Presidential race, state issues on today’s ballot

PALMER — Before voters head to the polls today, here is a review of what’s on the ballot and how to find the appropriate polling place.

First, to find your polling place, visit frontiersman.com. There’s a handy tool on the front page, and also tagged to this story.

Then there’s what you’ll see on your ballot. At the top, of course, is the presidential race that’s been sucking up the nation’s attention for most of the year. Further down you’ll find local races and one statewide contest. Due to redistricting after the 2010 census, every Valley seat is up for re-election, but that doesn’t mean everyone drew a challenger for the general election.

Here’s a rundown:

Contested Races

• Charlie Huggins, representing Wasilla and the Knik-Goose Bay Road area, faces Susan Parsons Herman, a massage therapist and substitute teacher who is active in Democratic politics.

• Former state labor commissioner Click Bishop of Fairbanks is running against Anne Sudkamp, a retired public employee and small business owner in Fairbanks. The seat includes the eastern Valley communities of Sutton, Chickaloon and parts of Hatcher Pass.

• Republican Sen. Fred Dyson of Eagle River is running against Democrat Martin Lindeke for a seat that includes the Butte and Fairview Loop.

• Rep. Eric Feige, R-Chickaloon, a professional aviator and bed and breakfast owner, is trying to fend off a challenge from local Democratic activist Jamey Duhamel.

• For the new seat representing Wasilla and points east, local landlord, hay farmer, Republican party activist and school board member Lynn Gattis is squaring off against Democrat Blake Merrifield, a heavy equipment owner and former small business owner.

• Rep. Mark Neuman, a two-term Republican deeply involved in fishing and resource issues, is facing a challenge from Democrat Pam Rahn, a housewife interested in education and health care issues.

Unopposed Races

• Mike Dunleavy, who unseated Linda Menard in the Republican primary in his bid to represent Palmer, Talkeetna, Houston and Willow in the state Senate.

• Wes Keller, who defeated former Houston Mayor Roger Purcell in the primary to represent Talkeetna, Willow, Houston and parts of Wasilla in the state House.

• Shelley Hughes, who fended off Daniel Hamm in the primary, but is now unopposed in her bid to retain the Palmer seat to which she was appointed after the death of longtime representative Carl Gatto.

• Bill Stoltze won his primary race by a wide margin and is unopposed in the general election for his Butte/Chugiak seat.

Statewide Race

U.S. Congressman Don Young is facing Democratic challenger Sharon Cissna, nonaffiliated candidate Ted Gianoutsos and Libertarian Jim McDermott. There’s also a slate of official write-in candidates, most notably locally being Sidney Hill, who has been standing on a corner in Palmer or, sometimes, Wasilla, with an anti-Obama sign most days for most of the current president’s term.

Ballot Propositions

There are two ballot propositions. One asks whether the state should call a convention to amend its constitution. Proponents say such a convention could be a chance to do things like cement in place the Permanent Fund Dividend program or move to a Legislature with just one house rather than two. Opponents say it would be unnecessary, costly and could open the Alaska Constitution up to the influence of special interest groups.

The second asks whether voters want the state to borrow $453 million to build various roads, bridges, harbors, piers and railroads across the state. Most notable to Mat-Su are:

• $13.5 million to extend Bogard Road to the Glenn Highway, linking up with Arctic Avenue/Old Glenn Highway.

• $30 million for the project to extend rail service to Point MacKenzie.

• $10 million to reconstruct Fairview Loop.

• $15 million to reconstruct Knik-Goose Bay Road.

Contact reporter Andrew Wellner at andrew.wellner@frontiersman.com or 352-2270.