Storm Hansen-Cavasos, an apparent winner of a seat on the Homer City Council, has had her residency challenged by City Council member Tom Stroozas, who has filed an affidavit at the Homer City Clerk’s Office, along with a $750 surety bond.
Hansen-Cavasos is a newcomer to politics, and is a third-generation Homer-area resident. But whether she lives in the city limits is what is in question.
Her Alaska Public Offices Commission filing shows her living at a rental on Rangeview Drive, inside city limits. But a voter registration record from 2018 shows her living off of East End Road, a few miles past the actual city limits of Homer. A more recent voter registration record shows her living in Homer Precinct 1.
Her husband, Jason, was as of last year listed as a voter on Rolling Meadows Road, outside city limits. And in January, Storm was listed in the Fritz Creek precinct, which is well outside of city limits. Was Hansen-Cavasos using an in-town address or did she just recently move — and how recently?
Eligible candidates need to be residents of the city for 12 months prior to an election.
Melissa Jacobsen, the Homer City Clerk, said that, as far as she knows, Hansen-Cavasos was a legitimate candidate.
The matter of whether she was a legitimate candidate will be taken up at the Monday meeting of the City Council, when normally the council would certify the election and swear in the winners.
Hansen-Cavasos unseated Homer City Council incumbent Shelly Erickson by seven votes, according to results confirmed by the Canvass Board on Friday. The final tally was 663-656.
Joey Evensen won a seat with 922 votes and incumbent Tom Stroozas came in fourth.
Both Erickson and Stroozas represent the conservative voters on the City Council.
With the challenge now before them, the City Council will likely initiate an investigation as to the real residency of Hansen-Cavasos. If the matter is decided against her, the Council would need to set a special election for that seat.
