13 seats open

MAT-SU — After today, voters will know who is running for the 13 seats around the Valley in the municipal elections on Oct. 6.

Everyone seeking election must file for candidacy by 5 p.m. this afternoon. Nominating petitions must be turned into the clerk’s office of the government entity for which the candidate is seeking election.

In the Matanuska-Susitna Borough, voters will choose who will sit in seven seats. The position of borough mayor will once again be on the ballot, just four months after a special election to fill the vacancy left by the death of Curtis Menard. Current mayor Talis Colberg made it clear during his campaign he would seek re-election to serve a full, three-year term.

Three, three-year term borough assembly seats will also be on the ballot. The seat from District 3 is up for election and represents the area of Trunk Road to Seward-Meridian. It is currently held by Michelle Church. Voters will decided on Robert Wells’ seat representing District 6 — the area including Hatcher Pass, Wasilla Fishhook, Schrock and Memory Lake. District 7 includes Meadow Lakes, Willow, Talkeetna, Trapper Creek and Sheep Mountain. Tom Kluberton is the current representative.

Next year’s school board may have a new look, as three seats are up for election this fall. Seat A is currently occupied by Jim Colver and comes with a three-year term. Sarah Welton currently sits in Seat B, also with a three-year term. If he decides to run, Erick Cordero will have to be re-elected to Seat E — a two year seat — after being appointed to the board in April.

In Houston, Seats C and D will appear on the ballot. Each comes with a three-year seat. Natasha Schachle sits in Seat C, and Lance Wilson holds Seat D.

Two seats on the Palmer City Council are open for election in October, each with a three-year term. Richard Best and Ken Erbey will have to be re-elected if they want to remain on the council.

Likewise, in Wasilla, two city council seats are on the October ballot. Seat A is currently held by Ron Cox, and Doug Holler sits in Seat B.

The borough and each city requires potential candidates to live within their constituency, but each has a different requirement for how many signatures are needed on a candidate petition. Contact the clerks’ offices for more information.

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