Both Wasilla Council races contested

WASILLA — The deadline to certify for the Wasilla City Council in the Oct. 4 election passed over the weekend, and for the two seats up for election, multiple candidates are up for each.

For City Council Seat E, Debra A. Barrett had her candidacy certified on July 29, putting her head to head with sitting Deputy Mayor Gretchen O’Barr.

In the race for City Council Seat F, four are in the field with James E. Harvey, the 26-year-old corrections officer appointed by the council to fill the vacant seat until the election, among those running. Christopher D. Anderson, Alvah C. Buswell III and Glenda D. Ledford round out of the field.

In the Mat-Su Borough Assembly Member contest, also set for Oct. 4, incumbent Jim Sykes, of Palmer, finds himself head-to-head with Brian K. Endle, also of Palmer for the District 1 Seat.

In District 2, Assemblyman Matthew J. Beck, of Palmer, is running unopposed.

Also in the Borough, five propositions have been approved for the Oct. 4 ballot, highlighted by a pair about the selling of marijuana in the Borough.

Proposition No. B-1 seeks to prohibit marijuana retail stores, cultivation and manufacturing facilities in the Borough, but not prohibiting the growth of industrial hemp.

Proposition No. B-5 asked the question as to whether retail marijuana could be taxed, which would seem irrelevant should B-1 pass. The viability of B-5 on the ballot was to be discussed at Tuesday night’s Borough Assembly meeting.

Proposition No. B-2 and No. B-3 deal with the annexation of a parcel into the Lazy Mountain Road Service Area No. 19, while B-4 asks the Borough to take on $22,160,000 in bonds to finance tahe construction and improvement of parks and recreational facilities including improvements to the Palmer and Wasilla swimming pools and the Brett Memorial Ice Arena.

School board elections were also finalized with two of three races contested.

In District 2, Susan Pougher, of Palmer, will go head-to-head with Ray Michaelson, of Palmer. In District 5, it’s Ethan C. Hansen, of Big Lake vs. Yvonne V. Ruth, also of Big Lake, and in District 7, Donna N. Dearman, of Talkeetna, is running unopposed.