First-time candidates file early

July 23, 2006

By DARRELL L. BREESE/Frontiersman

PALMER - The official registration period for Mat-Su Borough elections began at 8 a.m. Monday. Among the early entrants for the Oct. 3 election are four first-time candidates and one incumbent.

When the borough clerk's office closed at 5 p.m. Thursday, five individuals had made their bid for one of the six different open borough seats. Two filed for borough mayor, and one each for assembly seat 7, school board seat A and school board seat B.

David Straub of Willow and Bruce Walden of Palmer chose to skip the typical entry points for first-time campaigners and threw their hats into the race for borough mayor. Walden was so eager to get into the race that he was the first to submit his paperwork with the borough clerk.

&#8220I went in late in the afternoon and figured all the other people who made announcements they were running for mayor back in winter and spring would have turned in their applications already,” Walden said. &#8220They seemed anxious back then to start campaigning. I can't believe they weren't already entered.”

Walden served 20 years in the U.S. Army, retiring as a sergeant from the special forces before moving to the Valley. He said he entered to change the status quo.

&#8220I think the borough has been mismanaged,” Walden said. &#8220That's the problem. They've had managers instead of leaders.”

Straub's name might be familiar to those who follow the Iditarod. The three-time race veteran and Red Lantern winner said he entered the race to bring about change.

&#8220I don't know why I entered,” Straub said. &#8220I just like a challenge and there needs to be some changes in the way the borough operates.”

Christian Hartley of Willow filed to run for school board seat A, now held by Rob Wells. Hartley, who lives in Willow with his wife and 10-month-old son, is getting involved in the political arena for the first time as well.

He said his main motivation was to have someone from the northern part of the Valley as part of the school board.

The final newcomer to the borough's campaign trail is Tom Kluberton of Talkeetna, who is bidding for assembly seat 7. The seat is held by Betty Vehrs, who has served one term on the assembly.

The lone incumbent to file for re-election is Sarah Welton, who hopes to retain her seat on the school board.

No one has filed yet for the two open Wasilla City Council seats held by Diana Straub and Howard O'Neil.

In Palmer, Butch Fondahn turned in his paperwork to fill one of two open city council seats.

Candidates for borough elections have until 5 p.m. on July 28 to submit their forms to the borough clerk's office at 350 E. Dahlia Ave. in Palmer. Packets will be available until the end of the filing period for those interested in running for an elected office in the borough.

City candidates face the same filing deadline, but must submit their paperwork at the respective city halls.

Contact Darrell L. Breese at 352-2267 or at darrell.breese@frontiersman.com.