Important choice needs voter turnout

Wasilla voters have an important decision to make come Tuesday, a decision that should generate enough appeal to draw residents to the polls.

With Marty Metiva and Verne Rupright on the special run-off ballot, local voters will decide who will lead the city for the next three years. Given the recent history of less-than-above-board dealings with a developer and a drop in public confidence in city administration, choosing a captain to right this listing ship is a priority.

It’s a priority we hope voters will be more motivated to follow through with than on Oct. 7, when Metiva and Rupright rose to the top of a five-man race that generated a dismal 18 percent voter turnout.

Both are strong candidates and both have distinctive visions to how Wasilla can evolve and prosper in the near and distant future. Which way Wasilla will take at this fork in its political road is up to you. We believe either Metiva or Rupright will bring some much-needed change to the city.

Like the decision that will be made Tuesday, Wasilla is at a crossroads. Retail development zoning and regulation needs more scrutiny as well as vital city services like wastewater treatment. Add to that the pressure to maintain Wasilla’s hometown charm and feel in the face of growth.

All this means is that, as Wasilla moves into the future, it needs a leader who can pilot that ship on the straight and narrow. We believe both Metiva and Rupright would do well and, with two strong candidates, are concerned only a small minority of this ship’s passengers will choose their next captain.

We admit to being surprised, and a little dismayed, that the Oct. 7 municipal election drew so little local voter interest and hope more has been piqued in the weeks since.

Wasilla deserves a mayor who reflects the majority will of its residents, not the majority of the 18 percent who decide to vote. A final profile of the candidates and issues surrounding their campaigns is in today’s Frontiersman. Be informed, be involved and vote on Tuesday.