Filing period for local candidates this month

MAT- SU — Come October, the face of local government could change.

Six city council seats, three spots on the assembly, three seats on the school board and the Mat-Su Borough’s mayoral seat are open for election this year. The official filing period for all candidates is July 20 to July 31, with elections on Oct. 6.

In Palmer, the two city council seats up for election are held by Richard Best and Ken Erbey. Each seat comes with a three- year term expiring in 2012.

Best said he will seek re-election and is hopeful the voter turnout will be high this year because of the controversial issues now facing the city. Best said his background in civil design gives him a unique perspective. He was born and raised in small Alaska towns and is passionate about where he lives.

“I think I try to go to the meetings without a dead-set opinion,” Best said. “I take an open mind for the discussions to sway me either way.”

Erbey could not be reached for an interview by press time.

City council Seats A and B are up for election in Wasilla, both having a three-year term. Seat A is occupied by Ron Cox, and Doug Holler holds Seat B. Neither were available for interviews.

Houston voters will decide on Seats C and D in October’s election, and each comes with a three-year term. Natasha Schachle-Rife holds Seat C and said she does not plan on running for re-election.

Lance Wilson is running for re-election to Seat D. He said he originally ran for the council because the town’s fire department was being threatened. With his help, Wilson said, the council has approved pay raises for firefighters and is looking at purchasing a 6,000-gallon tanker truck. Wilson also said he was the author of the ordinance that established Houston’s planning commission, a key step in gaining land- use powers back from the borough.

Residents from Districts 3, 6 and 7 of the borough will vote on their representatives, each serving three- year terms. District 3, which covers the area from Trunk Road to Seward-Meridian, is served by Michelle Church. District 6 includes the Hatcher Pass, Wasilla Fishhook, Schrock and Memory Lake areas and is represented by Robert Wells. Tom Kluberton is the assembly member from District 7, the area west of Meadow Lakes and north to the Denali Highway, including Willow, Talkeetna, Trapper Creek and Sheep Mountain.

Church said she thinks her experience as an assembly member is invaluable. She said it takes a bit of time to figure out how everything works, and that time won’t be wasted if she is re-elected.

“The issues that are coming online — the gravel ordinance, zoning and potential coal mining — are big enough that I feel I have a handle on so I can have an impact there,” Church said.

Wells said the economy is his main focus, and he wants to continue his work on a Hatcher Pass ski area and developing Point MacKenzie.

“My record also shows a strong support for public education,” Wells said.

Three seats on the Mat-Su Borough School Board will appear on October ballots. Seat A comes with a three- year term and is held by Jim Colver.

Seat B is also a three-year post and Sarah Welton said she is planning on running for re- election.

Erick Cordero was appointed to Seat E at the end of April, and he will seek re-election for the two- year seat in October.

Lastly, borough mayor Talis Colberg will have to face the voters again after being in office for just over three months. Elected on June 9 to fill the office after the passing of Curt Menard, Colberg made it clear from the beginning he would run again in the regular October election.

Contact Todd L. Disher at todd.disher@frontiersman.com or 352-2252.

The Incumbents are …

A total of 13 seats around the Valley will appear on the Oct. 6 ballots. The filing period for candidate declarations is July 20-31. Below is a list of positions up for election and who currently occupies them.

Mat- Su Borough Mayor

Talis Colberg

Mat- Su Borough Assembly

District 3 — Michelle Church

District 6 — Robert Wells

District 7 — Tom Kluberton

Mat- Su Borough School Board

Seat A — Jim Colver

Seat B — Sarah Welton

Seat E — Erick Cordero

Houston City Council

Seat C — Natasha Schachle- Rife

Seat D — Lance Wilson

Wasilla City Council

Seat A — Ron Cox

Seat B — Doug Holler

Palmer City Council

Richard Best

Ken Erbey