If you are thinking about entering the political race to be our next Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor

Think About It…….. August 10, 2011

If you are thinking about entering the political race to be our next Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor or seeking election as a Borough Assemblyman to represent your district, the August 15^th filing deadline is almost here.

If you are not quite sure whether to seek election for Borough Mayor or Assemblyman, you might want to reconsider. We pay our elected Borough Officials quite well.

Our Borough Mayor Dave Carey now earns a annual salary of $80,000. However, the next Borough Mayor will receive annual compensation of $99,000. per year. The Mayor receives a car allowance of $3,600. year, and then keeps track of the miles he drives for about .41cents per mile each month. The new mayor will have a full Health Insurance Package (medical, dental, visual and prescriptions) and $99,000. worth of Life Insurance. However, the new mayor will be excluded from the Alaska Public Employee Retirement System unless a current member.

Our Borough Assemblymen are paid $400. for Assembly meetings at least twice a month or almost $10,000 a year. Our Borough Assembly President is paid $500. for each meeting. Each Assemblyman receives a car allowance of from $150. to $250. depending on how far they have to drive to meetings and are paid $.45 cents a mile for their travel. For each Board of Equalization meeting they attend they are paid another $100. per meeting.

In addition, each Assemblyman receives Health Insurance (medical, dental, visual and prescriptions) plus $20,000. In Life Insurance plus Accidental Death and Dismemberment coverage.

When traveling to conduct Borough business each receives a substantial meal allowance or an $80 flat per diem for lodging and meals, and reimbursement of travel expenses including air travel in coach class. For the most part Assembly people are excluded from participation in the Alaska Public Employee Retirement System. However, at least two candidates who have filed for the office of Borough Mayor, Mike Navarre and Dale Bagley are already in the PERS system so they could again participate. That participation could increase the amount of monthly retirement they would receive after leaving the office.

So, there you have it…..Another good reason to run for Mayor or Assemblyman in our Borough, besides the knowledge, ideas and expertise you might bring to the position for which you file. So, pick up your papers today at Borough Hall and seriously consider running for office.

Think About It!! JCD 8-10-2011