City voters OK sales tax, new ice arena

MAT-SU -- City voters didn't have a lot of decisions to make Tuesday, but they showed up at the polls to bring about some big changes -- a new sales tax in Houston and an ice arena in Palmer.

Unofficial voter turnouts in local cities ranged from around 21 percent in Wasilla to more than 30 percent in Houston Tuesday, a strong showing considering the number of unopposed candidates on the ballots. But in Palmer and Houston it may have been the propositions that attracted voters.

Palmer voters approved a $1.5 million bond to build an ice arena in the city with a tally of 478 in favor and 271 opposed. A bond of the same size also appeared on the boroughwide ballot to help fund the ice arena project, but as of this week the vote was too close to call.

Even with just the city's $1.5 million, however, Palmer officials expect to be able to complete at least the first phase of the project.

Farther north, Houston voters are also welcoming something new to their city -- a 2-percent sales tax. The proposition was approved with 162 votes in favor and 105 against.

According to Houston City Council members, this is a big step for their city.

"The sales tax will allow us to keep our public works, clerk and secretary," Councilwoman Angela Rosas said before the election. Rosas ran unopposed at the polls Tuesday and was re-elected, as was her colleague Johnnie Winder.

Winder, too, supported the sales tax before the election.

"Without it, we are going to be driving our antique fire trucks down a dirt road full of potholes to your house and maybe we will have enough volunteer firefighters to put your house fire out," Winder said last month. "It's something the citizens of Houston need to stop and think about. If you want these services, then you are going to have to give up a little bit to keep them."

Winder and Rosas were the only two candidates for the Houston City Council, and Wasilla's ballot had a similar look -- two unopposed incumbents. Both Diana Straub and Howard O'Neil were re-elected, Straub with 698 votes versus 67 write-ins and O'Neil with 678 versus 66 write-ins.

Palmer voters had a little more choice for the city council -- three candidates for two seats. Incumbent John Combs was re-elected with 512 votes, and he will be joined at the table by newcomer Ken Erbey, who won with 261 votes. Emil "Butch" Fondahn, who has previously unsuccessfully run for the council, lost with 155 votes. There were 24 write-ins.

All of these are unofficial results, with the cities continuing to count questioned and early voting ballots as of earlier this week.