Mayor Larry DeVilbiss takes oath of office

MAT-SU— Larry DeVilbiss took the oath of office, becoming Mayor of the Matanuska-Susitna Borough today in the Assembly chambers surrounded by family and supporters and staff.

He thanked all for attending. "I'm ready to go to work. I really feel blessed. The election is not about Larry DeVilbiss, it's about the Borough's future and jobs. And that's what we'll go for," DeVilbiss said.

DeVilbiss will serve a partial term in office until October 2012 because the former mayor resigned. DeVilbiss is a former Assembly Member who served for two terms from Oct. 1995-Oct. 2001. He was on the Planning Commission Aug. 1992-Dec. 1994. He served on the School Board Oct. 2001-Oct. 2007, including as School Board President.

Nearly 12 percent of the voters participated in the recent special election for mayor.

To see the official, certified results click Special Mayor Election 2011.

The next Assembly meeting is Feb. 1 in Assembly chambers in Palmer. Two meetings are that night, a special meeting at 5 p.m. and a regular meeting at 6 p.m. An executive session is part of the agenda for both meetings. The Assembly is expected to shorten a list of candidates for Borough manager for the next step in the hiring process. The executive search firm, Colin Baenziger & Associates, received interest from more than 50 candidates. Baenziger narrowed the list. The Assembly is expected to narrow it further.

For more information call Borough Clerk Lonnie McKechnie at (907)745-9684 or Human Resources Manager Sonya Conant at 746-7423.