Oct. 3 election ballot shaping up

There will be contested October races for several Mat-Su Borough Assembly and School Board seats as well as mayor of the City of Wasilla following Friday’s candidate filing deadline. A number of uncontested municipal and school board races are also on the docket.

City of Wasilla

According to officials, incumbent Wasilla mayor Bert L. Cottle faces challenges from both Kevin S. Baker and Loren Means for the three-year appointment. Three city council seats are also up for grabs. Incumbent Seat A councilman Stephen M. “Mike” Dryden is running unopposed for a one-year term expiring in 2018. Current Seat C councilman and deputy mayor Stuart “Stu” R. Graham is running unopposed. Incumbent Seat D councilwoman Glenda Ledford filed for an additional term. Both Graham’s and Ledford’s terms are three-year expiring in 2020.

According to Wasilla City Clerk Jamie Newman, candidates have until Friday, Aug. 4, to withdraw from the ballot. Newman said those wishing to run as a write-in candidate for any seat have until 1 p.m. Oct. 2 to file their intentions.

City of Houston

Houston has two three-year, and at this point unopposed seats for constituents to fill. Incumbent Gina Jorgensen, whose term expires this October, has not filed for another term. Ferdinand “F. Jay” Kruger has tossed a hat into the ring for the vacancy. Current Seat A incumbent and mayor Virgie B. Thompson is seeking an additional term.

According to city code, those filing have until 4 p.m. Monday to pull out of the race. Residents wishing to run as a write-in have until 1 p.m. Oct. 2 to file their intention.

City of Palmer

According to City of Palmer Clerk Norma Alley, two, three-year council seats expire this October. They are currently held by Brad Hanson and deputy mayor Linda Combs.

Candidate filing information was not posted prior to press deadline.

Mat-Su Borough

The electorate in Districts 4 and 5 (see map for exact boundaries) will decide who will be their voice on the assembly after October. District 4 encompasses the City of Wasilla and District 5 includes the communities of Big Lake, Knik and Point MacKenzie and areas west to the borough border.

According to the borough, current District 4 incumbent Steve Colligan did not file for another term. However, this appears to be the biggest race with three persons making the filing deadline. Included are Ted J. Leonard, Patricia M. “Pat” Hogan, and Colleen J. Vague. All three list Wasilla for a residential address. District 5 incumbent James D. “Dan” Mayfield will be challenged by Clayton E. Tew. Both candidates reside in Big Lake.

According to borough code, filed candidates have until Aug. 4 to withdraw their names from the races. Anyone wishing to file as a write-in candidate has until Thursday, Sept. 28, to do so.

Mat-Su School Board

Seats in Districts 3 and 6 (see map for exact boundaries) expire this year. Both incumbents have refiled for another three year term but only one district has filed competition. Ole R. Larson is in the hunt for another term representing District 3. Incumbent Kelsey R. Trimmer of Palmer faces a challenge from Emery M. Schramm of Wasilla to represent the Mat-Su’s District 6.

Like those running for borough assembly, school board candidates must withdraw from the race by Aug. 4 and those persons wanting to run as a write-in must file by Sept. 28.

Additional decisions

The borough assembly is expected to decide a course of action on a proposed boroughwide sales tax next week. The Mat-Su Borough School District (MSBSD) is officially on-record requesting a 2-cent sales tax to help cover an approximate $11 million deficit as a result, in-part from state and borough flat-funding for the upcoming school year. The assembly, which is considering a 3-cent tax, will address the topic at its Tuesday meeting. Borough code stipulates Aug. 4 as the last day to place any proposition or question on the ballot for the Oct. 3 election.

The City of Wasilla’s council approved placing a 1-cent sales tax on the ballot at its July 24 meeting. The city is asking constituents to approve the question for two years or until $12 million is raised to cover the costs of a new Wasilla Police station. After that, the penny would roll back to a permanent half-cent.

Contact reporter Chris Ford at 352-2270 or chris.ford@frontiersman.com