School board to pick new member today

PALMER — The list of folks hoping to succeed Lynn Gattis — who stepped down from the Mat-Su Borough School Board after winning election to the Legislature — has been finalized and a selection is expected this evening.

According to the Mat-Su Borough School District, 10 people have filed to replace Gattis to serve until the October election. The list of candidates, in its entirety, is as follows:

• Kimberly Bergey

• David Cheezem

• Stephen Jacobson

• Pete LaFrance

• Davelle Lautrup

• Ray Michealson

• Stephen O’Brien

• George Rauscher

• Tom Roberson

• Kevin Toothaker

Though each candidate was required to submit a résumé in order to apply, MSBSD spokeswoman Catherine Esary said by email Monday that she didn’t have that information available to distribute. It should be available at the meeting tonight.

The list has a few familiar names. Cheezem owns a bookstore in Palmer and has been active in local politics serving as a Mat-Su Borough planning commissioner and successfully running a campaign to ban smoking in Palmer businesses.

Rauscher is very active in the Sutton Community Council and ran for state House in a squeaker of a race last year.

Jacobson last came into public view when he left his job as a service station manager to make a respectable showing challenging Rep. Mark Neuman for his seat.

LaFrance is a frequent columnist for the Frontiersman who writes about re-adjusting to Alaska life after 18 years living abroad.

Roberson is a frequent letter-writer to the paper who often congratulates locals for their acts of charity and kindness.

The Frontiersman checked in with Michaelson periodically during his stint as superintendent of the Mat-Su Youth Facility. He’s currently employed elsewhere in the Department of Health and Social Services, according to a state directory.

The school board is set to meet tonight at its headquarters in Palmer to interview all 10 candidates and make a selection.

Gattis left the board to represent the newly created Lakes District in the state House of Representatives. She at first seemed poised to do both jobs, but later choose to resign her seat after House leadership assigned her chairmanship of the House Education Committee.

The other school board member to win higher office — Sen. Mike Dunleavy — chose not to run again and has his seat filled in the fall. Gattis’ chief of staff, Erick Cordero, will stay on as a school board member.

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