‘No' vote turned into ‘yes'

May 5, 2006

By DARRELL L. BREESE

Frontiersman

WASILLA - Allison Faye of Wasilla was among the voters who cast a yes vote for the $39.7 million general obligation school construction bonds.

Faye sided with the majority of Valley voters opposing similar bonds during the October election, and had planned to vote the same way this time - until Tuesday morning, when she changed her mind.

&#8220My family is on a tight budget, and adding to our tax bill along with the rising gas prices is making things tough,” Faye explained Tuesday morning after voting at the Wasilla Senior Center. &#8220But I drove up to Goose Bay Elementary School before I voted and couldn't believe how congested the parking lot was with parents dropping off their kids.

&#8220I kind of felt guilty being there and being selfish for planning on voting against the school bonds,” Faye continued. &#8220I decided then to change my vote in favor of the bonds.”

Some of those opposed to the bond and the special election said they thought it came too soon after the October election and clung to the &#8220No means no,” mantra.

However, results indicate that voters, like Faye, have changed their minds.

In the October election, two propositions for new schools failed with 18 of the 33 precincts voting against a $12.7 million bond to build a new school in the Knik-Goose Bay area, and 22 of the 33 precincts rejecting a $27.87 million bond to construct two new elementary schools in the Palmer area.

Tuesday, the voting was nearly opposite, as just 11 of the 33 borough precincts voted no, many of them narrowly.

Voter education was the key, according to borough assembly member Cindy Bettine, whose district includes the Knik-Goose Bay area. She credited the change to a grass-roots effort to get information to the voters.

&#8220Getting out and educating the voters on the facts and need for the new schools really changed a lot of minds,” Bettine said &#8220The School's Yes committee identified getting information to the voters in the core area as the key at the start of the process.”

Bettine also credited the efforts and support of local Realtors and the chambers of commerce in the area as crucial to the successful campaign.

&#8220I believe we knocked on more doors than ever before for a bond issue,” Terry Snyder, co-chair of School's Yes, said. &#8220That really made the difference from the October election.”

She went on to say that the bonds weren't properly advocated in the last election.

&#8220Nothing was done to get the word out then,” Snyder said. &#8220The two bonds were sandwiched in amongst all the other issues, and people didn't know what they were about or how much they would really cost.”

She said the campaign's emphasis on showing that $26 million of the cost to construct was going to be paid by the state made a difference.

&#8220That really changed people's minds and got them out to vote,” Snyder concluded.

Faye was one of the nearly 1,000 residents who got a visit from the campaign in the final weekend push.

&#8220You know, I had someone knock on my door and try to tell me why I should vote yes,” Faye said. &#8220I wasn't hearing any of it then. I had to see it firsthand to change my mind.”

Not everyone's minds were changed, however. Some recognized the pressure being placed on the school system caused by the rapid growth, and others held fast in their opposition.

&#8220I didn't change my mind, because the need has only gotten greater,” Jean Oldman, who voted yes, said. &#8220Whenever they build a new school, it is already at capacity.”

Groups such as the Mat-Su Property Owners Association, which opposed the bonds, also influenced the outcome of the election.

&#8220There were two groups with strong efforts supporting both sides of the issue,” Borough Manager John Duffy explained.

&#8220I believe that was a driving factor in getting the voters to the polls. People tend to turn out for elections when there has been a healthy debate leading up to it.”

Contact Darrell L. Breese at 352-2267 or at darrell.breese@

frontiersman.com.