Absentee Ballots Key to Mayoral Race

Mayor Larry DeVilbiss and Assembly Member Vern Halter are shoulder to shoulder in a race for Matanuska-Susitna Borough Mayor. With all the precincts in at 11:20 pm, Tues., Halter had 4,269 votes, and DeVilbiss 4,090 votes in unofficial results. Up to 2,314 votes remain to be counted as absentee, questioned, and special needs ballots.

Here is a link to the unofficial results.

TALKEETNA PRECINCT

The Talkeetna precinct’s results were delayed and not posted until about 11:20 pm due to a machine malfunction. 75 absentee ballots were also issued there.

UNCOUNTED VOTES

Overall, 1,693 absentee ballots were issued in the Borough and 614 questioned ballots, and 7 special needs ballots.

The Canvass Board, a group of five election officials, convenes today (Oct. 7) to begin verifying the numbers of ballots cast at the polls. Counting absentee ballots begins later in the week. The election will be certified on Oct. 20 at the Assembly meeting.

OTHER RACES

In other races, Doyle Holmes leads 827 to Randall Kowalke’s 775 votes in District 7.

Dr. Barb Doty, the incumbent Assembly Member, leads 597 to Bob Doyle’s 466 votes in District 6.

In Assembly District 3, George McKee is ahead of 19-year-old candidate Maria Serrano 535 to 418.

SCHOOL BOARD

Wade Long and Kelsey Trimmer are in a race for School Board Seat E with Trimmer leading 3,649 to Long’s 3,303.

For School Board Seat A, incumbent Debby Retherford garnered 5,791 votes to write in candidate Sacha Pettitt’s 984 votes.

Incumbent Sarah Welton drew 5,841 votes for School Board Seat B against write-in candidate Michael Coons’ 987 votes.

PROPOSITIONS

Prop. B-1, Voters at the polls gave thumbs up to changing the at-large school board member seats to be school board seats represented by assembly districts. Yes: 5,723, No: 2,720.

Prop. B-2, Voters at the polls say no to moving the Borough election from October to November. No: 4,642 to Yes: 3,877.

Talkeetna area propositions include B-3 and B-4 on whether certain properties in the East Talkeetna area should be annexed into the Talkeetna Flood Control Service Area No. 7 to provide water erosion and flood control. B-3, Yes: 13, No: 2. B-4, Yes: 20, No: 6.