Houston, Woods sworn in

PALMER—It's official. Deputy Mayor Lynne Woods returns to her seat as an Assembly Member for District 1, and newcomer Pete Houston now represents Palmer on the Matanuska-Susitna Borough Assembly.

Tonight (Tues.) the Assembly certified the results of the Oct. 2, 2007 Borough election. Canvass Board Chair Gerry Keeling told the audience about the 150 people overall who worked on the election. Keeling said the Canvass Board tallied 1,428 absentee, questioned, and special needs ballots. Overall 12,248 voters cast a vote that was counted. That's a 23.26 percent voter turnout.

Woods and Houston were sworn in by Borough Clerk Michelle McGehee.

Deputy Mayor Woods received 1,169 votes over challenger Bruce Walden's 784 votes. Pete Houston received 818 votes over John Leiner's 603 votes.

Voters shot down Proposition No. 1, the private property protection act, 8,614 votes to 3,524 votes. Proposition No. 2, annexation of property into the Sutton Fire Service Area, passed 9 votes to 3.

The School Board seats three newcomers: Susan Pougher, Colleen Hamblin, and Sandra White.

More numbers for the elections are available at www.matsugov.us under the Clerk's page.