Borough mayor hopefuls square off at local forum

WASILLA — Four of the remaining seven candidates for Mat-Su Borough mayor attended one of the last public forums Thursday night before next Tuesday’s special election.

Candidates Larry DeVilbiss, Kenneth Clark, Brian Sullivan and Kurt Jarmer faced off at the Wasilla Alaska Club theater. Jeff Ward reportedly had a work commitment, but John Leiner and David Wilson failed to respond to an invitation to attend.

Bruce Walden was there to announce he had pulled out of the race because he didn’t have the resources to mount a successful campaign. He said he endorses DeVilbiss.

The event was sponsored by the Greater Palmer and Wasilla chambers of commerce, the Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman, Valley Radio, Country Legends radio and Alaska Club. It was broadcast live on the radio and could be accessed later on KMBQ’s website as well.

The last of the forums, sponsored by the Mat-Su Convention and Visitors Bureau, will be today at noon at Turkey Red restaurant in Palmer.

Sullivan and DeVilbiss are considered by many to be the frontrunners at this point in the race. Some have taken issue with Sullivan’s statements that he’s backed by four of the seven Mat-Su Borough Assembly members.

Assemblyman Mark Ewing, who’d been listening to the forum on his radio at home, suddenly appeared at the event during the first four-minute commercial break, fuming that Sullivan gave the impression that the majority of the assembly supported him.

“Two people don’t constitute a majority,” Ewing said, adding he also didn’t appreciate the fact that Jarmer has a lawsuit pending against the borough for a dispute involving his property line. “Being an officer in the military, Mr. Sullivan knows the code of conduct stresses honor and being truthful.”

Sullivan explained after the forum that Assembly Members Warren Keogh and Jim Colver have helped run his campaign and that two others — Cindy Bettine and Vern Halter — are quietly supporting him.

One person overhearing Sullivan said Halter wasn’t actually a supporter, but that couldn’t be verified by press time.

DeVilbiss, who’s lived in the Valley for more than 50 years and has held various borough positions, said during the forum that several local lawmakers have endorsed him and that a long list of supporters could be found on his campaign website.

During the 90-minute forum, candidates fielded prepared questions on land use regulations, handling borough growth, attracting industry, infrastructure priorities and property taxes versus sales taxes.

Sullivan, an Army major and combat veteran who served in the Washington State Legislature and also sat briefly on the Mat-Su Borough school board, said he believes there should be land use regulations to protect businesses that settle in the Valley. When asked later about natural resource development such as the proposed coal mines in the Sutton area, Sullivan said he wants to be a voice for the community living closest to the mines, although he didn’t think the borough should stop the mines from being developed.

“The borough has a responsibility to look after the health and safety of its residents,” he said. “We have a smart assembly and a smart borough staff. They can figure out how to do it reasonably.”

DeVilbiss, a dairy farmer who served on the assembly for six years and for two terms on the Mat-Su Borough School Board, made no secret of his support for a coal mine and believes those who fear the Valley will be covered in coal dust are simply mistaken.

“When I got a call from Mr. Sullivan that I would be cloaked in coal dust, I went to Usibelli and asked about their permit and they showed me a 3,000-page permit about as long as this table,” DeVilbiss said, adding he’s also looked at the state’s letter stating the Dept. of Natural Resources has the legal authority to control the mine’s dust, noise and light. “I’m convinced development will be done responsibly and that it doesn’t need any more regulation by the borough.”

Jarmer, a former firefighter who now works at the Palmer Senior Center and helps with the annual Christmas Friendship Dinner, tended to agree with DeVilbiss on the coal mining issue, but he has concerns about the borough failing to listen to residents on other issues.

“I want to see the public have a bigger voice in their own backyards,” Jarmer said. “The borough has been unaccountable for what its done for a long, long time. People are suffering under what they’ve done.”

Clark, retired from 40 years in the telecommunications industry and a Valley resident since 1995, said he’d like to see more done at Port MacKenzie to bring money back into the borough and thinks gravel and coal companies should possibly be taxed for the resources they extract in the Valley.

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