Assemblyman eyes run for state House seat

WASILLA — Mat-Su Borough Assemblyman Mark Ewing has announced plans to run for a seat in Alaska’s state House of Representatives next year.

After serving on the assembly for the past three years, the borough Planning Commission before that and Wasilla City Council from 2004-07, Ewing said he plans to take some time off when his term expires in October before vying for a state position.

He said he would either run for the new district seat or against Rep. Wes Keller.

The Matanuska Telephone Association technician has been a Valley resident since 1969 and is married to Wasilla City Councilwoman Leone Harris.

Citing a need for stronger Mat-Su representation in Juneau on things like school and road bonds, Ewing said he feels he can better voice the wants and needs of Valley residents.

Bonds for school facilities, for example, he said need to first be trimmed by the assembly before putting the issue on October’s ballot.

“The way the bond is written now, I don’t think it’s gunna pass,” Ewing told the Wasilla City Council during his regular assembly report June 27. “Wasilla High School definitely needs some relief from a new school coming off KGB and allow our students an environment of learning instead of overcrowding. We need to fulfill the needs of our children, not the wants of our superintendent of schools.”

Ewing was openly critical of Mat-Su Borough School District Superintendent Ken Burnley earlier this year after the superintendent announced plans to transfer Wasilla Middle School Principal Amy Spargo to WHS to replace retiring principal Dwight Probasco.

Ewing voiced his displeasure regarding the decision to pick Spargo instead of promoting WHS Assistant Principal Mark Okeson publically at a joint assembly-school board meeting in April.

Burnley died suddenly early Saturday morning while recovering from routine double knee replacement surgery in Anchorage. Assistant Superintendent Deena Paramo is serving as acting superintendent until the school board can pick a permanent replacement.

Ewing also said he’d like to see a new Iditarod Elementary School built and the old school used for borough offices.

“The world no longer revolves around Palmer like it did when I was a kid,” Ewing said to council. “Bringing the government close to the people would be an asset by utilizing the old school to put maybe even the city of Wasilla in there as a tenant and Mat-Su Borough employees can be there so you can pay your taxes without going all the way to Palmer.

“If the borough doesn‘t agree, maybe next year I‘ll be out there holding up a petition to get people here in the Valley to sign to put an annex out here and force the borough to move employees where the core is instead of keeping everyone hidden in Palmer.”

Ewing’s dislike for Councilwoman Taffina Katkus — and his friendship with current Mayor Verne Rupright — was evident when Katkus requested Rupright keep borough reports to a minimum so Wasilla residents would have more time to speak on local issues.

“I’ve listened to you drone on and on in borough assembly meetings and make absolutely no sense,” Ewing said to Katkus. “So with that I’m going to leave.”

Contact K.T. McKee at kate.McKee@frontiersman.com or 352-2252.