Wasilla council appoints new member after uncontested interview

What you need to know: 

• Wasilla resident Mark Schmidt was unanimously selected to fill Wasilla City Council Seat C, replacing Timothy Johnson, who resigned in March for family and health reasons. He was the only candidate interviewed for the role.
• Schmidt, a service manager at Kendall Ford of Wasilla, moved into the city in 2007 and volunteers at his church and at the Matanuska Sportsman Range in Palmer. He was the only applicant interviewed after others withdrew or were absent.
• Schmidt said he aims to support residents, attract businesses and expand youth programs within the city. He was selected on Monday and will be sworn in on May 12.  He will serve until October, when he may choose to run in the regular election.

WASILLA — The Wasilla City Council selected a new member Monday, filling a seat vacated late last month by the resignation of Council Member Timothy Johnson.

Wasilla resident Mark Schmidt was unanimously selected by a vote of the council.

Schmidt moved to Alaska in 2003 from Idaho and to Wasilla in 2007, according to an application submitted to the council. He works full time as a service manager at Kendall Ford of Wasilla, he said during the meeting. 

While three individuals applied for the seat, Schmidt was the only one interviewed for the role.

Arline Winn-Hill, a supervisor at a Wasilla-based home health agency, applied for the position but withdrew her application before the meeting, city officials said. Wasilla resident Rory Grant was not present for the council interview Monday and could not be considered.

Johnson resigned due to family and health issues, he said in a letter to the council. His resignation was accepted in late March.

Schmidt told the council his three biggest priorities for the city are maintaining a friendly atmosphere for residents, creating a welcoming environment for business, and developing city programs and facilities for local youth.

He said he volunteers extensively at his church and is also a small-bore instructor and range safety officer volunteer at the Matanuska Sportsman Range in Palmer, where he coaches a junior league.

He first learned of the open council position from a friend, he said.

“I have a good friend who said, ‘Mark, I think we need a good, strong conservative Christian man in there. I think you would be the best person to do it.’ And I said, ‘You know what? I didn't even realize the position was open, but I think you're right,’” he told the council.

Each council member asked Schmidt two questions during the approximately 30-minute interview. Rather than move into a closed session, Schmidt requested that the discussion over his selection be conducted in public.

“I look forward to adding someone on the council with your business acumen,” Council Member Stuart Graham said during the discussion. “We've lost somebody with tremendous business acumen, so that would be great.”

Schmidt will be sworn in during the council’s next regular meeting, scheduled for May 12. He will fill the seat until October, when he can choose to step down or run in the city’s regular election. The appointment will be his first time serving on an official government board or council, he said.

 – Contact Amy Bushatz at contact@matsusentinel.com