Charlie Pierce (Courtesy Photo)

Charlie Pierce (Courtesy Photo)

Kenai Peninsula Borough paid more than $260K to settle complaints against Pierce

Only one of the settlements has been previously disclosed to the public.

The Kenai Peninsula Borough paid $267,000 to settle a pair of workplace complaints alleging bullying and discrimination by Charlie Pierce, the borough’s departing mayor and a Republican candidate for governor. Only one of the settlements has been previously disclosed to the public.

Copies of the settlements were first published by Juneau radio station KINY after a public records request seeking copies of all settlements involving Pierce.

The previously undisclosed settlement involved a $117,000 payment to former Kenai borough human resources director Kim Saner, who left the borough last year.

According to the text of the settlement, Saner wrote a complaint to the borough’s lead attorney and Pierce’s chief of staff in December, alleging “illegal acts” related to Saner’s employment with the borough.

Saner’s last name is redacted from the agreement, but his first name and title were not redacted, allowing him to be identified.

As part of the agreement, Saner agreed to “withdraw and rescind any allegations of bullying related to (his) employment with the KPB” and to withdraw a request that he speak publicly about the issue.

Another clause of the agreement requires it to remain confidential and for Saner to refrain from speaking about it publicly.

The other settlement involves $150,000 paid to Sandra “Stormy” Brown, the borough’s former human resources director.

Brown sued the Borough in 2019, alleging that she was fired by Pierce after she told him that she had been diagnosed with a fatal case of cancer.

The borough settled the lawsuit later that year, after both sides went through a mediation process.

Reporters at multiple news agencies are investigating an alleged third workplace complaint involving Pierce and a borough employee. Multiple records requests have failed to yield information about that alleged action.

Pierce and members of the Kenai Borough Assembly have repeatedly declined to answer questions about the rumored complaint. Borough employees also have declined to discuss the issue or confirm the existence of the complaint.

In response to questions about the complaint, Borough Attorney Sean Kelley said there are no signed agreements, but he confirmed that the borough did conduct a confidential investigation earlier this year about an unspecified human resources issue.

• James Brooks is a longtime Alaska reporter, having previously worked at the Anchorage Daily News, Juneau Empire, Kodiak Mirror and Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. This article originally appeared online at alaskabeacon.com. Alaska Beacon, an affiliate of States Newsroom, is an independent, nonpartisan news organization focused on connecting Alaskans to their state government.

More in News

Bob Girt works with the Alaska Youth Stewards on Prince of Wales Island in 2022. (Photo courtesy of Bethany Goodrich / Sustainable Southeast Partnership)
Threads of the Tongass: Building a sustainable future

“These students can look back and say, ‘I helped build that. I was a contributor.’”

KTOO, Juneau's public radio station, is photographed in Juneau, Alaska, on Friday, July 11, 2025. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)
Public radio facing cuts as Congress moves to pull back funding

KTOO could lose one-third of its budget if the House passes a bill cutting funding for the Corporation of Public Broadcasting

Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo
The Norwegian Bliss arrives in Juneau on Monday, April 14.
Ships in port for the week of July 19

This information comes from the Cruise Line Agencies of Alaska’s 2025 schedule.… Continue reading

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Police calls for Thursday, July 17, 2025

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

Eaglecrest Ski Area. (Ben Hohenstatt | Juneau Empire File)
Hiker rescued from gully at Eaglecrest

The woman got stuck in a gully after taking a wrong turn

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Police calls for Wednesday, July 16, 2025

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

The Dimond Courthouse in Juneau, Alaska, is seen in this undated photo. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire file)
Juneau man pleads guilty to murder of infant

James White pleaded guilty yesterday to the murder of 5-and-half-week-old Kathy White

U.S. Coast Guard Rear Admiral Megan Dean shakes hands with the new Arctic District commander Rear Admiral Bob Little on Friday. Vice Admiral Andrew J. Tiongson, commander of the Pacific Area, smiles. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
US Coast Guard receives new commander, new name for Alaska

The Arctic District’s new icebreaker will visit Juneau next month

City and Borough of Juneau City Hall is photographed on July 12, 2025, in Juneau, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Juneau Empire file)
Municipal election candidate filing period opens July 18

The filing period runs from July 18 at 8 a.m. to July 28 at 4:30 p.m.

Most Read