Mayfield passes Tew in race for District 5 Assembly seat

PALMER — The Mat-Su Borough completed the canvassing of votes in the Oct. 3 election on Tuesday and in a 180-degree swing, District 5 Assembly incumbent Dan Mayfield erased a 20-vote deficit after election night to take an 18-vote lead over Clayton ‘Mokie’ Tew as of Tuesday afternoon.

Previously, Tew had held a 512-488 lead over Mayfield ahead of Tuesday’s review of absentee and questioned ballots, but as of now, Mayfield leads 695-677.

When contacted Tuesday afternoon, Tew wasn’t about to concede anything.

"I think 18 (votes) is pretty close. I think they do a mandatory recount, so I guess we’ll have to see what happens after that. I'm sure with only 18 (votes) difference between 700 — I don't know what that means but to me it seems it — I don't want to get all silly and say 'yay, nay.'”

Tew pointed out that if he didn’t claim victory up 20, there’s no good reason to concede defeat down 18.

“I haven’t checked and I went a week leading by 20 and haven’t said I won or lost then,” Tew said. “This is my first time. But I heard if it's a certain percentage than they automatically do a recount and see how that goes and probably see what that happens. I will say it was definitely close, wasn’t it?"

Results will not be made official until certified by the Borough Assembly next Tuesday and Mayfield agreed that nothing’s over.

"Nothing’s absolutely final until it’s certified by the Borough Assembly on the 17th, so it’s still unofficial results at this point in time,” Mayfield said. “There’s no more votes to be counted. It's certainly possible. my opponent could order a recount if he sought it and paid the deposit for that work. It’s certainly in the world of possibility."

For the incumbent, it’s been a topsy-turvy week to say the least.

“A few sleepless nights,” Mayfield said. “You know I really want to thank my supporters — this election does prove pretty much like every election that every single vote counts, and I’m certainly grateful for those people that got out and voted and stated their opinion. "

There were no significant changes in any of the other Borough races after the canvassing.

For the District 4 Assembly seat being vacated by incumbent Steve Colligan because of term limits, Ted Leonard maintained a comfortable lead over Patricia Hogan 481-281.

Hogan, on Monday, wrote a letter to the editor to the Frontiersman, conceding the outcome.

“I want to thank each voter for fulfilling his or her civic duty. I wish Mr. Leonard a healthy three-year term in the Assembly,” Hogan said. “I am grateful to all my friends who worked with me on my first political campaign.”

In the race for school board member in District 6, Kelsey Trimmer maintained a comfortable lead over Emery Schramm 378-261, and Ole Larson, running unopposed in District 3 has 423 votes against 52 write-ins.

The only proposition measure in the borough was in Talkeetna, where a proposed sales tax to pay for sewer improvements held steady as an original lead of 42-30 in favor was at 52-40 by Tuesday afternoon.