Vanover in after nail-biter in Palmer

PALMER — A 1 percent margin is enough for Kathrine Vanover to reclaim her seat on Palmer City Council.

Tuesday’s election left two Palmer City Council incumbents wondering if they would have a place to sit at the council table. Although the unofficial initial count put James Wood ahead of Kathrine Vanover by two votes, 230 votes to 228, members of the city’s election canvass board and Palmer City Clerk Janette Bower counted early voter ballots, absentee ballots and questioned ballots, which provided Vanover with the win.

With 262 votes to Wood’s 252 following Friday’s count by the canvass board, Vanover finished second in council voting to Michael Chmielewski, who had 310 votes, or 31.1 percent. Vanover garnered 26.3 percent support and Wood 25.3 percent. With two council seats up for election and five candidates, the top two vote-getters are in.

“I’ve been here for four years and haven’t seen an election this close,” Bower said.

An old-fashioned nail-biter, candidates were forced to wait patiently to learn the results.

“It was one of those let’s wait and see [elections],” Vanover said.

Vanover said it feels good to win, but she wishes Wood could also remain on the council.

“I’ve always appreciated his point of view,” she said.

Although sad to see Wood go, Vanover said she is glad to have a chance to serve with Chmielewski. Chmielewski is new to the council, but his experience serving on the Mat-Su Borough School District Board of Education is good preparation for the council.

As a council member, Vanover wants to address economic development by “getting retail back into Palmer,” she said. Although retail is important, she doesn’t want it to come in the form of big box stores. Small business is a better option.

“I thank those people who voted for me,” she said. “I thank them from the bottom of my heart.”

Wood was unavailable for comment.

Contact Chris Gillow at 352-2284 or chris.gillow@frontiersman.com.