Assembly appoints Caroline Roberts to fill vacancy; presiding officer announces intent to veto, swearing-in delayed

The Kodiak Island Borough Assembly on Oct. 16 conducted a public nomination and ballot process to fill the remaining year of a vacated assembly seat and recorded a majority vote for Caroline Roberts, but the appointment was not finalized after a presiding official announced an intent to veto the action and the swearing-in did not occur.

Why it matters: The assembly’s temporary vacancy affects representation for borough residents until the seat is permanently filled; the announced intent to veto means the appointment may be reversed or reconsidered, delaying seating and any official duties by the appointee.

At the meeting the assembly opened nominations and received four nominees: Robert B. Lindsey; Joseph T. Mower; Caroline Roberts; and Brenda Schwantes. Following closed-ballot slips the clerk announced a majority vote for Caroline Roberts. The clerk then recorded that swearing-in would not take place that evening because a presiding official announced an intent to veto the appointment the following day.

Assembly discussion before the vote included several members expressing support for particular candidates. Assemblymember Jared Griffin urged colleagues to consider Caroline Roberts, saying she “has a different perspective, … is smart and does her research and can learn on the job.” No formal executive-session action to change the appointment was recorded in the open portion of the meeting.

During the public comment period one speaker, identified as Carlene, raised a potential conflict of interest related to a nominee’s employment with an entity named Kenna and said past litigation involving Kenna could prevent the nominee from voting on certain matters. The clerk and manager recorded that public comments and nominations would be noted in the record; no formal determination of conflict of interest was made in the meeting.

Action recorded in the meeting minutes: nominations were opened and closed, ballots were cast and the clerk announced a majority selection of Caroline Roberts to fill the remainder of the term. The assembly did not swear the appointee in after the presiding official announced an intent to veto the appointment tomorrow; the appointment’s final status therefore remained contingent on subsequent action.

Provenance: This account is taken from the meeting’s nomination and ballot-record segments and the clerk’s announcement that the majority vote favored Caroline Roberts, followed by the presiding official’s announcement of an intent to veto.

Ending: Because the presiding official announced an intent to veto, the assembly’s majority selection will await further action or clarification in the next meeting or by the presiding official.