Mayoral, Council candidate lists for Palmer

The City of Palmer released the list of candidates for the upcoming elections, and it is shaping up to be an interesting race for Mayor, as all but one name are currently serving on the Palmer City Council.

Longtime councilmembers John Alcantra, Jim Cooper, and Josh Tudor, who is currently the Deputy Mayor are among the candidates. Also running for mayor from the city council is Victoria Hudson, who is still in her first year of her freshman term as a city council member after being elected last October.

Cachet Garrett has also thrown her hat into the Mayor’s race. She recently served as on the Alaska Board of Regents, appointed by Governor Mike Dunleavy.

For city council, there are two seats with a three-year term, expiring in 2028. There are three candidates vying for those seats, including incumbent Carolina Graver, along with local attorney Alison Collins and Amanda Graham.

Two candidates are running for a one-year seat on the council. Sherry Carrington, wife of the current Palmer Mayor Steve Carrington, and Aundra "Omega" Jackson, who has run for council in the past. The term for this seat expires in 2026.

Candidates have until 4:00 pm, August 8, 2025, to withdraw from candidacy.

Palmer has had a slew of high profile controversies and drama—the hiring and resignation of former city manager Stephen Jellie, an attempt to recall the current mayor, the termination of former city clerk Shelly Acteson, and drama within the council that often frustrates residents as

Also looming on the horizon is the construction of a new library, which currently has $10 million committed to the project with $5 million in a state appropriation secured by State Representative DeLena Johnson, and just under $5 million expected in an insurance settlement for the damage to the building, caused by a roof collapse due to heavy snow load.

During last month’s city council meeting, the first major gift for the library, $500,000 from the Mat-Su Health Foundation, was put on hold after council members Hudson and Graver asked for more details on terms and conditions of the health foundation grant.

Other timely matters include developments affecting the city’s airport as a new long-range master plan for airport development will be getting underway soon. Further complicating that is the status of lands now used for Palmer’s golf course that are owned by the airport. Because the land was purchased with federal aviation funds there are long-term covenants affecting its use.

Unlike Wasilla and Houston, Palmer voters do not elect a candidate to a specific seat, but rather elect a certain number of candidates based on the number of open council slots.

The City of Palmer regular election will be held October 7, 2025.

For more information, please visit www.palmerak.org/city-clerks-office/page/election-information