Borough to set mayoral election

PALMER — A few of the questions on succession of leadership at the Mat-Su Borough have been answered and a few remain.

The mayor’s seat, set to be vacated when Talis Colberg takes over as director of Mat-Su College, will be filled in a special election following the regular Oct. 5 borough election.

Exactly when that election will happen is still an open question. Borough Clerk Lonnie McKechnie said Friday that the borough assembly will need to decide sometime in September or October.

Colberg has said he will stay on as mayor until Oct. 20 so he can name a replacement deputy mayor to oversee meetings in his stead. The currently deputy mayor, Lynne Woods, has reached her limit of terms on the assembly and won’t be in that seat following the October general election.

Another unanswered question deals with the mayor’s responsibilities — a proposition on the Oct. 5 ballot could have the mayor taking over more of the day-to-day operational duties of running the show.

The Mat-Su Borough is also currently without a manager since the resignation this summer of John Duffy.

—Andrew Wellner