All local elections now official

MAT-SU — Ever since the Oct. 2 election, the Mat-Su Borough, school board and the cities of Houston, Wasilla and Palmer have each held small ceremonies swearing in the winners. Since Wasilla finally wrapped things up Monday night, here’s a rundown of what happened elsewhere:

Mat-Su Borough School Board

The school board certified its election results Oct. 17. Voters had chosen to stick with longtime board member Sarah Welton and pick newcomer Deborah Retherford to replace Mike Dunleavy, who has all but wrapped up his election to the state Senate.

At that same meeting, the board chose its officers. Dunleavy had been board president. In his place, the board picked Susan Pougher. Erick Cordero was picked to be vice president and Welton, who has served in the past as both president and vice president, became the board clerk.

Mat-Su Borough

According to results certified Oct. 16, voters in the borough were content with the status quo, retaining all four incumbents who ran.

Assemblyman Vern Halter, who represents Willow, Talkeetna, Houston, and points in between, and

Assemblyman Jim Colver, who represents the Hatcher Pass area, didn’t draw opponents in the race for his seat.

Mayor Larry DeVilbiss and Assemblyman Ron Arvin easily defeated their respective challengers. DeVilbiss noted in a borough press release it was odd to have four seats up and all four retained by incumbents.

The propositions on the borough ballot also remained as reported on election night. Willow voters declined to increase their property tax to pay for fire services and borough voters agreed to a property tax exemption for seniors and disabled veterans.

City of Palmer

Two council seats and a handful of ballot propositions were in play in this year’s election.

The two top vote-getters for the council were incumbents Richard Best and Ken Erbey.

At its Oct. 8 meeting certifying the election, the council chose to stick with Brad Hanson as deputy mayor and picked Erbey to be alternate deputy mayor.

Two ballot propositions described as essentially cleaning up outdated sections of the city’s charter received mixed reviews. Voters were OK with deleting the section about a nonexistent city magistrate’s court but weren’t so hot on changing the way claims for injury are handled at the city.

A proposition that arrived on the ballot via petition banned smoking in public places and places of employment in the city. The only businesses that still allowed indoor smoking were the downtown bars, which have until Jan. 1 to give smoking the heave-ho.

City of Houston

Houston also stuck with the status quo. The election was certified Oct. 8., installing incumbents Alma Hartley and Lance Wilson for their new terms.

Mayor Virgie Thompson said in a brief interview that she remains the mayor. In Houston, the mayor also is a council member and is picked by the council to serve the position. The council also retained Deputy Mayor Jim Johansen.

Contact reporter Andrew Wellner at andrew.wellner@frontiersman.com or 352-2270.