Frontiersman picks Colberg for Mat-Su mayor

For the first time in recent memory, the Frontiersman is endorsing a candidate in a local race.

A special election is coming up June 9. While the elected mayor will only sit for about four months until the general elections, those four months will give the new mayor a chance to show how they will govern.

After interviewing five of seven candidates — one declined and one apparently forgot his appointment — the endorsement board chose Talis Colberg for borough mayor. Of the five candidates, he was the most polished and experienced. His answers were thoughtful as one might expect of a former state attorney general. He also is a long-time resident of the borough and has witnessed its growth and the pains that come with it.

His experience at the state level also means he has made connections with leaders from all over Alaska. That’s important because the mayor’s job is more about diplomacy than it is about making long-lasting decisions. As it stands now, in a strong manager form of government, the mayor conducts the meetings, sets the agenda and occasionally breaks a tie vote. For the most part, assembly members make the decisions and give the borough manager his marching orders.

Statesmanship was one word that came up when discussing Colberg’s demeanor. That’s something Mayor Curt Menard had in spades. As this borough continues to grow, we are going to need all the help we can get, particularly from the state. A combative leader won’t help that cause.

Of the remaining four candidates we spoke with, Bruce Walden hit a positive note for his desire to see more industry here to help broaden the tax base and to create jobs so young people can stay here instead of leaving to find work. Walden sees great, untapped potential at Port MacKenzie. He thinks state and local government often stand in the way of industry. He appears to have great energy and leadership skills learned during his career in the military. His talents and ideas might make him assembly material and we encourage Walden to seek the seat in his district.

Nearly every candidate said schoolchildren aren’t getting the support they deserve. Not because the funding isn’t there, but because it goes to perks rather than the classroom.

In the end, though, the selection of Colberg was unanimous. If elected, he will represent this community well.

The beauty of this special election is that the winner, whoever that is, will have four months to show their stuff. And if you don’t like the way he runs your borough, you have the opportunity to vote him out come October.