Wasilla City Council swears in new member

Newest member fills vacated seat

By DANIEL SPOTH-Frontiersman reporter

WASILLA -- The Wasilla City Council swore in its newest member, Verdie Arlo Bowen, during its regular meeting Monday. Bowen now occupies the seat vacated by Colleen Sullivan-Leonard in early December, and will serve out the remainder of Sullivan-Leonard's term, ending in October 2004. Since Bowen will not be serving a full term, there was no need to adopt the standard process of public election.

The only other applicant for the position was Stephen Stoll of Wasilla. Both applicants were given a short time in which to address the council. During his statement, Stoll emphasized the need for the council to address the problems of the city rather than its own internal policies and problems. Bowen mentioned the need to create a safe and attractive community for Wasilla's children, and to develop the city's parks and industries.

The council then held a confidential vote in which the council members each secretly revealed their preferences. Once the votes were tallied, Bowen proved to be the winner. He was sworn in by reciting and signing the official city pledge at the end of the meeting.

The existing council members were enthusiastic about their new colleague. "It's great to have a productive, positive council member to fill this seat," said Council Member Diane Straub.

"I look forward to serving the city of Wasilla to the best of my abilities," was Bowen's first statement as a Wasilla City Council member.

Both of the applicants received commendations from the council for their concerns. "I applaud both candidates for their willingness to serve [the city]," said Council Member Rob Sande. The other council members agreed that both applicants had excellent records of community service and involvement.

Bowen's extensive period of public service has included work on the Parks Commission, most prominently on the Iditapark project, and five years on the Planning Commission. "Since the beginning of my involvement with the city, I've tried to work on all the master plans," he said. Bowen said he had considered running for the Wasilla City Council in previous years, but considered the other candidates in these years qualified enough to make his own campaign unnecessary.

Among Bowen's largest concerns for the coming year are the ongoing population growth in the Wasilla area and the problem posed by the city's best and brightest young minds constantly departing for more promising jobs outside of Alaska.

"My biggest hope is to develop some sort of industry to encourage our children to stay in the area and in the state," Bowen said. "We've got a lot of good things here in Wasilla, and I think we should let our children know about them."