Koskela, Kvalheim wait; Bettine celebrates

October 7, 2005

DARRELL L. BREESE/Frontiersman reporter

WASILLA - Voters in the Wasilla and Big Lake areas went to the ballot box Tuesday to select their representatives on the Matanuska-Susitna Borough Assembly. After the votes were counted the winner of one race was clear but the other still hangs in the balance.

Cindy Bettine held a 2-to-1 margin over former assembly member Jay Nolfi and is set to fill the assembly's District 5 seat. Who will be sitting next to her in the District 4 seat is still to be decided, though, as just 11 votes separate incumbent Mary Kvalheim and political newcomer Greg Koskela.

Being involved in such a close election is nothing new to Kvalheim, who trailed Pat Marley by five votes before questioned and absentee ballots were counted. Kvalheim was ruled the winner back in 2002, a week following the certification of the election and a lengthy recount.

&#8221It's what happens,“ she said. &#8221Now we have to go through the anxiety for a couple of days while we wait. I hope the results are the same, however.“

Wednesday the Borough Canvass Board began reviewing the 540 absentee and questioned ballots from the precincts that comprise District 4, a fact that Koskela hasn't lost sight of.

&#8221It's not over yet,“ the challenger said. &#8221There are still a lot of votes to count. I just hope that there are 12 more votes for me in the mix than for Mary.

Both candidates had hoped for a landslide victory, but admitted they knew the race would be close.

&#8221Mary has good support in the area,“ Koskela said. &#8221I honestly expected a close race. And considering that this was my first time running for an office and few people knew who I was going in, I think we made a good showing no matter how things turn out.“

&#8221Greg developed a good support group that got behind him,“ Kvalheim said. &#8221Once I saw his support build up, it was obvious we were going to be in for a close one.“

Borough Clerk Michelle McGehee and the Canvass Board began the process of reviewing more than 2,000 questioned and absentee ballots Wednesday, being careful to make sure every legal vote is counted.

McGehee said that she didn't expect to have the process completed until Tuesday, just in time for the Borough Assembly to certify the results.

While Koskela and Kvalheim sweat out the count, Bettine is enjoying the rewards of her campaign efforts.

Bettine topped Nolfi and Sam Corbin, collecting 1042 of the 1734 votes cast to win the election in District 5.

&#8221At first, I thought that running against Jay (Nolfi) would be like running against an incumbent,“ Bettine said. &#8221She was a great representative on the assembly. But all the growth that has occurred in the Knik-Goose Bay and Big Lake areas worked to my advantage.“

Bettine also credited her success to the volunteers from her district who helped with the campaign.

Nearly all my workers lived in the District 5,“ Bettine said. &#8221It really helped to have people from my district working on the campaign.“

Bettine said she is ready to dive right in and get to work, especially on the Hatcher Pass ski area project, which is one of the first big items on the agenda after she takes office.

&#8221I'm ready to go,“ Bettine said.

Darrell L. Breese can be reached at 352-2267 or at darrell.breese@frontiersman.com.