FAIRBANKS - The Borough Assembly has selected eight applicants to interview next week to fill the assembly seat vacated by new Mayor Luke Hopkins.

A search for someone to fill a second vacant seat, previously held by new state Rep. Tammie Wilson of North Pole, is expected to begin Friday.

The eight candidates being interviewed at a special meeting on Tuesday include:

• Hank Bartos, a retired U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel who has served nine years on the Borough Assembly. He twice ran for borough mayor and lost.

• Accountant Diane Hutchison, a former road service area commissioner, youth sports coach and director of the Fairbanks office of former U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens. Her husband, Garry, ran unsuccessfully for borough mayor.

• Karl Kassel, a retired borough Parks and Recreation director. He challenged Rep. Mike Kelly, R-Fairbanks, in a state election last year and lost by four votes.

• Margery Kniffen, who served on the school board in the 1970s and is a member of the borough’s Platting Board, Board of Equalization and Land Management Advisory Commission.

• Rita Leake, an account executive at KTVF Channel 11 with a business degree from the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

• Joshua Lott, an assistant manager at Sears. He unsuccessfully challenged Assemblywoman Nadine Winters in the October election.

• Dr. Daniel Reynolds, a major in the Army, a Cub den leader for the Boy Scouts of America and a youth sports coach.

• Glenn Shaw, a landlord overseeing 15 rental units and who served in the Army.

Seven other applicants were eliminated after failing to garner a nomination from an assembly member. The new member will be selected by a majority vote and sworn in immediately. Less than a year remains in the term. The meeting in the borough chambers starts at 7 p.m.