.”
Council member Rachel Lord is running for Homer mayor. Castner told Homer News on Monday that he is not planning to run for reelection.
“I’ve served three terms,” he said. “I’ve accomplished a lot in my six years; it’s time for someone else to step in.”
Lord has served on the Homer City Council since 2017. She also served on the Economic Development Advisory Commission from 2016 to 2017, and has other professional and community service experience with multiple Homer and statewide organizations.
“As a parent, business owner, and member of the City Council, I have been proud to work towards a financially sustainable and responsive City that provides a strong foundation of services for our citizens,” she wrote in her candidate statement. “As your Mayor, I will utilize my long experience on Council and dedication to building partnerships to strengthen our local capacity and develop solutions with vision and pragmatism to the complex issues our community faces.”
For more information on the upcoming election, including current candidate filings, visit www.cityofhomer-ak.gov/cityclerk/election-information-0.
