District 8 incumbent wins easily

BIG LAKE — Rep. Mark Neuman handily won his bid for reelection. Neuman has represented the Big Lake area for District 8 in the State House since 2005, and never wavered in his domination of both primary and general elections.

“I can tell you that I think this is probably the best job in the world,” Neuman said at a debate at Mat-Su College recently.

Neuman received 72.26 percent of the votes cast on Tuesday, defeating Democratic nominee James Chesbro and Libertarian candidate Mark Fish. Neuman received 4,748 votes to 1,100 for Chesbro, at 16.74 percent, and 711 for Fish, at 10.2 percent. Twelve write-in votes were cast.

Neuman’s margin of victory was smaller in the primary election, but still not close. Andy Murr received 621 votes to 1,903 for Neuman, coming out to 75.4 percent.

Neuman sits on several House Finance subcommittees, as well as the House Fisheries Committee, the Arctic Policy, Economic Development and Tourism Committee, and the House Transportation Committee. Neuman joins the new House Majority Caucus alongside the rest of the Valley representation in the House.