Wasilla pair prepares to take seats on city council

WASILLA — Changing seasons does more than affect the weather in the Mat-Su Valley, it also brings new life to area city councils.

The 2007 elections have come and gone and a pair of Wasilla residents are preparing to follow the path outlined by a hard-fought and eventful campaign trail. On Monday, Dianne Woodruff and Kristofer Larson will officially take their oaths and seats as Wasilla City Council members.

“I’m looking forward to getting started,” Woodruff said. “There is a lot of work to get done.”

Before all of the work can start, Woodruff and Larson will take their oaths of office, administered by Wasilla City Clerk Kristie Smithers. The oath ceremony will lead off Monday’s council meeting, which begins at 7 p.m. in Wasilla City Hall Council Chambers.

Woodruff has devoted a lot of post-election time to her work as a certified public accountant, she said. Although the time-consuming nature of elections left Woodruff with weeks of backlogged work, she’s glad she spent time meeting the community and listening to their concerns.

“The campaign was grueling, but it was also fun,” she said. “I got to meet a lot of people — that was the great part about it.”

Not only is Woodruff looking forward to being a council member, she said she’s looking forward to working with Larson and Stephanie Massie — two other council members that bring a “young and fresh” perspective to the group, she said.

Although Larson is new to the council, he has taken time to familiarize himself with council operations and city employees to prepare for the position, he said. From police officers to city planning, Larson is meeting with city officials to get a better idea of what is happening in the city and what the future holds.

“One of my goals is to maintain where the city is going,” Larson said.

Meeting the people he will work with on a regular basis is an important part of preparing for office, but reviewing the city’s budget is another necessary step the new councilman is taking, he said. Knowledge of the city’s current budget provides a clear outlook of the city’s future.

When Larson isn’t working as a chiropractor, running for city council or providing medical support to local sports teams, there are a couple of things he dedicates his time to, he said. First and foremost, Larson makes sure to spend quality time with his wife. Although busy with work, volunteering and family, Larson also takes a little time out of his week to play soccer at the Wasilla Multi-Use Sports Complex.

Contact Chris Gillow at chris.gillow@frontiersman.com or 352-2284.