3 of 5 incumbents not seeking reelection to Juneau Assembly, school board

Beth Weldon files her paperwork to run for Juneau Assembly, District 2 at Deputy City Clerk Beth McEwen's desk, Aug. 5, 2016. (Photo courtesy Beth Weldon for Assembly)
Beth Weldon files her paperwork to run for Juneau Assembly at Deputy City Clerk Beth McEwen’s desk, Aug. 5, 2016. (Photo courtesy Beth Weldon for Assembly)

Three of the five incumbents up for re-election in Juneau’s Oct. 4 municipal elections aren’t seeking another term.

Mary Becker, Kate Troll and Jamie Bursell are the incumbents on the Juneau Assembly whose terms are ending.

Kate-Troll_250
Kate Troll
Mary Becker-250
Mary Becker
jamie bursell
Jamie Bursell

Becker and Troll have both indicated they plan to run again. Bursell said Friday she won’t.

“And it was a very hard decision because I have found that I really like the job of being on the assembly. It’s been an incredible learning experience, it’s very academic. And at times, quite difficult to make some decisions, but I like that pressure, I like the challenge of it,” Bursell said.

She declined to say why she wouldn’t run. She’s only had the seat since the assembly appointed her in February to finish Karen Crane’s term, who had resigned to run for mayor.

On the school board, Lisa Worl and Barbara Thurston are also calling it quits.

Lisa and Ricardo Worl 2013 municipal election night
Lisa Worl
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Barbara Thurston

Worl said she hopes to free up some time and energy for her family. Worl, who is Tlingit and Filipino, said she hopes the new board reflects the community’s diversity.

Candidate filing opened Friday for three seats on the Juneau Assembly and two on the Juneau School Board.

Mary Becker, Kate Troll and Jamie Bursell are the incumbents on the assembly whose terms are ending. On the school board, Lisa Worl and Barbara Thurston are up for reelection.

Juneau Votes and the League of Women Voters have put together a comprehensive toolkit on how to run. That toolkit and more election information is available on the City & Borough of Juneau’s election website.

Candidate filing closes Aug. 15.

As of Friday afternoon, the only certified candidates are incumbent Mary Becker and retired firefighter Beth Weldon, both for assembly seats.

Jeremy Hsieh

Local News Reporter, KTOO

I dig into questions about the forces and institutions that shape Juneau, big and small, delightful and outrageous. What stirs you up about how Juneau is built and how the city works?

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