Deadline today for local candidates

MAT-SU — It’s feast or famine in local political races as the deadline looms for candidates to run for office.

Residents hoping to become elected officials within the Mat-Su Borough have until 5 p.m. today to file with their respective clerk’s office. The filing period applies to those running for city office in Houston, Wasilla and Palmer, and those running for Mat-Su Borough Assembly and Mat-Su Borough School Board.

Across the Valley, a few races — like for Wasilla mayor — have generated strong local interest, while others may hit the ballot with no candidates.

School board and Assembly

As of Thursday, five candidates have made their intent to run official with the Borough.

Palmer resident Brian Sullivan filed to become a candidate for Mat-Su School Board Seat E; current school board member Pat Purcell and Palmer resident R. Ole Larson filed for school board Seat D; current school board member Myrl Thompson filed for Seat G; and Mat-Su Borough Assembly member Cindy Bettine filed to run for re-election to her District 5 seat.

At 5 p.m., Thursday, no one had filed to run for assembly District 4, held by term-limited Mary Kvalheim.

Wasilla

Four residents had signed up to run for Wasilla mayor by Thursday afternoon. No one, however, has stepped up to fill three open city council seats, Deputy City Clerk Jamie Newman said. Seats A, C and D are up for election. Seats C and D are held by Steve Menard and Marty Metiva respectively. Both are running for mayor. Seat A is held by Councilwoman Stephanie Massie.

As of Thursday, Menard, Metiva, Greg Koskela and Michael Carson had filed to run for mayor.

Palmer

As of almost 5 p.m., Thursday, no one had filed to fill two council seats up for election in October, Deputy City Clerk Shelly Acteson said. Acteson said she anticipates some last-minute filing.

Houston

It’s unclear how many candidates have filed to run for council seats in Houston. Kaye Black, the city’s acting clerk, said Mayor Sandy McDonald instructed her not to release information about who has filed for the city’s election over the phone. Attempts to reach McDonald about the release of public information were not successful before press time Thursday.

Four of the city’s seven council seats are up for election this fall, including McDonald’s Seat A, Seat B (held by Paul Stout), Seat C (Ralph Buzard) and Seat D (Glen Tilghman).

Look for a full report in Sunday’s Frontiersman detailing the races after today’s 5 p.m. filing deadline passes.

Contact Michael Rovito at michael.rovito@frontiersman.com or 352-2252.