Mayoral candidates square off at final forum

For the Frontiersman

WASILLA — The four candidates running for Wasilla’s top position squared off before an audience of about 30 at the Wasilla Alaska Club theater Thursday evening.

They discussed looming topics such as annexation and traded jabs over the city’s efforts to build or buy a new library. But mostly the candidates used their time to differentiate themselves from current mayor Verne Rupright.

Rupright, an attorney by trade, is seeking reelection to a second term as Wasilla mayor. He was first elected in 2008.

Challenging Rupright are Wasilla Council members Dianne Woodruff and Taffina Katkus and former council member and longtime real estate agent Mike Carson.

Rupright said he stands on his three-year record. His administration saw the end of the half-percent sales tax that paid off the city multi-use sports complex, paved roads, began a cleanup of Lake Lucille and addressed a problematic dam owned by the state on that lake.

“I think we’ve had a lot of progress be made in the city of Wasilla and I’d like to see the next three years continue it forward,” he said.

Katkus challenged Rupright’s view of his record.

“Nearly everything this administration wants to take credit for has been initiated before they took office,” she said. The sales tax, years ago, was set to end when the sports complex was paid off and city debt was reduced through decisions made by the previous mayor, she said.

She said Rupright compromised public trust in the city and cost taxpayers money by pushing for the city to purchase the Meta Rose Square shopping mall, which Rupright said would be a good interim spot for the overburdened and undersized city library.

Katkus, who operates a commercial sign shop, said she is running because she is “determined to get real people involved in politics and local government.” She said if she is elected mayor, city projects more than $1 million will be “put out for public opinion.” She advocated using city money to build projects that are needed today instead of waiting for grant funding.

Woodruff, an accountant, shared her vision for a Wasilla with an identifiable downtown area that is “vibrant, walkable, accessible and that is open for business,” she said.

Woodruff said she believes that city residents should know what’s happening at their city hall and should have the opportunity to participate in decisions. She added that she would like to encourage more community driven projects, such as Wonderland Park and the Wasilla Skate Park. Community gardens are one example of a project that could benefit the city, she said.

Carson listed his past work experience and club memberships during opening and closing statements and did not outline what projects his administration would pursue.

Nearly all the candidates agreed that annexation — particularly forced annexation — is not in the best interest of the city.

Rupright, who started his term in office in the midst of a discussion over annexation, said the idea was abandoned.

“Many people around the city … didn’t see the benefits of coming in,” he said, adding that the question was shelved until City Council decides to take it up again.

Woodruff offered a different take on that annexation effort. She said the council considered annexation because some residents wanted to be added to the city. But she said Rupright and his employees dramatically expanded the area of the proposed annexation and then had large public meetings about the proposal.

“They were very ill-prepared for questions,” Woodruff said of city employees who spoke at the public meetings about the plan.

Woodruff advocated moving forward with annexation plans, but only if residents outside the city want to be annexed.

Carson said, “It is pure craziness to try to force the people adjoining the city boundaries to force them kicking and screaming into the city. It is absolutely reprehensible that anyone would even think about it.”

He said he advocates letting people vote on the issue.

Katkus said the city isn’t prepared to grow. The city lacks essential services and a stable police force, she said, and needs amenities such as walkway improvements to allow seniors at Wasilla Area Seniors Inc. better access to city hall.

“We need to clean up our own house first,” she said.

Much of the debate touched on the city’s recent decision to purchase Meta Rose Square and turn the mall into a new city library.

Rupright pushed for the purchase, which City Council agreed to, and said although the plan to relocate the library there has been shelved, the city is pursuing a plan to acquire Mat-Su Borough property on Crusey Street and build a new library there, with one floor for library space and a second floor that can be leased to offset costs.

“It’s a very expensive proposition but it’s still a high priority,” Rupright said.

“Right now it has not been a priority and if it’s not a priority it won’t get done,” Katkus said of Rupright’s stance on the issue. She said, as mayor, she would not use city money to buy a retail building.

Carson, who said he was not familiar with the plan to build a new library, said perhaps the city could “do the same thing you did with the sports arena — do a sales tax increase and put it to a public vote.”

Woodruff said a new library “is an extremely high priority” and, after 40 years of library supporters working on the project, it’s “time to get it done.” She said she has concerns about Rupright’s plan to add a second floor that could provide lease space, a step she said she fears may not be allowed under a 50-percent state matching grant for the project.

“I think we’re going to have to go out for bonding on it; that will definitely have to go by the voters,” she said.

Hear more:

To listen to Wasilla Mayor candidates speak more about their views, Wasilla radio station Country Legends 100.9 has podcasts available at countrylegends1009.com. Podcasts of other candidate forums also are available there.