Vote count favors Kvalheim

Borough Canvass Board review changes no election night results

October 18, 2005

DARRELL L. BREESE/Frontiersman reporter

PALMER - The polls have been closed for 14 days and the results are finally all in.

The Mat-Su Borough Canvass Board completed its review of 1,300 absentee and questioned ballots Thursday and the borough released unofficial results late Friday. The election officially ended Monday when the assembly certified the results.

Certification also brought an end to the closest race of the election, the quest for the assembly district 4 seat.

Incumbent Mary Kvalheim held a slim lead over political newcomer Greg Koskela after the initial ballots were counted Oct. 4. Her 11-vote lead grew to 25 when results from the 1,218 absentee ballots were added. Kvalheim collected 820 votes to Koskela's 795.

&#8220It's a relief,” she said Monday, &#8220to finally have things settled. I had to go through the recount process during the last election and I don't expect there to be one this time. It is all up to Greg (Koskela), though. It is his right.”

Koskela said he was satisfied with the final count, despite things not going in his favor.

&#8220I talked with Michelle (McGehee) in the clerk's office about what changes happened in past recounts and she said that only one of two votes changed,” Koskela said Monday. &#8220With that in mind and the quality of the counting machines, I don't plan on seeking a recount. Twenty-five votes would be a lot to change.”

As for their political futures, Kvalheim will remain on the assembly and delve tonight into the Hatcher Pass ski area development proposal and Meadow Lakes Comprehensive Plan. Koskela said he will remain on the Wasilla Planning Commission and possibly seek election to the city council during the next election.

The final count of the absentee ballots also resulted in no changes to any of the other close votes:

€ Cheryl Turner held on to her margin over school board incumbent Mike Chmielewski in the race for Seat E.

€ The $12.7-million bond proposition to build a new elementary school in the Knik-Goose Bay area failed to pick up the votes needed for approval.

€ Proposition 6, which called for the establishment of limited health powers for the borough, was the other close question on the ballot. Those supporting allowing the powers - in order to control the active ingredients used to manufacture methamphetamine - closed the gap with the addition of the absentee votes, but the measure still lost by 49 votes.

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

frontiersman.com.