MAT-SU — Tuesday’s elections mostly held the status quo for the three cities in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough, but as the last ballots are counted, a few contests are still subject to change.

The Houston had perhaps the most at stake in this year’s election. Voters chose not only two seats on the city council, but whether to raise the sales tax on fireworks and apply for a first-class city designation. Houston led all local municipalities with a voter turnout of over 28 percent.

With 26 early, questioned and special needs ballots left to be counted, the city council seats are set, but the propositions are too close to call. In the contested Seat C, the 124 Election Day votes for incumbent Natasha Schachle secured her victory over Kathleen Barney (76 votes) and Joshua Hanford (72 votes). Schachle said she gives a voice to the people of Houston, and her priority on the council is to keep Houston a livable city for its residents.

“It’s important to keep the roads maintained, plowed and safe to drive on,” Schachle said. “I would also like to put in a large effort into the (state) transportation department for a stoplight at Big Lake Road and the Parks Highway.”

Lance Wilson ran unopposed for Seat D. His goal for the coming year is to continue to strengthen Houston’s fire department and encourage economic growth in the city.

“Hopefully, in the next year we can open a satellite fire station at Birch Road and Kenlar,” Wilson said. “I would like to see more businesses move into the city of Houston. ... That would increase our tax base and spread the tax burden.”

Proposition 1 asked Houston voters if the sales tax on fireworks should be increased from 2 to 4 percent. The increased revenue would be used for police and fire services. The tax would be raised starting Jan. 1, 2010 with a four-year sunset clause.

At the polls on Tuesday, 147 voters said the tax should be raised, and 137 said it should not. With only a 10-vote gap, the fate of Prop. 1 lies with the uncounted ballots.

Proposition 2 was an advisory vote asking the voters if the city council should apply for first-class city status. Among other things, the change would allow voters to directly elect the mayor.

Of the poll voters, 132 said the council should make the application to the Alaska Boundary Commission, and 152 said the council should not. Unless an overwhelming majority of early voters support the change, the city will keep its second-class status for the time being.

The likely defeat of Prop. 2 makes Props. 3 and 4 irrelevant. If Houston is to become a first-class city, voters limited the mayor’s term to three years and imposed term limits.

The Houston canvassing board expects to have final, official election results sometime next week.

In Wasilla, 19 percent of registered voters turned out to decide one contested city council seat and sign off on one unchallenged incumbent.

At the polls, challenger Taffina Katkus topped the count for Seat A with 345 votes. Incumbent Ron Cox received 294, and Steve Menard got 246. However, there are still 89 early, absentee, questioned and special needs ballots outstanding.

Katkus said, if she does hold on to the victory, she will bring diversity to the city council. She wants to bridge the gap between the community and the council and said the city needs to start planning for growth. As for annexation, she said it is important to listen to the people in the area being looked at for expansion.

“I think in some ways it is healthy,” Katkus said. “I would personally like to find out what their view is on it.”

Doug Holler, the incumbent for Seat B, received 665 votes. Holler did not respond to a request for an interview.

The canvassing board starts counting the outstanding ballots today at 1:30 p.m. at Wasilla City Hall. The final election results will be certified at the council meeting on Monday.

Palmer had two seats on the city council up for election. Both incumbents ran unopposed, and voter turnout was just above 19 percent.

Richard Best said he brings a willingness to look into the hard issues. He is trying to place better controls on city credit card usage, and the issues facing the city now will determine the direction of the city for the next 15 to 20 years, he said.

“The couplet issue, the railroad tracks, the downtown business district. We need to get the business people involved. If we’re going to go forward with stuff, we have got to start communicating better,” Best said.

Kenneth Erbey could not be reached for an interview.

Contact Todd L. Disher at todd.disher@frontiersman.com or 352-2252.