Wasilla mayor’s race headed for run-off

WASILLA — Wasilla doesn’t quite have a new mayor yet, and Marty Metiva and Verne Rupright appear to be heading to a runoff.

Metiva, a current city councilman, got 31.6 percent of the vote Tuesday (275 votes), which is slightly ahead of local attorney Rupright’s 28.3 percent (246), according to unofficial vote tallies.

Overall, turnout for the city election was light, with less that 19 percent of the city’s 4.773 registered voters casting ballots.

There are still 171 votes, comprised of early voters, absentee by-mail voters, poll-questioned voters and early and poll special needs, that will be counted today. Wasilla’s Canvass Board will convene at 2 p.m. to count the ballots.

If neither Metiva nor Rupright has more than 40 percent of the overall tally after the 171 ballots are counted, the men will face a run-off election Oct. 28 to determine who will fill the city’s top administrative post.

Hearing the news Tuesday night, Metiva said he will stay on pace with how he’s been campaigning by talking to residents and getting his platform out.

His slight lead over Rupright when polls closed could put him at an advantage in the runoff if voters cast similar ballots.

“It makes me feel good,” Metiva said of the results.

He also trumpeted the effort of his campaign volunteers.

“I’m really proud of these people who helped,” Metiva said.

For Rupright, if there is a run-off, he said he’s prepared to keep campaigning as he has been.

“We’ve made a lot of contact with people,” Rupright said. “We’re still feeling confident.”

What it will come down to, Rupright pointed out, is how the supporters of the other candidates vote if they turn out to the polls again Oct. 28.

“Who knows what the other candidates’ supporters are going to do now,” Rupright said.

Tuesday’s election featured a five-way contest for mayor and a five-way race for three open council seats.

In the mayoral race, home builder Greg Koskela earned 21.3 percent of the votes Tuesday, followed by city Councilman Steve Menard, with 13.8 percent and real estate broker Michael Carson, who received 4.6 percent of the votes.

In the city council race, Ron Cox, an unopposed candidate for Seat A, cruised to an expected win with 95.1 percent of the votes.

Results for council Seat C show Leone Harris winning with 58 percent of the vote over Gretchen O’Barr’s 41 percent.

For Seat D, Nancy Hall won with 52.6 percent of the votes to Mary Kvalheim’s 46.6 percent.

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