Tuesday, October 7, 2025, City Election

August 28, 2025 Seward Folly Staff

Voters will be allowed to vote for one Mayoral candidate and two City Council candidates.  

Citizens can register to vote or update voter information online with the State by Sunday, September 7, 2025. They can also register with the Seward City Clerk’s Office by Friday, September 5, 2025, at 5:00 p.m.

Register or update your voter information online using the state’s new online voter registration system

Check your current voter registration status at the state’s website. 

Absentee by-mail application deadline is Tuesday, September 30, 2025. Citizens can apply in the Seward City Clerk’s Office or with the KPB Clerk’s Office. Absentee voting is available in the Seward City Hall September 22 to October 6, 2025, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.(Monday through Friday) and during Election Day. 

There are three candidates running for the Mayor’s seat:

Sue McClure – Seward’s Current Mayor

Statement (reproduced exactly as submitted): “I have been Seward’s Mayor for three years now. During this time, I have spent a lot of time on the phone with folks, helping them with local issues. I answer every call, as there is no office in City Hall for the Mayor. My commitment to the job is very serious and thorough. My history in Seward is a strong asset, as it adds a perspective that many do not have. I have no personal agenda, only to do what is good for Seward. I especially enjoy chairing the meetings and experiencing the process of legislative decisions. My goal is to listen to everyone and to facilitate decision making in a positive way. We need to plan for and to move forward toward the future of Seward, while always respecting its history. I hope to continue as my hometown’s Mayor for another three years.”

A Seward High School alumna, McClure holds degrees in biology and chemistry from the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Her professional life has centered on education, with more than a decade teaching high school science and over twenty years as a university chemistry instructor.

McClure’s public service résumé includes serving on the Seward City Council from 2015 to 2022 and the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly from 2009 to 2015, before becoming mayor in 2022. Her community involvement includes founding the Seward Community Choir to leading the Resurrection Bay Historical Society.

Tim McDonald: A Local With Hands-On Experience

Statement (reproduced exactly as submitted): “Dear citizens of Seward, My name is Tim McDonald, born and raised in Seward. I experienced the 1964 Good Friday earthquake at 7 years old in Seward. My Father was a tugboat and barge operator and I grew up in that enviroment as the youngest of 4 children. I have a vast appreciation for the ocean and the natural world. My commercial experience has suited me to appreciate Seward’s potential in the commercial and sea faring world. My vision for Seward is too bring our economy and municipal systems into the 21st century. Much work needs to be done concerning solid waste, black water waste and of course energy production and security. We are a divided community with half our citizens living outside city limits and unable to vote in city elections. A solution for fair representation of our disenfranchised citizens needs to be found; they go to our schools, shop at our stores and pay taxes the same as we do yet without a legal voice. I hope you will trust me to tackle these and other concerns with honesty, integrity and a heart for Resurrection Bay and the City of Seward. Tim McDonald for Mayor, City of Seward”

A lifelong Seward resident and Seward High graduate, Tim McDonald brings a maritime background to the race. His career has included work as a marine engineer, diver, captain, tugboat operator, and yacht broker. McDonald has served on the Seward Planning & Zoning Commission and the Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association board, and has volunteered from Iditarod Trail clean-ups to improving the Children’s Beach Playground.

Leighton Radner: A Voice for Accountability

Statement (reproduced exactly as submitted): “Many of you may remember me from my recent run for District 5 Representative. I am bringing the same principles, dedication, and strengths to serve as Mayor of Seward. As a younger candidate, I aim to bring fresh ideas and a new perspective to Seward’s local government. My goal is to foster greater transparency and open dialogue with the people of Seward. Above all, I will stand firm in protecting the rights and freedoms of Sewardites. Local government should never overreach or impose top-down decisions without community input. I believe in empowering individuals, supporting personal responsibility, and defending the liberties that makes Seward a special place to live. If elected Mayor, I will work to ensure Seward remains a wise investment for all who live here. Sewardites contribute their time, labor, and tax dollars to this city. In return, we owe them a community that is safe, welcoming, and proudly unique. It’s no secret I believe our local government has grown too large— and our budget has grown with it. This trend must be acknowledged and corrected to protect the long-term health and identity of our city. Let’s keep Seward, Seward.”

Leighton Radner is currently a board member for the Libertarian Party of Alaska. Radner represented Alaska as a delegate to the 2024 National Libertarian Party Convention and has written on economics, history, and local culture. Community service includes work with TYC Youth Programs.

There are six candidates for the City Council. Voters can vote for two. 

Michael B. Calhoon
Statement (reproduced exactly as submitted): “I am running for election to the Seward City Council with the goal to help Seward continue to move forward with growth in both the private and business sectors. I believe my record on the council over the years has shown me to be fiscally responsible with the goal of developing a strong and sustainable year-round economy. I am an Army veteran with ties to Seward since my family moved here in 1962. I am community minded and service oriented. I have previously served on the Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, the Seward Planning and Zoning Commission, and the Seward City Council. I have been on the Board of Directors for American Legion Post 5 since 2006. Seward is a great town to live in and I believe it can get even better with continued emphasis on responsible and affordable development of single-family housing and year-round business. I would like the opportunity to, again, serve the community of Seward and help all of us meet the challenges of the future.”

Randy Wells

Statement (reproduced exactly as submitted): “Seward is a vibrant and resilient community, and I’m proud to have served the City Council over the past four years. Each week, I’ve dedicated time to representing our residents and working toward a stronger, more sustainable future. I’ve also been deeply involved in addressing our housing challenges—partnering with residents, council, and administration to update city codes and encourage responsible property development throughout town. I’m running for re-election to keep this momentum going. I’m committed to modernizing outdated zoning regulations to unlock new housing opportunities and to help build a more robust, year round economy, something Seward truly deserves. I remain dedicated to serving with transparency, integrity, and a forward-thinking approach. Let’s keep Seward moving forward— together!”

Lori Draper
Statement (reproduced exactly as submitted): “I have been a proud resident of Seward for 48 years. After beginning my career in banking as a teller, I worked my way up to district manager before retiring. I have served on the Seward Chamber of Commerce, Seward Rotary Club, Resurrection Lutheran Church, Bear Creek Fire Service Area, and Seward General Hospital boards. My husband and I raised three children here and now have two grandchildren growing up in Seward. I am running for City Council because I care deeply about our community and want it to remain a wonderful place to live, work, and visit-a place where my grandchildren can receive the same excellent public education my children did and have opportunities to build fulfilling lives here. Our community faces serious challenges, including a public education crisis, a shortage of affordable housing, and uncertainty about the future of our electric utility. These issues require innovative, transparent decision-making that welcomes community input, relies on expert advice, and learns from other communities that have successfully navigated similar challenges. I am committed to listening, collaborating, and working hard for Seward’s future.”

Kevin Finch
Statement (reproduced exactly as submitted): “I am running for City Council to try to bring balance for Seward resident year-round. I have lived in Seward for 32 years and run my own business.”

Kevin Finch has served on the city council since 2022 . He has 25 years of experience in the Department of Corrections and five years in the Army. He runs his own business and supports the American Legion.

Samantha LePera
Statement (reproduced exactly as submitted): “I want to serve on the city council because I care deeply about the future of our town and the people who live here. I moved here when I was 22 years old in 2016 from Ft. Myers, FL, which could not be more different from Seward. I would go to the grocery store not knowing one person I would bump into and now I walk into any local establishment and know most of the patrons. The small-town feel is exactly what I didn’t know I was looking for. Now that I have been here for nearly a decade, I want to give back and continue making Seward a place that 22-year-old me would be proud of and welcome to call home. The small-town feel is what many people who move here are looking for. I want to continue building on the legacy this town already has. That being a place where families can move and thrive, businesses can grow, and neighbors can depend on each other. I want to strengthen local infrastructure, support small business development, and make sure our town continues to be a safe place for residents and visitors alike. Serving on city council would give me the opportunity to give back to this community that has already given me so much.”

James Michael Taylor

Statement (reproduced exactly as submitted): “I moved to Seward in the spring of 1994, when snow still lingered on the mountains and the smell of salt and spruce mixed in the thawing air. Back then, our harbor was smaller, our streets quieter, and you could still hear the clatter of the boatyard over the gulls. In the decades since, I’ve watched our fair city change — sometimes slowly, like the steady pull of the tide, and sometimes suddenly, like a storm rolling in from Resurrection Bay. I’ve seen City Council members come and go, each bringing their own vision for Seward. Some worked hard to strengthen our community. Others, in my opinion, carried personal agendas that didn’t always serve the greater good. Over the years, I’ve learned that in a small town, politics is never just about policies — it’s about people, personalities, and the trust we place in those who represent us. It is with this understanding that I have decided to run for City Council. I believe I can make a difference — not by pushing my own agenda, but by listening to the people of Seward and carrying their voices into the room where decisions are made. My commitment is simple: to represent our community.”

Two of these six candidates will join the Seward City Council this fall, each bringing their own perspective and hopes for the city’s future. Election day offers a chance for residents to help shape the direction of Seward for years to come.