On Tuesday, Cordova voters will elect new officers for City Council, school board, and Hospital Services Board. They’ll also be voting on a ballot proposition to decide whether or not the city accepts a loan of up to $870,000 to build an electric bear fence at the landfill.
Cordovans will choose between four City Council candidates – Sonya Hagmüller, John Renner, Lee Collins, and Kasey Kinsman, running for re-election – who are vying for two open seats. Council candidates are elected for three-year terms.
Malani Towle is the sole candidate for the school board’s only open seat, and Kelsey Hayden is also running uncontested for the city’s only open Hospital Services Board seat.
The Cordova Center Community Room A polling place will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day, March 3.
Below are the City Council and school board candidate profiles.
Note: Responses may be edited or shortened for clarity and brevity.
Lee Collins
City Council candidate
Q: What is your professional background?
A: Starting at the age of 10 I worked on the back deck of my parents’ seine boat, until I bought my own Copper River/PWS Gillnet operation, which I fished for 12 years. Currently I manage the Cordova Community Garden, and I do transports and guided hikes with Explore Cordova.
Q: What achievements or skills from your experience make you a good candidate for this seat?
A: I will use my experience of growing up in this community as a guide in making council decisions. My experience in commercial fishing taught me the importance of locally owned fishing operations and how essential they are for the local economy. My work at the Cordova Community Garden allows me to connect with people in our community and play a small part in teaching them to be more self-reliant through gardening.
Q: Why did you decide to run for this seat?
A: I felt it was time for me to get involved and participate in the decision-making process that the city council is tasked with. I want to see Cordova remain the amazing place that it is to grow up in for future generations.
Q: What are the top issues you want to address if elected?
A: I hope to be able to continue work that the council has already done with solving city finance issues, while at the same time making sure to keep services available that the community relies on, from recreation at the swimming pool to snow removal. I am interested in being part of helping with the housing affordability/shortage problem that we face in this community and take any steps as part of the City Council that could be done to alleviate these issues.
John Renner
City Council candidate
Q: What is your professional background?
A: I am a commercial fisherman. I have also run a construction business for 40 years. I have been on many boards and committees, including but not limited to vice president of C.D.F.U., co-chairman of the advisory committee to the board of fish, I understand Roberts rules of order, I have been recognized by the Alaska Legislature for my excellence of service, I understand the economics of the commercial fishing and construction industries and the base taxes that help to fund Cordova.
Q: What achievements or skills from your experience make you a good candidate for this seat?
A: I have been a successful businessman in Cordova for 50 years. My experience on boards and committees including extensive public speaking, which will serve me well on City Council. I have a stake in this community. I am a property owner and have a lot of family in town.
Q: Why did you decide to run for this seat?
A: I decided to run for City Council because in my 56 years in Cordova I have seen some tough times. When I drive down Main Street I see empty business. I am very concerned for our community and its future.
Q: What are the top issues you want to address if elected?
A: 1) Finances; 2) taxes; 3) swimming pool; 4) new revenue for this town; 5) maintaining basic services; 6) working to increase state road funds; and 7) the unsolvable ferry issue. These are my goals. There is a learning curve anytime you enter a new organization. I think I have drive and knowledge to make some positive changes.
Kasey Kinsman
City Council candidate running for re-election
Q: What is your professional background?
A: I am currently the cargo operations manager for Southeast Alaska and Kodiak, with Alaska Airlines. I have been with Alaska Airlines since 2017, beginning my career right here in Cordova. Prior to moving to Cordova, we lived in Utah and I worked for a pharmaceutical manufacturing company. I served nine years in the Army National Guard; to include a tour to Afghanistan. I am currently serving on the City Council.
Q: What achievements or skills from your experience make you a good candidate for this seat?
A: With various positions I have held at Alaska Airlines, I have had to create and operate within a budget for both the Juneau and Cordova airport operations. These roles have also included experience navigating Collective Bargaining Agreements. As a US Army Veteran, I have experience thinking critically and solving problems under stress and in high stake situations. As a husband and father, I can appreciate the opportunities and challenges that are unique to raising a family in Cordova. I am currently a member of the City Council of Cordova. During this time, I was selected by my fellow council members to serve as the vice mayor.
Q: Why did you decide to run for this seat?
A: I feel very fortunate to have been able to choose to move to Cordova in 2016. We were in a position that we could have moved just about anywhere, but we felt called to this beautiful community. Aside from the beauty, there were two contributing features that sealed the deal. Cordova is consistently recognized for our incredible school district and highlighted for being a safe community. I want to do my part to continue to preserve these staples of Cordova.
As a current member of the City Council, I would like to continue the momentum from my first term. During the past three years, Cordova has seen our South Harbor re-developed and configured. We have seen new development and there is future development on the horizon. This last budget cycle we made great strides in establishing a sustainable path for Cordova. It was a very tough budget cycle, but a solid fiscally responsible foundation was laid. I would like the opportunity to have a seat at the table to ensure the foundation that we have been creating is solid for years to come.
Q: What are the top issues you want to address if re-elected?
A: Fiscal responsibility! Working to establish Cordova as less fiscally dependent on both state and federal funds, which we saw come to a head during 2025 and our 2026 budget cycle. This is the foundation that will allow us to address Cordova’s aging and inadequate essential services (water/sewer, emergency services, roads and refuse).
Sonya Hagmüller
City Council candidate
Q: What is your professional background?
A: At 15, I started hanging gillnets for the fishing community while working at L.F.S. After graduating high school and moving to Anchorage for college, I became a preschool teacher at Anchorage Gymnastics Association and Starbright Early Learning Center for a total of nine years. I moved back to Cordova in 2016 and continued hanging nets until shortly after my son was born in 2019. After becoming a mother, I started my own small business, AKMacramations and later Evergreen Housekeeping.
Q: What achievements or skills from your experience make you a good candidate for this seat?
A: Running my own small businesses helped me develop budgeting and time management skills. I developed strong leadership skills as a preschool teacher, managing the needs of many while including everyone. I am an active listener and make ethically based decisions and I would use my skill to benefit the community as a whole.
Q: Why did you decide to run for this seat?
A: I want to help the city prioritize its needs so we can build a strong foundation for years to come. I care deeply about Cordova and I love to help people. I’d like to work together with the community to create more opportunities for a sustainable future.
Q: What are the top issues you want to address if re-elected?
A: If elected I’d like to try and help address our housing crisis. I’d like to see affordable housing for everyone. Lack of housing limits people’s ability to settle in Cordova. With affordable housing we can create opportunities for people to move here and grow our community.
I’d like to see more art in outdoor spaces. Vibrant art can increase foot traffic to local businesses while also decreasing vandalism and reducing littering. Outdoor art is a great opportunity for community members to come together and create while showcasing their unique talents and offering tourists an eye-catching experience. I would support a community youth center, an all-inclusive space for children to play games and socialize.
Malani O’Toole
School Board candidate (uncontested)
Q: What is your professional background?
A: I have a master’s degree in Elementary Education and taught kindergarten in California before becoming an RN and real estate agent. I have also been part of Cordova Music Camp in various capacities for many, many years.
Q: What achievements or skills from your experience make you a good candidate for this seat?
A: I have always had a passion for education, whether it is education in a school setting, or music education during Cordova Music Camp. I am excited to learn more about how I can help support our school community (students, teachers, staff).
Q: Why did you decide to run for this seat?
A: I was raised in Cordova and have three children in the Cordova School District. Part of what makes Cordova such a wonderful place is how people offer their time and energy to support the community, and this is one way that I can help.
Q: What are the top issues you want to address if elected?
A: I feel strongly that Cordova’s children deserve the best education we can offer them. I hope to learn more about what challenges our school district faces and be part of the team that is working on solutions to those challenges so we can continue to create a learning environment that all of Cordova’s students thrive in.
