Wasilla officials weigh in on use of secret ballots

Compiled by DARRELL BREESE

Frontiersman reporter

Following the Wasilla City Council's controversial secret-ballot vote to fill a vacancy Monday night, the Frontiersman asked the mayor, councilors and candidates for mayor (as of Friday afternoon) the following question:

How do you feel about the council using secret ballots in the decision-making process?

"As it pertains to the (Monday) vote, I have no problem with it. Whether it be a secret or not does not matter to me."

-Harold O'Neil, Seat A

"I think the secret ballot is kind of cowardly. We do all of our other business on the lightboard up for everyone to see. I don't know why we voted by secret ballot Monday."

- Diana L. Straub, Seat B,

and candidate for mayor

"In the process of selecting a new council member, I think it is fine. In much the same way as the public votes in elections, we're replicating that voting process with the secret ballot we used on Monday."

- Robert Sande, Seat D

"I have no problem with secret ballots. We've done it before, that's just the way we do it."

- Ron Cox, Seat E

"The public should have the privilege to know how the council votes. I feel everything should be out in the open for the public to know. We have open meetings, and the results of our votes should be open as well."

- Mark A. Ewing, Seat F

"I have no opinion, except to say that it's a council decision. They used a process that's in place, and it's up to them to follow it (or change it)."

- Dianne M. Keller, mayor

"I'm totally against it, and my record is clear on where I stand. I don't see why the city uses it. The vote Monday had nothing to do with the typical things allowed for executive sessions that could be kept secret."

- Steve Stoll, mayoral candidate

Results of Monday's vote

Three of the five sitting Wasilla City Council members were willing to reveal how they voted on Monday night's secret ballot to determine who would fill the vacant council seat.

Ballots were scored as follows: four points for each first-place vote, three points for each second-place vote, two points for third, and one for fourth. Because Diana Straub filled out her ballot incorrectly, it was scored in reverse of her preference, and Verdie Bowen was awarded the seat, rather than Marty Metiva.

Harold O'Neil, Seat A: 1) Verdie Bowen; 2) Cliff Silvers; 3) Steve Menard; 4) Marty Metiva

Diana Straub, Seat B: 1) Marty Metiva; 2) Cliff Silvers; 3) Steve Menard; 4) Verdie Bowen

Robert Sande, Seat D (Refused to reply, vote determined by tabulating other responses): 1) Verdie Bowen; 2) Marty Metiva; 3) Steve Menard; 4) Cliff Silvers

Ron Cox, Seat E (Refused to reply, vote determined by tabulating other responses): 1) Verdie Bowen; 2) Marty Metiva; 3) Steve Menard; 4) Cliff Silvers

Mark Ewing, Seat F: 1) Marty Metiva; 2) Steve Menard; 3) Cliff Silvers; 4) Verdie Bowen