Borough assembly opts for four-year terms for mayor, assembly

With just one dissenting vote, the Matanuska-Susitna Borough Assembly approved a change in terms of office for the mayor and assembly members from from three to four years with Stephanie Nowers voting no on the proposal.

The change would not affect any assembly member’s current term but going forward members would serve staggered terms where half of the members are before voters every other election cycle, similar to the way state senators are elected.

Rob Yundt and Deb McKee sponsored the proposal along with another that would allow candidates to identify by party affiliation. That one was held until the Feb. 28 assembly meeting, however.

There was a wide-ranging debate among assembly members and among the public, speaking in an assembly hearing the same night.

One argument advanced was that keeping the status quo would keep assembly members closer to their constituents by standing for election every three years. Another view was that municipal government is complex and growing more so, and an extra year of service adds to the experience elected officials bring.

A persuasive argument for the switch to four years is that it will align better with state elections that will have state candidates on the ballot, increasing voter turnout, some members of the public argued. Elections with only local candidates usually have very low voter turnout, which can skew the results toward special interest groups.

Another comment, which can also apply to term limits, was that after three years in office a a candidate, “may just be out of fresh ideas.”

“A three-year term brings a balance,” was another comment.

A Mat-Su resident who did extensive research on municipal terms in other states found that four-year terms were most common but that three-year and even two-year terms were not unusual.

State law now prescribes three years for municipal office terms but provides that the local assembly can change that.