Menard wins big victory for state Senate

MAT-SU — Republican Linda Menard handily won Senate Seat G Tuesday evening, holding a commanding lead over Democrat Erick Cordero as poll results came in.

Menard earned 81 percent of the vote to Cordero’s 18.02 percent with all precincts reporting, a more than healthy 11,400 votes to 2,536.

Menard will take over for outgoing Senate President Lyda Green, R-Wasilla. Green chose to retire earlier this year, citing philosophical differences with Gov. Sarah Palin as among the deciding factors in not seeking another term.

Green’s retirement led to Menard and Cordero running unopposed in August’s primary election and set the stage for Tuesday’s contest.

Watching polling results at the Wasilla Multi-Use Sports Complex on Tuesday, Menard said she is enthusiastic about starting as a legislator.

“I’m ready to go to Juneau and do the best job I can to be a part of this dynamic state,” Menard said.

Menard and Cordero both pledged to run a clean campaign during this election cycle.

The candidates stayed true to their word and concentrated only on issues at hand while touting their own experience.

Cordero, a Palmer resident, said he is happy with the campaign he ran ahead of Election Day.

“I think we ran a really good, positive campaign,” he said. “We kept our promise.”

Cordero added that, for a political unknown in the Valley, he thinks he did very well and is thankful to the people who voted for him. He also plans to have his name on the ballot next time around and said he’s looking forward to helping Menard any way he can.

“It was great,” Cordero said of the campaign. “I had a good time.”