Wasilla mayoral candidate withdraws

WASILLA — The race for Wasilla mayor just got less competitive.

Colleen Sullivan-Leonard, a seated city council member and the first announced mayoral candidate, has withdrawn from the race. Citing her desire to continue with her council work, Sullivan-Leonard announced Wednesday that she intends to seek re-election to the city council instead of pursuing the mayor’s office, which will become vacant in the fall when Mayor Verne Rupright steps down after serving two terms, the maximum allowed by city code.

“My public service is not about politics but about doing what’s best for our community. For the last four years, I have worked to improve and set public policy and have remained the budget hawk on city council,” Sullivan-Leonard wrote in her announcement. “My true heart’s desire is to serve our community, and that will not change. I believe my talents can best be utilized through setting policy and budget oversight.”

Public service — and Alaska — are in Sullivan-Leonard’s DNA. Her grandfather, Harvey Sullivan, first came north over the Chilkoot Trail in 1898, during the Klondike Gold Rush. George Sullivan, her father, served as mayor of Anchorage from 1967-81. Her brother is current Anchorage mayor and lieutenant governor candidate Dan Sullivan.

Sullivan-Leonard previously served a term on city council beginning in 2000. She subsequently served several years on the Wasilla Planning Commission and worked for two governors — Frank Murkowski and Sarah Palin.

Mayor Rupright, not always on the same side of issues as Sullivan-Leonard, commended her council service.

“It is admirable that she, like many others, has stepped up to serve this community, which is time-consuming and requires sacrifice of time and energy,” he said.

Sullivan-Leonard’s departure from the mayor’s race leaves one announced candidate – Bert Cottle, Wasilla’s deputy administrator, who also has a long history of public service.

A 1972 graduate of Wasilla High School, Cottle spent more than 22 years as an officer with the Valdez Police Department, including eight years as chief. After retiring from the police force, he spent 11 years on the Valdez City Council, including 10 as the city’s mayor.

He said Sullivan-Leonard’s withdrawal will not change his campaign strategy.

“I’m still going door to door and being anywhere I can be,” Cottle said.

He added that Sullivan-Leonard’s decision to seek another council term, will benefit the city and its residents.

“That’s a good thing. She has history,” Cottle said. “We can work together. We both want the same thing — for the city to be the best it can be.”

Although there are no other announced candidates for mayor, there is still time for a challenger to enter the race ahead of the Aug. 1 filing deadline. The election is Oct. 7.