Juneau City Manager Rorie Watt, right, greets Greg Smith after Smith applied to run for one of two Assembly District 1 seats in this falls municipal election on Monday, Aug. 12, 2019. Watt said, “Welcome to the fray.” (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Juneau City Manager Rorie Watt, right, greets Greg Smith after Smith applied to run for one of two Assembly District 1 seats in this falls municipal election on Monday, Aug. 12, 2019. Watt said, “Welcome to the fray.” (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

The ballot is set: Here’s who is running for this year’s Assembly, school board seats

Thin field of candidates for vacant Assembly and school board seats

UPDATE: This article has been updated to reflect the fact that Amanda Ryder withdrew from the school board race. Read more here

City Clerk Beth McEwen for the City and Borough of Juneau declared the application period for candidates for the vacant Assembly and Juneau Board of Education seats closed Monday afternoon.

There were four candidates for four Assembly seats, and five candidates for the two school board seats. Amanda Ryder has since withdrawn, leaving four candidates on the field for school board.

“I’m excited. I think it’ll be good,” said Ryder. “I have a granddaughter in the schools so I want to see them do well.”

The application period to get certified and appear on the ballot is now over. People may apply to be a write-in candidate until five days before the election. The requirements to be elected as a write-in candidate are the same as the formal candidates; a write-in candidate must be a resident in the area they’re running for the last year, and they must be a registered voter who is not restricted from voting.

Amanda Ryder, left, signs her application for Municipal Clerk Beth McEwen on Monday, Aug. 12, 2019, to run for one of two open school board seats in this falls municipal election. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Amanda Ryder, left, signs her application for Municipal Clerk Beth McEwen on Monday, Aug. 12, 2019, to run for one of two open school board seats in this falls municipal election. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

With four seats and four candidates for the Assembly, it’s likely that those names on the ballots will be elected directly, barring a win by a write-in candidate. The most important decision there will be whether Alicia Hughes-Skandijs or Greg Smith gets more votes. This will decide who gets the three-year seat and who gets the one-year seat.

“I hope I can be a good representative, a good listener, and a good voice for the people’s issues,” said Smith as he submitted his candidacy paperwork.

The school board elections will be somewhat more fraught. With five candidates and two seats, there will be winners and losers in the election. These two seats are not geographically restricted, like most of the Assembly seats, and both are for three-year terms.

“Welcome to the fray,” City Manager Rorie Watt said.

Election day will be on Oct. 1. Polls will open at 7 a.m.

Greg Smith signs his application in front of Municipal Clerk Beth McEwen on Monday, Aug. 12, 2019, to run for one of two Assembly District 1 seats in this falls municipal election. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Greg Smith signs his application in front of Municipal Clerk Beth McEwen on Monday, Aug. 12, 2019, to run for one of two Assembly District 1 seats in this falls municipal election. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

City and Borough of Juneau Assembly Candidates

Assembly Areawide – One open seat (three-year term)

Carole Triem

Assembly District One – Two open seats (One for a three-year term and one for a one-year term)

Alicia Hughes-Skandijs

Greg Smith

Assembly District Two – One open seat (three-year term)

Wade Bryson

Juneau Board of Education Candidates

Bonnie Jensen

Emil Robert Mackey III

Amanda Ryder (Withdrawn)

Deedie Sorensen

Martin Stepetin Sr.


• Contact reporter Michael S. Lockett at 523-2271 or mlockett@juneauempire.com.


More in News

(Juneau Empire file photo)
Aurora forecast through the week of Nov. 17

These forecasts are courtesy of the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Geophysical Institute… Continue reading

Juneau Police Department cars are parked outside the downtown branch station on Thursday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
JPD’s daily incident reports getting thinner and vaguer. Why and does it matter?

Average of 5.12 daily incidents in October down from 10.74 a decade ago; details also far fewer.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Police calls for Monday, Nov. 18, 2024

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

The Douglas Island Breeze In on Wednesday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
New owner seeks to transfer Douglas Island Breeze In’s retail alcohol license to Foodland IGA

Transfer would allow company to take over space next to supermarket occupied by Kenny’s Liquor Market.

A butter clam. Butter clams are found from the Aleutian Islands to the California coast. They are known to retain algal toxins longer than other species of shellfish. (Photo provided by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife)
Among butter clams, which pose toxin dangers to Alaska harvesters, size matters, study indicates

Higher concentrations found in bigger specimens, UAS researchers find of clams on beaches near Juneau.

An aerial view of people standing near destroyed and damaged buildings in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene flooding on Oct. 8, 2024 in Bat Cave, North Carolina. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)
Members of U.S. Senate back disaster aid request amid increasing storm severity

WASHINGTON — The Biden administration’s request for nearly $100 billion in natural… Continue reading

Media members and other observers gather at the Alaska Division of Elections office on Wednesday evening as the results of all ballots, including ranked choice tabulations, were announced. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Ranked choice voting repeal fails by 0.2%, Begich defeats Peltola 51.3%-48.7% on final day of counting

Tally released Wednesday night remains unofficial until Nov. 30 certification.

Looking through the dining room and reception area to the front door. The table will be covered with holiday treats during the afternoon open house. The Stickley slide table, when several extensions are added, provides comfortable seating for 22 dinner guests. (Laurie Craig / Juneau Empire)
The Governor’s House: Welcoming Alaskans for more than 100 years

Mansion has seen many updates to please occupants, but piano bought with first funds still playable.

The language of Ballot Measure 2 appears on Alaska’s 2024 absentee ballots. The measure would repeal the states open primary and ranked choice voting system. (Andrew Kitchenman/Alaska Beacon)
Count tightens to 45-vote margin for repealing Alaska’s ranked choice system going into final day

State Division of Elections scheduled to conduct final tally at 5 p.m. Wednesday.

Most Read