Fairbanks Assembly candidates reduced to eight people

FAIRBANKS - The Fairbanks North Star Borough clerk announced that eight of the 15 people seeking to fill an assembly vacancy have advanced to the interview stage.

The finalists are E. Andrew Bryan II, Torie Foote, Natalie Howard, Diane Hutchison, Jeremy Johnson, Karl Kassel, Margery Kniffen and Ron Therriault.

The position opened when Assemblywoman Tammie Wilson accepted an appointment to the state House of Representatives.

The panel's presiding officer will ask each candidate three questions at a special meeting on Thursday.

The assembly will then vote on the replacement. The winner will be sworn in immediately.