Colver, Tilton victories surprising

MAT-SU — Reactions to Tuesday’s primary results seemed to be mostly surprise at the names atop a pair of state House of Representatives races.

Probably the biggest surprise of the night — or at least the one that seemed to have the most people talking — saw incumbent Eric Feige losing to not just one but two candidates in the race to represent the Sutton/Chickaloon/Richardson HighwayDelta Junction/Valdez district.

Feige was a two-term Republican who said his main goal for a third term would be shepherding through the legislature contracts for a natural gas pipeline.

Though results aren’t official and absentee ballots could change vote totals, Mat-Su Borough Assemblyman Jim Colver seemed to have a pretty solid lead as of Thursday afternoon. Colver, at least, said he felt comfortable.

“Eric being the incumbent, those people off the highway, those early absentee ballots, will favor the incumbent,” Colver said. But he didn’t think there’d be enough to move the needle.

Feige actually placed third in the primary. Sutton Community Council Member and former president George Rauscher came in second.

Colver said that he won tight races before, that he once went to the assembly by just a 100-vote margin.

As for what he thinks set him apart, Colver said he believes it was his responsiveness as an assemblyman. He mentioned a community on Wasilla-Fishhook that saw their well system go dry. They needed a new one and were trucking in water at great expense in the meantime. He said he took the problem to legislators when he went to Juneau but got no help. Instead, he helped the community set up its own local improvement district to spread the cost of a permanent fix among community members.

“People expect you to be part of the community,” Colver said.

He’s excited to move on in the race and hopeful that voters will send him to Juneau over his opponent, Democrat Mabel Wimmer.

“This is my calling. This is what I do. I give my time for public service,” Colver said. “I like helping people.”

The other surprise of the night was in the seat representing areas of Knik, Fairview and Chugiak in the House. Heading into Tuesday’s balloting, Mat-Su Borough Assemblyman Ron Arvin seemed to have a few advantages over his opponent, Cathy Tilton.

Arvin jumped into the race first, immediately after Rep. Bill Stoltze announced he was seeking running for Senate, freeing that house seat of an incumbent.

Also, Arvin has name recognition from his position as an assemblyman. Tilton, though an active member of the community and a businesswoman, had in the political realm been mostly behind-the-scenes, working as a legislative staffer.

At Election Central Tuesday night as the votes rolled in, Tilton gave elated hugs to supporters and said that she believed the split between her and Arvin wasn’t really on the issues.

“We had pretty close to the same platform,” Tilton said.

What she said she believed set her apart was “consistent messaging” and “the boots on the ground campaigning.”

Tilton faces Gretchen Wehmhoff in the general election. Wehmhoff was also at Election Central, she said that knowing who she faces will change the campaign a bit.

“I’m anxious for it,” she said.

Tilton said if she prevails in November, she’ll start working on the budget in Juneau, something she’s done as a staffer for Mark Neuman.

“I’ve had two years of budget work,” she said. “I’ve got a pretty good game plan.”

She said she also wants to hold some public meetings, get a sense for what Mat-Su residents want her to do on their behalf. She said being a part of the Valley delegation is a chance to do some important work.

“Our delegation is where a lot of great legislation comes from,” she said.

Contact Andrew Wellner at 352-2270 or andrew.wellner@frontiersman.com.