This fall, Unalaska will elect a new mayor.
The city ballot, finalized Tuesday, shows the candidates vying for the mayor's office in the Oct. 1 election are Dennis Robinson and Vince Tutiakoff Sr.
Incumbent Frank Kelty did not file to run for reelection, suggesting he may be retiring from a decades-long career in local politics — something he mentioned after the 2016 runoff.
"This will probably be my last three years as an elected official," said Kelty when he defeated then-mayor Shirley Marquardt by five votes. "I look forward to doing the best job I can on behalf of the community."
With Kelty absent from the 2019 ballot, Unalaska voters will decide between Robinson, current city councilor and vice mayor, and Tutiakoff, who serves on the boards of directors for the Ounalashka and Aleut Corporations. Tutiakoff also ran for mayor and council in 2016 and 2018, respectively.
Unalaska's only other contested race centers on school board seat D.
Former teacher Josh Good is challenging incumbent Denise Rankin, who works for the Ounalashka Corporation. Good is a newcomer to local politics, while Rankin has served on the board since 2014.
Meanwhile, three Unalaskans are running unopposed in the remaining races:
- Dave Gregory is running for reelection at City Council seat D.
- Darin Nicholson is running for council seat C, currently held by Roger Rowland. Rowland did not file for reelection after more than 10 years on the council.
- And Bob Cummings is running for school board seat C, currently held by Kelty. As with his post in the mayor's office, Kelty did not file for reelection on the school board.
Nicholson and Cummings are both relatively new to local politics.
Nicholson is a member of the fish processing industry who ran for council in 2016, but lost to Rowland in a five-way race. Cummings serves on the advisory boards for Unalaska's library and community center.
Unalaskans must register to vote by Sept. 1 — one month before the polls open. They can do so at City Hall or online.
KUCB will also host its annual Candidates Forum in late September.
