What’s on the Tuesday ballot

PALMER — Election day is Tuesday for the most local of local races — borough assembly, city councils and school board.

Here’s a rundown of what’s on the ballot:

Matanuska Susitna

Borough

The borough has one main ballot and then a lot of ballots specific to certain districts and areas. Starting with the area-specific questions:

• In district three, representing the area south of Palmer and into the Fairview Loop area, incumbent Ron Arvin is facing off against challenger Michelle Church. Just three years ago those roles were reversed when Arvin challenged Church for the same seat.

• In District 6, representing the Hatcher Pass area, Jim Colver is running unopposed and in District 7, representing Houston up to Talkeetna, Vern Halter likewise lacks a challenger.

• Voters in the Willow Fire Service Area are being asked to increase their own taxes. A ballot proposition asks for a bump in the fire service area tax from 1.37 mills to 2.5 mills, which would hike a $137 yearly tax bill on a $100,000 piece of property to $250 per year.

As for questions that all borough voters are being asked:

• The only other contested borough race is for mayor. Incumbent and Lazy Mountain farmer Larry DeVilbiss is facing off against former planning commissioner and biologist Mark Masteller.

• Both school board seats are contested this year. Sarah Welton is trying to defend her seat from challenger Heather Fussell. A trio of candidates — local Steve Impson, Debby Retherford and Aimee Kopp — is seeking the seat opened when board president Mike Dunleavy decided to run instead for state Senate.

• The only borough ballot proposition asks voters whether to give a property tax break to the elderly and to disabled veterans.

City of Palmer

The city has candidates for the council run in a group, asking voters to pick two and awarding seats to the two who get the most votes.

This year, the race includes incumbents Richard Best and Ken Erbey and challenger Elden Tritch. The two winners will get a three-year term on the council.

There are three ballot propositions in Palmer. The first two have been described as essentially getting rid of outdated and no-longer applicable sections of the city charter.

The third, though, has people on both side speaking out and battling for hearts and minds — proposition three would ban smoking in the few business where it’s currently allowed, namely Palmer’s bars.

City of Wasilla

Wasilla has quite possibly the simplest ballot this year. It’s only council races here.

• Incumbent Taffina Katkus is running against challenger Steven Lovell.

• Incumbent Brandon Wall is squaring off against a write-in candidate who is not actually on the ballot but who nevertheless has signs up in town — John Luberger.

• Clark Buswell III, barring any unforeseen, last-minute write ins, seems poised to take over for Doug Holler, who reached his term limit on the council.

City of Houston

Did we say Wasilla had the simplest ballot? Turns out we spoke to soon. Houston has one less council seat up for election this year.

• Incumbent Alma Hartley faces challenger Ron Gaffney

• Incumbent Lance Wilson faces challenger Ray Weaver.

The Houston city council votes for the city’s mayor from among its members after each year’s election. So Mayor Virgie Thompson could also be considered up for re-election this year.

Contact reporter Andrew Wellner at andrew.wellner@frontiersman.com or 352-2270.