Voters hit polls today

MAT-SU — Voters across the Mat-Su Valley will cast their ballots today for a host of local candidates and propositions that will take the area into the future.

While most races are fairly innocuous around the Valley this year — with candidates running unopposed for Palmer City Council and the Mat-Su Borough Assembly — many eyes have been focused on races in Wasilla and Houston.

In Wasilla, five men are running for mayor, with five more men and women seeking three open city council seats. In Houston, eight council candidates are seeking four seats.

Property owners may be interested in at least two Borough propositions that, if passed, would make for a slight rise in property taxes.

Proposition 3, which has become known as the School Safety and Security Bond, is asking for more than $19 million to upgrade all 42 of the Mat-Su Borough School District’s schools.

The purpose for security upgrades comes largely from the age of many schools trying to catch up with new technology and processes, according to the school district. The district also cites a survey that revealed parents are often most concerned about their children’s safety while at school.

If approved, the state has agreed to pick up 70 percent of the $19 million price tag and property taxes are expected to increase $6.07 for every $100,000 of assessed property value.

Property taxes would also increase if voters pass Proposition 2 to fund eight road and trail projects in the Valley. According to Proposition 2, the road projects would cost taxpayers $15 million, or $15.89 for every $100,000 of assessed property value over 20 years. The caveat, however, is nothing contained in Proposition 2 will happen unless the Borough can also get $34 million more by way of a 70-percent state match.

No state match, no projects, the proposition says.

Candidates seeking to take leadership positions around the Valley have been campaigning for weeks.

Wasilla will see a major changing of the guard when two-term Mayor Dianne M. Keller, who is term-limited, steps down to make way for the winner of today’s five-way contest.

Local attorney Verne Rupright, Wasilla City Councilmen Marty Metiva and Steve Menard, real estate broker Michael Carson and builder Greg Koskela are vying for the mayor’s position. The winner will take over in Wasilla amid growth and change as big box stores continue to move into the area and road congestion remains a top concern of residents. The new mayor will also be tasked with regaining much of the public’s trust after an ethics scandal tainted the end of Keller’s second term.

The five city council candidates — Ron Cox, who is unopposed; Leone Harris and Gretchen O’ Barr, running for Seat C; and Nancy Hall and Mary Kvalheim, running for Seat D — will be tasked with moving the city forward.

Across the Valley in Palmer, two men — Brad Hanson and Kevin Brown — are both running unopposed for two council seats. Hanson is a Palmer City Council incumbent. Brown, chair of the Mat-Su Democrats, will be a first-term councilman.

Much the same goes for the Mat-Su Borough Assembly. Incumbent Cindy Bettine, who represents District 5, and former Wasilla city councilman Mark Ewing are both unopposed in their bids for the Borough’s governing body.

On the school board, incumbent Pat Purcell is battling Palmer resident R. Ole Larson for Seat D. Two other candidates, Palmer resident Brian Sullivan, running for Seat E, and Seat G incumbent Myrl Thompson of Big Lake, are unopposed.

Up the Parks Highway, eight residents are vying for Houston City Council seats. Griz Smith and Virgie Thompson are both seeking Seat A, Paul Stout and Ruth Blanchard are campaigning for Seat B, Ralph Buzard, Natasha Rife and Joseph Stainstreet are candidates for Seat C, and Lance Wilson is unopposed in his bid for Seat D.

Polling places in the Valley are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

More information about elections can be found on the Borough’s Web site at www.matsugov.us.

Check the Frontiersman Web site, www.frontiersman.com, Tuesday for election updates and ballot results.

Contact Michael Rovito at michael.rovito@frontiersman.com or 352-2252.